Ethanol mix

larglo · Post by **larglo** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:22 am

Hi all,

I just read an article about ethanol mix, and how it can damage marine engines.

I assume the gas I get at the marina has the ethanol mix? If that is so, is there any type of additive I can use that will help stop any damage, due to the ethanol mix?

Thanks,

Larry

randyp · Post by **randyp** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:59 am

Ethanol is here to stay. Right now it's 10% but there is momentum to go to 15%. A lot of boaters have been using ethanol gas for a few years now. In some states it's been the standard for marine gas, and in others, like NY it's started last year. Here are the tips I've read about and use:

1. Don't let it stay in your tank over the winter unless you add a stabilizer. If you do then be sure the tank is full to mitigate water condensation in the tank. The other option is to drain the tank completely before you store the boat - which is not practical in most cased.

2. If your gas tank in fiberglass the ethanol can degrade the fiberglass and gum up your engine. Not a good thing. I'm thinking your tank is either metal or plastic, so these are not at risk.

3. Use the boat, burn the gas. The reason ethanol hasn't messed up car engines is because they are used on a regular basis and the E10 (10% ethanol gas) is burned regularly. So, don't let the boat sit idle for 6 months, especially if (1) the gas has not been treated with a stabilizer and (2) if there is only a partial tank.

4. Check with your marina. Some may still be using non-ethanol marine gas. Not sure what's the standard in your state.

There are all sorts of stabilizers on the market. StaBil is one and they have a version especially for marine engines/gas. My boat is stored from Oct - April - 7 months - and I have the marina fill the tank and add stabilizer. This will be my first year of storage with E10 in the tank, but I'm confident it will be fine this spring.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:00 am

I'm sure your question will open up a huge discussion here, and thats good!

Starbrite and Stabil (and others) make additives that are said to help (this is in addition to their stabilizers, which are intended to maintain your fuel during long periods of storage).

Ethanol is bad - at least the EPA has held off (for now) on their 15% decision.

willietrojan · Post by **willietrojan** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:11 am

At my marina in Virginia they still sell Non-Ethanol fuel.

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:46 am

Here in Northern CA I still get gas, ethanol hasn't been forced on us yet. I think the whole ethanol issue is ripe with political BS...........IMHO........

JimmyM · Post by **JimmyM** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:38 pm

We here in NY have had for a few years now. In my Robalo which I purchased new has only seen Ethenol. I do use Startron on every fill and fill tank for winter storage with no problems.

Jimmy

koviak · Post by **koviak** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:02 pm

Also check out (marineengine.com) for lots of input on this subject.
Went thru a lot of problems with my last boat (1976 Luhrs) as the corn gas is a good varnish remover in older fuel systems. I would like to bitch slap the senators that pushed this thru with out input from marine industry. I also use startron for fuel treatment.

jimbo36 · Post by **jimbo36** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:26 pm

Jimmym is absolutly right. Stabilize Ethanol fuel on every fill. The big problem with Ethanol (among many others) is, unlike regular gas which repells water, (hopefully removed by our filter/separators), Ethanol is a solvent and absords water which in turn degrades the fuel and shortens it's life. When Ethanol was approved, absolutly no consideration was given to it's effects on the Marine Industry. For example, automobiles are the biggest polluters and the reason behind the whole deal. Vehicle fuel systems are closed with one way ventalation that allows air to enter the fuel tank to prevent a vacuum within the system. Not so with boats. Our fuel systems are fully ventalated, out of necessity. Unfortunatly, this means damp/humid air is allowed to enter our fuel tanks causing lots or potential for water through condensation. It is this water that will degrade the fuel. As far as storing Ethanol in full tanks? not a good idea. Even stabilized Ethanol fuel will become compromized over the winter. The advice I have received from fuel suppliers is to store as low as possible, add more stabilizer and fill the tanks in the spring with fresh (?) fuel. The big question in my mind to those getting fuel with Ethanol is, what octane are you getting. Marine engines require a minimum 89 octane. Regular fuel is only 87. That is why, in our area, we use premium fuel 91 octane at marinas, which is Ethanol free. It is very important that Ethanol fuel is not mixed with Non-Ethanol fuel in your tank as "phase seperation will happen, which is bad.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:00 am

Ethanol is all political. Its not about avoiding pollution or cutting greenhouse gases or our dependence on foreign oil.

More fuel has been wasted and dumped (hopefully not overboard) by boaters riding themselves of bad, ethanol-tainted fuel than the ethanol saves in the 1st place. Another very poor, politically motivated decision ... without any input from the marine industry!

To gain independence from foreign oil and improve the air, we should be moving to readily available natural gas (now overly abundant due to shale drilling) for our power plants (why do you think Exxon bought XTO this week?), not trying to burn ethanol in engines designed to run on gasoline.

Yet another example of our government mandating that which they have no knowledge of ...