Hurt the bearings if you run it dry?

[Old Gamefisher]

I have a 15 hp Force (two stroke). When I received it, it hadn't run in ten years, and the fuel system was full of sediment and corrosion. Now that I've fixed it, and it runs well, I am loathe to leave fuel in it. I disconnect the fuel line and run it until it quits.

Since it's a two-stroke, and gets lubrication from the oil in the fuel, does it harm the bearings and cylinder walls to run it dry like that?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Hurt the bearings if you run it dry?

i hear it only hurts if there is more than one cylinder/carb.
but i would leave the fuel in unless it is not going to be used for more than a few weeks

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Hurt the bearings if you run it dry?

Normal usage doesn't hurt to run it dry, but not nesessary. When you go to store it, you can spray some fogging oil into the spark plug hole after you run it dry to coat the cylinder walls.

 

[sailingwest]

Re: Hurt the bearings if you run it dry?

running the moter till it stops will not empty the carb bowl of fuel oil mix,if you store your motor for a long period of time the petrol will evaporate leaving a sticky oil gunge behind ,when you take engine out of storage and add fresh fuel the gunge tends to rise and block the idle jets. Boat shops make a fortune from sorting this problem at the start of every season.If you are putting your motor away for the season pull off the bowl clean it out and give the carb a blast of wd40 this will dissolve the oil and save you clearing blocked jets when you use it next .hope this helps .Jim B