ETHANOL

[GrandpaGreg]

ETHANOL?

HOW BIG A CONCERN IS IT?

IF IT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN, WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION OTHER THAN RUNNING EXPENSIVE PREMIUM FUEL?

[Bamaman]

Wouldn't want to leave much 90/10 gasoline in the tank over the winter. The stuff separates and an acid eats anything rubber. I'll be using a gasoline conditioner, probably the stuff my Yamaha dealer shoves at me, later this Fall.

It's better to find some 100% gas--something that's not too easy to find these days.

I run my boat every couple of days right now, and the 90/10 gas doesn't get very old. I'm not too concerned with it this time of the year.

[ROLAND]

ETHANOL?

HOW BIG A CONCERN IS IT?

IF IT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN, WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION OTHER THAN RUNNING EXPENSIVE PREMIUM FUEL?

GrandpaGreg.... it is a serious concern, but running premium grade fuel won't eliminate ethanol... if you can find ethanol free gas, that's the way to go, problem is finding it... they used to sell it at several stations here in my hometown, but over the last 6 months or so, those stations have cratered and are no longer selling ethanol free gas. You can go to www.pure-gas.org you'll find a listing of all the states and cities that will tell you where ethanol free gas is sold.... if you can't find ethanol free gas, then you need to add an ethanol treatment to your gas.. there are several good ones out there, Sta-bil Marine is the one I use.. but like I said, there are several good brands out there

[GregF]

Just keep the gas moving and you won't have a problem. I just would not want to store gas for more than a month or so. There are additives that help but I never use them. I just burn it.

[HandymanHerb]

It's better in a jar than in a gas tank

[SCbarber]

My dealer told me to burn regular gas, however my new yamaha has a built in "separator" so that is probably why.

[rancherlee]

Run it, nothing wrong with it. Been running E10 for 25+ years (since I was 8 and got a 3 wheeler!) and I have yet to have an issue caused my E10 and NEVER had it separate sitting over winter. Personally I don't like the idea of using food as fuel, but as a fuel it works just fine.

[Mosnowman]

The " pure gas" iphone app works great in finding stations for you iphone users....

[bassn386]

This won't help you, but it may help anyone who boats at Lake Of the Ozarks in Missouri. All the marina's on the lake only pump ethanol free fuel, thanks to a couple of folks in the Missouri legislature.

I use Mercury's KwikCare ethanol treatment when I buy 87 octane gas on land. The recommended dosage is 1 ounce per 10 gallons of fuel (that's US gallons).

At the end of the season I add SeaFoam at one ounce per gallon of fuel. I store my gas tanks at least 90% full and I use the same treatment for all my gas powered yard equipment and store them the same way.

I've been using SeaFoam for at least the last 5 years and the Mercury treatment for the last two.
I do not fog either boat motor, I just make sure I run the motor(s) until they are completely warmed up and the treated fuel has had a chance to get into the system.
I've never had an issue with starting any of my equipment using this regimen. You will see lots of suggestions, so use the one that works best for your situation.

[wwind3]

My 90 Merc Optimax just laid down on me for the second time. First time summer 2010-motor less than 18 mos old. Ethanol ate hose and fuel pump. 2nd time last Thursday-running it in my boat stall for 15 minutes-it just quit. Not sure it is ethanol related-boat is in the shop. I ran StarTron with every gallon of gas after the first incident.

Boat did sit for 4 mos last summer during drought when lake was low. Maybe that did it.

I am not pleased.

[Rhinohio]

and I have yet to have an issue caused my E10

I've had my share of ethanol problems but my real concern is the recent mandate from the EPA to go to E15. Mercury warns of using fuel with an ethanol content exceeding 10% and it's long term effects aren't yet known.

I read a painfully mind numbing report (though informative) regarding E15 and outboard motors and the results weren't pretty... in fact, almost pornographic. I have a copy I can post if anyone is bored to death or needs treatment for insomnia.

Just keep the gas moving and you won't have a problem.

I like the way you think GregF but boating in Ohio in February can be rather unpleasant.

Mike

[ronb]

I like the way you think GregF but boating in Ohio in February can be rather unpleasant.

Mike

Two things come to mind right away..
You have open water in Ohio in Feb, you lucky SoB...
The next is a visual of the guys from "The Deadliest Catch"
Do you have to take a rubber dead blow mallet with you to keep the frost off?


-ron

[badmoonrising]

I've had my share of ethanol related issues. Had to replace my carb, lines and fuel pump in '07 when that crap ate through "ethanol safe" fuel line with a plastic liner. Little bits of dissolved plastic everywhere. I drain my tank in the winter after doing a run with Startron blue in the tank AND I use Startron in my tank during the entire boating season as well.



It's not a question IF you'll ever have ethanol fuel relaed problems, it's WHEN. We had almost 100 vessels the same year in our 2 marinas with the same issues that year, with fuel from many sources. I fill up with cans, the larger vessels fill up at a neighboring marina and they all got it.

Boat US pays ethanol damage claims...they did in my case, even the loss of 30 gallons of fuel. This was a week old tank of fuel.

[GregF]

and I have yet to have an issue caused my E10

Just keep the gas moving and you won't have a problem.

I like the way you think GregF but boating in Ohio in February can be rather unpleasant.

Mike

I thought everyone in Ohio came to Florida in the winter

[HandymanHerb]

Hey don't give them any ideals