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We recently bought a 1990 ski natique. We typically use marine grade fuel or premium fuel. I noticed the other day that the engine cover says to use leaded fuel only. Are we harming the engine by using marine grade or premium fuel. I have read that additives are not helpful. Should we continue to use the same type of fuel we jave been? How can we tell if the previous owner installed hardnened valves and seats? Is that something that would even need to be done? We just want to endure we are taking care of the boat. We have always wanted a nautique and we finally made it happen this season. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Interesting my first Correct Craft.a 71 uses unleaded, 88 used unleaded and 92, and 99 use unleaded. Would love to see a picture of the label.
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You should be ok, that said, if you can still buy a lead additive - I believe it was generally thought to have a life lengthening effect on some internal motor parts such as valves, etc.
One thing I would for sure try to use is ethanol free gas. Older boats especially are prone to ethanol related problems. (carb, fuel lines/pump gum up due to the moisture attracting properties of ethanol)Comment
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Here is the photo.Comment
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I had a 84 Dixie super skier with a pcm351 velvet drive trans and it took leaded gas. I ran a lead additive from 98- 2006 when I sold it with no problems. The lead was mainly to lubricate the valves. Run an additive you will be fine.Comment
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The problems are when you run leaded gas in an unleaded engine... Mainly in a cars with cat converters. The tiny straw holes that knock off the C off the CO2 once hot at operating temps... Get clogged like a sinus infection from the leaded fuels.
No issues the other way.2019 G23 450
2014 G23 550
2013 G23 450
2011 Malibu Wakesetter 247
2007 Yamaha AR210Comment
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Tetraethyl Lead (TEL) is/was used primarily as an octane booster. The use of TEL allows for a lesser refined gasoline to perform like a higher performance gasoline. The need for higher octane is to mitigate pre-ignition or "pinging" in the cylinders. In a gasoline engine, the desired combustion is to have the air/fuel mixture BURN and not detonate. The higher the octane, the higher the resistance the fuel has to detonate. This allows for a higher compression ratio in the engine. TEL also provided some amount of lubrication -- particularly to the valve guides. The use of TEL for automotive fuel was phased-out because of the negative effect that TEL has on catalytic converters, not to mention that TEL is a major cause of spark-plug fouling.
Today's unleaded gasoline is a much higher/better grade of fuel than the older "leaded" gasoline treated with TEL. If you run an older engine with a valve-train that was designed for some TEL lubrication, you can use other products to provide fuel lubrication. One such product is the Lucas Fuel Treatment.
There are others, but I've not yet found anything better than Lucas.
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