Question about Ethanol fuels and boats?
 

Been seeing this topic in some magazines lately and they are making it out like it is a big issue. The articles are saying that if you are using 10% mixed fuel it could be very bad to your engine if your getting any moisture in the fuel. That the alcohol and water combine and sink to the bottom at the pick up and then you are burning a bad mixture of fuel. I may be saying rougher than they did but if you get my meaning please comment.

With this then what would you think the best course of action would be if you just bought a 99 boat and are not sure if you have a problem or not???

If not sure I´d put more ethanol to get the water out and go running the tanks dry...we´ve had 10% ethanol in our gas for at least a decade an no problems...

With the switch to ethanol in the US you simply have to be more careful about fuel quality. It used to be that you could pump gas in the tank and use it sporadically all summer with minimal use. You wouldn't buy a gallon of milk, leave it in the frig, and sip on for 3-4 months would you....well can't do that with ethanol fuel either. Don't keep the fuel for extended periods...burn off the tanks low and the end of each use (unless you run every weekend). Keep water seperator filters clean and changed at least once a year (some people never change them). Various additives will help a little, find one your comfortable and use as directed.

Ethanol Fuel.
 

My buddy told me to keep running the STABIL product year round that has something in it especially for this ETHANOL issue. He said spin off the fuel filter and put some in there too and then run the engine before putting up for winter and to always keep the tank near full during the off-season.

Startron is the best to use when in use. Pump your tank dry for storage. You can not properly stabilize E10. You will loose the ethanol out of the stored fuel in three to six weeks depending on the quality. This in turn lowers your octane rating. We all know what happens with low octane fuel. Phase separation is only prevalent when you have water existing in your tank or it is being introduced into the tank i.e. a leak previously not noticed. Ethanol mixed with water is corrosive. So if the boat used MBTE extended fuels in the past and you are going to start E10 run it out of fuel. Use Startron as directed and you should be prepared to change fuel filters. Knock on wood none of my regular customers have had any real troubles with the transition using this method. As well many things you used before in fuel do not mix well with Ethanol. Just because a product says it will does not mean how well. Stabilizing the fuel with the new formulated stabilizer will stabilize the base fuel but there is nothing that can be done about the E10 loss and phase separation if you have water present. Because Ethanol can absorb 100% of it's volume in water.

There have beentons of boats at my marina that have been complaining about their gens and motors not running very good last summer. All said it takes long cranking time to fire up. I filled up my 150 gal tank last fall, but only used a small portion. We hauled the boat home for winter work and had to remove the tanks. I been using that gas in my vehicles to use it up. Ever since, both of my vehicles instantly started running like chit. The couple times we filled up at gas stations with fresh gas, they instantly ran good. Put in more 'boat' gas, again instantly hard to start. We thought maybe the marina got bad gas, but this was over the whole summer and bought from more than 1 marina. Thinking it has alot to do with a very shot life span of the ethanal fuel since most of the issues are with houseboats that have large tanks and last for a long time between fillups.

I had my motors dyno tuned then sat for 6 weeks...after that they ran lke chit. Mounted a 6 gallon outboard can in for a quick test run and they improved greatly.....this was with a Merc tech and his computer hooked up and IN the boat during this test.....ethanol SUCKS and does start breaking down in just weeks.

yep,,,,used to be keep your tranks full to keep moisture out.

Now its the complete opposite,,,, moisture is the least of our worries.

I change my fuel/water sep now in the spring after I run the first tank through the boat

They make a Stabil for Ethenol fuels, but I've never used it and it's about double the cost of the regular Stabil it also says on the bottle to use with every tank. Talk about a sales gimick. I just run the boat as low as possible before storage then load it down with stabil and make sure I run 2cycle oil out of the filter to properly fog the EFI engine. I'm guessing from what I've seen and read that it's just going to get worse. I had the same problem though when I bought gas on the water vs land. I try to buy most of it on on the road before getting to the water seem to have less problems.

I just had my second terrible experience with ethanol,the **** should be illegal to even sell!!!! Filled my sleds and a 5 gal clear racing jug up w/premium on x-mas eve,ran up north to visit relatives. We took the sleds off the trailer for a few hour ride,got about 1 mile away,they both quit and would not start. Drained the carbs,was finding almost 100 % water. Got one to run enough with the choke on to limp it back to the truck towing the other,looked at the clear jug and saw a clear seperation at the bottom of about 1" of what I assumed to be water. Got home,pumped the tanks dry (26 gallons plus the 5 gallon jug),the first gallon out of the sled that was filled first was what appeared to be 90% water.
After reading up more on ethanol I realized what I was seeing was phase seperation,a little bit of water makes ethanol completely seperate from the base fuel,sleds were sucking a combination of 95 % ethanol/5% water,luckily the stuff was so bad the wouldn't run enough to actually get damaged,a lesser amount would let it run hard enough to self destruct,this crap really suxz,Smitty

Yes this is all good information. If using E10 run the tank empty before storage. Only put the amount of fuel in the boat that you will use in 2 to 3 weeks.
Three years ago I stored my boat with stabilizer and a full tank of gas using E10. I had engine failure, when the engine was disassembled the tops of all the rod berrings were taken out. All signs led to pre detination due to bad fuel. I would never store a boat for any length of time with E10. Same with your mower, leaf blower, trimmer, ect....

I live in Iowa and we burn it in our cars and trucks for every day use and we have never had a problem with it, but like jeffsway said, I would never use it in my mowers atv's or my boat. E10 is not designed for those types of vehicles and I believe most manufacturers of those vehicles don't recommend using it.

Ya know what sucks is I found out about this issue after the boat is in storage and practically full of fuel for the winter and odds are it was e10. Makes me wonder if I shoul pump it and start fresh this spring? I will make sure there is a good water seperator as well this spring.

You said you would never use it in your mowers, ATV, or boat.....how do you do that? When VA switched to E10 3 years ago, EVERY station switched, even marinas. I can't buy fuel without it unless buying aviation fuel (or diesel:))

We can still get both here and I only use 91 none blend in the boat. I guess I just assummed people still had the option. That sucks if thats all you can use.

Shelf life of good fuel is about 30 days. Good luck trying to suck 75 gallons of fuel out of the tank. You should be ok on a stock motor but take it easy during that tank of fuel. Careful on using any addatives with the thought you will be helping it. Most addatives are loaded with alcohol. I run 93 in mine because I have a procharger and would love to stay away from ethanol blend, but being in the Chicago area it is not an option.

Take out the fuel sending unit and start pumping...I don't know what I'd use 50-70 gallons of fuel in that is 6 months old, but you can mow alot of grass!!!:lolhit:

In Mi the Mi farm bureau association petitioned the legislature to introduce a bill (that did pass) that lifted the requirements that all pumps must post ethanol content of the fuel they sell. So now you can't even tell what you are buying unless you talk to the stastion owner and he's honest with you,Smitty

I had the oportunity to talk to a BP station and supply owner, pretty good friend actually. They have many stations as well as a farm service and more. He said point blank everything has ethanol in it at least 10%. He also used to be on an advisory board and this issue with marine and aviation use has been brought up every year and that these are the two areas nothing seems to change in. Also spoke that a min E20 is coming and then we boaters will have real issues. He did say next year he could get me 10 or 20 gal of non blend for when I store it, but it would not be easy. From what he said there is no way to avoid ethanol anywhere at anytime it is there at 10%.

Why does it seem to effect boats more than cars? Not the boats that have old gas, but I've even had problems with fresh gas. Took me over 1/2 hr once last summer to get both of my motors started after sitting for a coulpe hrs tied up. Seemed to be really sensitive to vapor locking. This happened twice. Never had this problem before last yr.

I have no choice were I am at, all we have is E10. I have to use it in my mowers, weed eater, leaf blower, ect.... Just do not let the fuel get old, just purchace the amount of fuel for a few weeks. Do not buy 5 gallons of fuel if you only use a gallon every 2 weeks.
As for the old gas in the boat, I pump mine completly empty in the fall. I have a aftermarket MPI kit and I simply disconnect the fuel line after the separator, hot wire the pump and fill up 5 gallon containers. I put what little gas is left in the truck and car. If the gas is 6 months old that is a hard call, you may blend it 50/50 in the car with premium? Running it through a water separator may help but may not. After my experience I am very carfull with the age of the fuel.

This thread is giving me nightmares! I just found this online:

Since 1997, Minnesota has mandated 10% ethanol in gasoline. On May 10, 2005, Governor Pawlenty signed E20 legislation which doubled the required percentage.

I just called the gas station I use for the boat, they said they are still at 10-percent. Everyone here is talking about 10-percent, I can't imagine what 20 would do.

Alot of the issues we get with boats vs automotive is because the fuel system in autos is basically sealed with vapor canisters and such. This really limits the amount of moistier that is asorbed into ethynol. Plus 99% of the autos get fuel used a shorter time frame.

Do you have Merc MPI engines? I have been told if you add a return line to your fuel system it helps the vapor lock. I have a Holley MPI with return line and never had vapor lock. I think it has somthing to do with the temp of the fuel rails gets to hot without the cycling fuel.

my gas is about 8 months old.. 91 octaine.. not sure if the mechanic put in stabilizer.. 100 gallons in the tank... Would you empty the tank? new 520 hp engine in my boat... this is scary to me... we have 10% ethenal in our gas here

I would put at least half out and run it in the cars and put stabl in it now if not sure

Ran across this post today. I got prolly 3 quarters of a tank with ethanol that sit since novemeber. I am going to blend in some of 102 or 110 race gas to spice it up some. Raise the octane level and lower the ethanol/water content levels. This is a good consideration for everyone.