Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

[Cricket Too]

Friend of mine just got a boat with twin 2005 225 4 strokes. The guy he bought it from advised using ring free, but I can't see how that would make any difference in the 4 strokes. I can see it as an injector cleaner and maybe keeping the valves a bit cleaner, but would it actually do anything for the rings?

I would think treating with Star Tron, which he will be doing anyway all season, would be enough for the injectors or keeping valves clean. Don't see how a fuel additive will work on rings though.

Thanks.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

That seems like a legitimate question to me, since Ringfree was designed to prevent carbon deposits on the rings and grooves in 2 stroke motors where oil is burned with the fuel. I believe Yamaha recommends Ringfree in their 4 strokes, maybe as insurance against carbon deposits and maybe because they like to sell Ringfree at $40/quart. If I ever get a 4 stroke outboard I may use Ringfree or Techron or Seafoam or something else, but I'd use it at a more minimum dosage than I run in my old 2 stroke motor. All that said, I've used the Ringfree in my motor since new in 1999 and it still runs like a brand new one, never had carbs cleaned, nothing but a sweet running motor!
Good Luck!

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

Oh yeah in a 2 stroke it is a guarantee that I'd be using it, but in a 4 stroke it just seemed like expensive overkill to me.

I think he bought a generic brand of ring free, it wasn't made by Yamaha, and it was $32 a quart. But seems to me if you are treating your fuel for Ethanol with a good treatment like Star Tron anyway, that that will do a good enough job in the injectors and valves to make buying ring free a waste.

I don't know logic and what I know from 20 years of working on all kinds of engines tells me ring free in a 4 stroke is a waste, but the marina he bought it from highly recommended it to him, so it made me think twice, so figured I'd throw it out there.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

All motors will build up carbon under certain conditions, so a product like Ring Free can be useful in a 4 stroke. Even cars can have harmful carbon build up, so why wouldn't a 4 stroke OB.

I'm not saying it needs to be used all the time and I don't use any additive all the time, they just aren't needed, but a decarb every now and then isn't going to hurt.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

My next door neighbor works for my local Chaparral dealer. He uses ring free in all of his motors, car, truck, lawnmower, weed trimmer, chainsaw, ect. I tried it in my truck. Worked wonders. It idled a little faster than usual and ran slightly rough for a very short time, and then started running at least as well as when I first bought the truck. I use Yamaha Ring Free in all of my motors now, too. Great stuff!!!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

Even cars can have harmful carbon build up, so why wouldn't a 4 stroke OB.

This is what all the Snake oil sales ads claim. But if you're getting carbon buildup in an EFI engine with It won't be helped with a "Spray Mechanic in a can".....I fail to see how adding naphtha mixed with light oil can REDUCE carbon "build-up" in a fuel injected 4 stroke engine.

I would just run regular gas in ANY 4 stroke engine and make sure it's tuned up properly. Use the money you'd waste on these snake oils to buy more gasoline.

Regards,


Rick

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

I tend to agree with you, That's why I followed it with this comment.

"I'm not saying it needs to be used all the time and I don't use any additive all the time, they just aren't needed, but a decarb every now and then isn't going to hurt."



In 4 strokes that operate under a heavy load with the throttle opened up, carbon deposites can build up rapidly, not much different than an over propped 2 stroke.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

Aircraft piston engines are air cooled, burn leaded gas, ( no ethanol BTW, to many important people fly ) and lubricated with 40W oil. No kind of additives are allowed. I have seen older mechanics slip a bit of MARVEL MYSTERY OIL in the crankcase. If there were any good additives for gas or oil, I think they would be recommended for safety and reliability.
I do use YAMAHA RING FREE in my MERC 2 stroke which refuses to die. YAMAHA does recommend it for my F115 but think they are just pushing a product of theirs on the 4 stroke people since their sales of 2 strokes are going down. FRED

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

I have seen older mechanics slip a bit of MARVEL MYSTERY OIL in the crankcase.

Yeah...............Same answer..... One wonders why Stoddard solvent, Naphtha, and lard is good for engine oil (aside from the fact that it would violate FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations......))



I'm actually using Aeroshell 100 (SAE 50w) in my Franklin 180......and ethanol is prohibited by the FAA simply because it's NOT approved under the STC allowing Mogas to be used in aircraft engines.....

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

I know it is off topic but I just have to ask. What do you have powered by a FRANKLIN ? They are about as rare as an inverted RANGER. Those things really interest me. Had the pleasure of going thru KERMIT WEEKS collection a few weeks ago in ORLANDO. Actually got to touch a BRISTOL sleeve valve HERCULES, would have loved to put a wrench on that, just to see how it works. He also has some of those GNOME RHONES where the engine spins around the fixed crankshaft. regards FRED

 

[gss036]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

When I had my 225 Honda in for a warranty check up, Honda told the TECH that my idle problem was that I did not run the engine hard enough(WOT) and they would not pay for the service, cost me $50 for 1/2 labor and they did add Yamaha Ring Free to the gas. They told me to go run the snot out of it and it blows it is under warranty. They must have a lot of faith in Ring Free.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Ring Free in Yami 4 strokes?

I know it is off topic but I just have to ask. What do you have powered by a FRANKLIN ? They are about as rare as an inverted RANGER. Those things really interest me. Had the pleasure of going thru KERMIT WEEKS collection a few weeks ago in ORLANDO. Actually got to touch a BRISTOL sleeve valve HERCULES, would have loved to put a wrench on that, just to see how it works. He also has some of those GNOME RHONES where the engine spins around the fixed crankshaft. regards FRED

Yeah.....an off topic hyjack I guess........ ...

I have a 1947 Stinson 108-2 Stationwagon

The Gnomes were REALLY old.......As were the old inverted Rangers......

The Franklins are actually as modern as a Continental or a Lycoming (doesn't say much for Continental or Lycoming though)....and were manufactured up into the 70's

They told me to go run the snot out of it and it blows it is under warranty. They must have a lot of faith in Ring Free.

That's what we did to aircraft engines to get the rings to seat. (minus the ring-free) Yours would have probably "fixed" itself too....(minus the ring-free)