Trojan Boat Forum

Curious as to what other folks here think if the extra money spent on non ethanol gas is worth it. Does a good water separator do the job?

That would depend on the cost difrence and how much you use your boat .
If you use alot of fuel e10 is fine . if your boat sits a lot then it would be worth the $$ . I try to get real gas for my small boat when I can other wise it goes bad before I burn it .

I only use non ethanol in my 2 stroke 15 HP dinghy.
Right now I'm using this 4 stroke 40 HP runabout, which I don't want to tow through the Gulf of Mexico..

Its like a 1.30 more for non ethanol down here at the marinas. Im out about 4 days a week so i figured i would be alright . Some owners down here swear that their engines have lasted longer because of the non etanol gas. Thx for the replies...

Surprised you have a choice of E vs non-E-Gas at the marinas.

I personally will NEVER use ethanol in a boat again. Some get by for quite a while before they get hit, then its a real pain.

3 boats on non-E-Gas, F32 on diesel. Corn makes good whiskey, but lousy boat fuel.

Here in NE Texas I buy non corn gas locally for about the same it is in mainas, guess I am lucky. I have heard the alert and won't use corn gas.

Just drink the alcohol part.

Being previously from Johnston County NC, i agree with you guys about the corn and some better uses for it. Many a mason jar passed around that county . Anyway my mechanic says with my new engine being put in ( 5.7 350 mpfi chevy) best to try and stay with E less. There is only one marina in Port Canaveral that has it and a gas station in Titusville ( about 15 miles away) My tank is 75 gal so if i do go with E less ill be driving because it is about a buck cheaper then at the marina. Todays price for E less at that one marina 4.59. 10 cent discount if you moor there. too funny.

not even sure I have the option at lynnhaven or long point. Dont recall ever seeing any special pumps over the years. Im sure the issue that I am dealing with now on my bow rider could be from the E. Just took time...

The key to corn gas is USE THE BOAT ! when I first started having to use corn gas it was a pain in the **S . Corn gas will clean the inside of the tanks, hoses and valves of all the varnish in them from yrs of use. This is the first fight you have to win. Make sure all your hoses are rated for it, this is a must ! Then once you have all that taking care of NEVER let corn gas sit in the tanks more than 2 months. Use the boat and burn it, The up side of using you can use both now and not worry. If I'm going to burn alot of gas on a trip I use corn gas if I know it's going to set regular gas.

alexander38 wrote:The up side of using you can use both now and not worry. If I'm going to burn alot of gas on a trip I use corn gas if I know it's going to set regular gas.

Actually, you should NOT switch back and forth between MTBE and E-Gas.

Mercury Marine’s View of Ethanol wrote: "... When gasoline with ethanol is used for the first time after a fuel changeover from MTBE, the tank must be completely dry prior to introduction of gasoline with ethanol. Otherwise, phase separation could occur that could cause filter plugging or damage to the engine. If an engine is a 1990 or older model frequent inspections of all fuel system components are advised to identify any signs of leakage, softening, hardening, swelling or corrosion. If any sign of leakage or deterioration is observed, replacement of the affected components is required before further operation."

Ref: http://www.ejmertaughboatworks.com/ethanol.pdf

rossjo wrote:

alexander38 wrote:The up side of using you can use both now and not worry. If I'm going to burn alot of gas on a trip I use corn gas if I know it's going to set regular gas.

Actually, you should NOT switch back and forth between MTBE and E-Gas.

Mercury Marine’s View of Ethanol wrote: "... When gasoline with ethanol is used for the first time after a fuel changeover from MTBE, the tank must be completely dry prior to introduction of gasoline with ethanol. Otherwise, phase separation could occur that could cause filter plugging or damage to the engine. If an engine is a 1990 or older model frequent inspections of all fuel system components are advised to identify any signs of leakage, softening, hardening, swelling or corrosion. If any sign of leakage or deterioration is observed, replacement of the affected components is required before further operation."

Ref: http://www.ejmertaughboatworks.com/ethanol.pdf

Phase will happen no matter what if you leave corn gas in the a tank, any tank. MTBE has been phased out in almost all States due to it staying in ground water from road run off. (your ref ) read what it said about it. AS far the effects of swelling rubber and other parts of the gas system. Yes corn gas will hence the need to MAKE sure your system can handle it, As I've said many times before Ross. I've been running mixed gas for 3 yrs now and after setting my 1987 454's up for corn gas and countless filters I feel safe running both. One has to take the time to understand the gas blend and how it effects the fuel system and the engines not doing so will lead to a bad day or worse ...

and just how old was the Merc Ref. ?

You would think new marine engine manufactures took all that into consideration when setting up hoses etc etc for ethanol gas, yes?

Yes they did, Carver set my 87 up to run E10, but on here we have to ass u me they the boat isn't due to age of last Trojan made...and most guys bought the boat from someone else and who knows what the other guy did to it...

If you have it figured out, then great for you. Did you drain and dry your tank?

Read another test by Mercury comparing E15 to E0 (E-free) on various of their engines and all engines ran hotter, the 200hp 2-stroke blew a rod before it completed the test, the Verado 300hp burned up 3 exhaust valves, and the 4.3L sterndrive experienced 4.5% increased fuel consumption (the E0 all completed the test still running). Their conclusions and recommendations were that "Several issues were discovered in this study from an exhaust emissions and an engine durability standpoint."

We'll just agree to disagree on corn gas then.

I won't be using any as long as I have a choice. 60 miles offshore is a long ways out to be part of a government fuel experiment.

Well Ross, I have 50 gallons of E fuel in my tank right now so I think Im going to have my mechanic put it in a gas barrel and ill drive my cars over and fill yer up. Is there something you put in tank after emptying to dry it thoroughly?