Fuel Cost Just How Much Money Are You Locals Spending?

[Champ188]

I got it easy i can can go with gas in the truck all week on 40$ and 20$ in the boat but i cant run as far as the big boats but i will know what its like again cause im buying another bass boat in the spring since i had to sell my old one to pay for bills when i had my accident last year.

Glad you're getting another bass boat, Josh. I know you'll enjoy it.

[two old poops fishing]

oknow i am confused have a 200 verado 07 model are you all saying it is ok to use 87 oct ethanol in this motor and not panic i use it couple times a week thanks

[Bill Babler]

Just got off the phone with Danny Vasques. Probably the top Mercury tech. in the Mid-West. All of the ProXS Merc's and Verdo's are set to run on 87 O. Use 2 oz. merc. quick clean per 25 gal of gas and that is exactly what those engines are designed to use. Absolute nothing more and nothing less.

He said if your feeding those big blocks either 2 or 4 stroke Merc's anything else you are going against Mercury's recommendations.

It is time to move into the real world as has been mentioned by FishinWrnech. You all stay away from the 91 and 93 OCt. It is doing nothing for you other than costing you money.

[Quillback]

I'll take Danny's word on it, but my Merc Manual has about a page and a half warning on the potential evils of ethanol blended fuel. Potential, mainly due to ethanol separation, which is probably not an issue for me as much as I run my engine. But there may be periods of time in the fall winter where my boat may sit for a while. I use 89 non-ethanol, maybe I'm wasting a couple of bucks when I put gas in the boat, but I'm OK with that. I also use Quickleen per Danny's recommendation.

[Bill Babler]

I'll take Danny's word on it, but my Merc Manual has about a page and a half warning on the potential evils of ethanol blended fuel. Potential, mainly due to ethanol separation, which is probably not an issue for me as much as I run my engine. But there may be periods of time in the fall winter where my boat may sit for a while. I use 89 non-ethanol, maybe I'm wasting a couple of bucks when I put gas in the boat, but I'm OK with that. I also use Quickleen per Danny's recommendation.

Don't believe you will ever be sorry. As has been stated the perfect fuel is 87 OCt. no E. Cannot get it in Missouri or it is hard to find. Danny said the E. really does not come into play. Merc. is covering there bases with the no E.

[Quillback]

Thanks Bill, Danny is my mechanic, and I thought about calling him until I saw that you did.

[huntest]

What fuel do you guys recommend for my low hour 1995 Merc 200 EFI XRI? I am also using quick clean but in a little higher dose...

[two old poops fishing]

thanks for the info do appreciate all the input both fishing and other wise have been trolling deep crank baits in thirty foot from early am to about ten on some of the long flats around baxter getting bit pretty well surprise to see several lm in the keeper range not just spots slow aas the verado will run shad color with some blue seems to be best good luck

[Bill Babler]

What fuel do you guys recommend for my low hour 1995 Merc 200 EFI XRI? I am also using quick clean but in a little higher dose...

If I can remember I think that XRI likes her sauce a little spicier. Probably a good shot of 91 would make her purr. in 1995 I was running an Evinrude.. I bet Wrench knows for sure

[tapout]

Good topic.

135 Merc Opti.

As for the ethanol. I burn maybe three tanks of gas per year. I went through three water/fuel separator filters in the last year. I drained the tank this May and used in my lawn mower. Ethanol does collect water when sitting so I decided to put the non-ethanol (premium) in now and rarely put more than a half a tank in. Maybe it's bunk but the filter is still working so I'm going with it.

I've been fishing once a week. Ozark to Shell Knob runs me about $30 in the truck (depending on whether or not the oil companies bump or reduce the price but, around $3.50/gallon). I boat very little and at low rpm's so I'm speculating 2 gallons, or $8 (premium), in boat fuel. One+ gallons of oil lasts me all year so roughly $20. I won't bother to calculate the oil. So for the last month I've spent $152 on fuel alone. Paltry compared to $2,xxx.

And on my budget I'm actually feeling bad spending that much per month. Like Champ mentioned, adding in snacks, drinks, and terminal tackle, I don't want to think about it. Now I'm suddenly thinking my kids need shoes and school supplies so I may have to curtail the trips to one in august. Nah.

I do remember $1 .50 gas when I bought my first boat, (also a 135hp) oddly my income was the same, and being able to go for $25 total, and run the boat to death. Electric bills that were $100. Ha. No more. Try $280+. Home phone and cell phone was $100. Try $340 for cell phones (four of them), satellite, and internet. I'm careful and probably go fishing half as often as I did 10 years ago. I sound like my Dad now, but I do believe the economy is bad and we just have to adapt cause I don't believe were going to see any major relief. That Kayak idea on the roof of an S-10 is sounding better and better. (of course I'd also vote to shut off the satellite and cellular phones but I'd be a minority in the house) Sorry, TMI, and no sympathy needed as we have choices and choose to live a certain life style however foolish it may be, including owning a bass boat.