Octane to use in Boat

[smp9813]

This is my first post in the forum. Been sitting on the side lines for a little while now and peaking around the forum. Im a new Tige owner as of Aug of last year. We pick up a left over 2014 RZ2 for a killer deal. This is my first real boat, up to this point we've been using my families 1999 Crownline 180BR. My question for all the owners out there is what octane to use in the boat. As I was taking delivery of the boat and the service department basically flat out told me to only use premium fuel in the boat. I figured I better listen to what they say and fill it up with that. I went home to investigate the Indmar site to see what the manufacturer says to put in it. In the owner manual it say I can put 89 octane or higher in the boat. So now we are slightly confused about what to use. Any help on the subject would be much appreciated. Also since I've noticed everyone loves seeing each others boats (me Included) I attached a picture of it.

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[NICKYPOO]

Nice ride. Congrats. Welcome to the site.

I can only speak from experience with mine, which ain't much like yours but, I used to run 92 in mine years ago. Doing the same research you did, I decided to fill it up with 89. I've never looked back. It seemed happier. Smoother, quieter and just all around more friendly. No idea if any factual data would actually show any appreciable difference. I kinda don't really care anymore. It runs great.

[chpthril]

What engine?

[Bryan]

We run only premium in ours, but for another reason.... Around here it's the only way to get away from ethanol... All the other grades contain ethanol blends. Sure would love to pay the cheaper prices for the lower octane though

[rensink]

Premium here...partly due to the fact all the on water gas docks only sell premium and partly because it is all I run in my sleds/other performance things. I have always had the 6.0L in all the boats I've ran but I'm sure if you have the std 5.7L I'm sure you'd be fine on the 89 Octane.

[tigeZ16]

I just purchased a new Z1 and the dealer told me the same thing. I've worked in the auto industry for over 20 years and I've researched that very question and honestly the engines in our boats require higher octane to perform well and most importantly to prevent detonation which causes major engine problems. The newer engines are fuel injected and the computer can compensate for some detonation but not all. The problem is higher octane fuels don't have cleaning agents in them like the lower octane fuels which causes carbon buildup on the vales and Pistons. All of which causes a sluggish engine and poor performance. The best advice I can give is run the higher octane and follow up with some fuel additive occasionally to prevent the carbon build up in the engine.. My opinion Stabil is the best additive. Oh and if you can find a pump that doesn't have ethanol, use it! Ethanol is another subject but stay away from it if you can. Gotta go, I just got the boat back from getting the Windows tinted and new speakers so I'm hitting the lake.


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[tigeZ16]

I just purchased a new Z1 and the dealer told me the same thing. I've worked in the auto industry for over 20 years and I've researched that very question and honestly the engines in our boats require higher octane to perform well and most importantly to prevent detonation which causes major engine problems. The newer engines are fuel injected and the computer can compensate for some detonation but not all. The problem is higher octane fuels don't have cleaning agents in them like the lower octane fuels which causes carbon buildup on the vales and Pistons. All of which causes a sluggish engine and poor performance. The best advice I can give is run the higher octane and follow up with some fuel additive occasionally to prevent the carbon build up in the engine.. My opinion Stabil is the best additive. Oh and if you can find a pump that doesn't have ethanol, use it! Ethanol is another subject but stay away from it if you can. Gotta go, I just got the boat back from getting the Windows tinted and new speakers so I'm hitting the lake.


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[Pidcack]

I put 91 octane in my 01 2100v. This past winter i did a significant amount of research on this, not only for my boat but cars as well. My findings tell me to run what your owners manual says. My Marine Power engine on my 08 22Ve says to use at least 87 octane. In all my research unless the owners manual states it requires premium, premium is not necessary. This will be my first summer with my 08 22Ve and i plan to run 87 and see how she does. My owners manual alao says the use of ethanol gases is not recommended. Therefore, i plan to use sta-bil 360 marine with every fill up.1462026995905-1708571307.jpg

[IDBoating]

Number one thing for marine engines is NO ETHANOL. Not "ethanol is OK if I use this magic additive". NO ETHANOL. EVER.

For those areas where you can't get non-ethanol gasoline, then yes - you're stuck using some sort of additive. But if you have non-ethanol available, buy it regardless of octane. In our area, the non-ethanol is all premium 91 octane so that's what we buy. Our engine manufacturer recommends 87 (in some documentation) or 89 (in others! Take your pick!) but additional octane just costs money, it doesn't "hurt" the engine.

As for the alleged lack of cleaning agents in higher octane fuels, I have no idea - but it doesn't matter because we run 0.5oz of SeaFoam in every single gallon that goes into any of our marine engines (2x that for the two strokes which are inherently dirtier).

Yes, it costs more to run non-ethanol and SeaFoam in every gallon... but it's way cheaper than repairing engines. Worry less about octane and worry more about ethanol and cleaning agents.

YMMV, my two cents, etc.

[Bubba08]

I just make sure to use Ethanol Free.

[gman]

2005 24v. Run 87 all the time. No problem. Runs great. It's a 5.7l engine with 340 hp. That is the recommended fuel. I have a 2014 Essex with a 502 ho engine and run it on the recommended 87 octane. No problems at all with either one of the boats

[smp9813]

I'll try buying ethanol free 89 octane. Theres a station about 2 minutes from the launch that sells ethanol free. I'll see what happens.

[IDBoating]

Should work great. The RZ2 is one of the best boats Tige has ever made, in the opinion of many (including me). You will absolutely love it.

Give some consideration to my suggestion of SeaFoam for your fuel. A single gallon will probably last you all season and will keep your fuel system, the insides of your engine, and those expensive fuel injectors nice and clean. I dump about 3 ounces in every five gallon gas can. I fill an old StaBil container (the 32 ounce size with the integrated measuring device) which makes it easy to put the right amount in every gas can. NAPA sells the gallons, should cost you around $60-70 off sale or under $50 on sale. Well worth the peace of mind.

Report back on how your season goes... I bet you'll have some awesome stories to share!

[UNSTUCK]

We run only premium in ours, but for another reason.... Around here it's the only way to get away from ethanol... All the other grades contain ethanol blends. Sure would love to pay the cheaper prices for the lower octane though

Just to clarify this a bit. If gasoline has ethanol or not is completely up to the filling station. Your premium is ethanol free for that reason only. Any octane rating can be ethanol free if that station wants to buy it. Most states require a sign that tells you if it has at least 1% ethanol. Some sneaky stations will tell you it's ethanol free when it really isn't. They can make a lot of money off you this way. Put an ounce or so of water in a bottle and draw a line on the bottle at the high water mark. Then add ten ounces or so of your "ethanol free" gas into it. Shake it up and leave it to settle out. If there is ethanol in the gas it will attach to the water. So now the high water mark will be higher than the line you drew. (The gas will be floating on top of the water.)

sorry, just a bit of ethanol info. I won't get into it being bad or not.

[IDBoating]

Agree with all of your points. The local station chooses what it has in its underground tanks - IF regulations permit it a choice at all. I've heard some states mandate certain levels of ethanol, which is why non-ethanol is regular grade in some places and premium in others. In North Idaho, at least, the only non-ethanol I've been able to find is always premium and it's carried by two stations local to me. So I'm stuck paying for octane my engine doesn't need.