10% ethanol fuel
Re: 10% ethanol fuel
11-03-2005 | 11:37 AM
#73
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Re: 10% ethanol fuel
One thing that was inaccurate in the Boat Doctor article is the statement that this is winter blended fuel only. Long Island and many other jurisdictions have mandated 10% ethanol all year round.
Rage, you bring up some good thoughts:
What are corrective measures that can be employed to mitigate the problem/protect the engine?
I'd say the best solution is to avoid ethanol like the plague in a marine environment. Do you really want to band aid the problem with a new filter? The stuff is still eating away at rubber aluminum and epoxy components of your fuel system. It may do it slowly since it's a concentrate but ethanol is still a solvent to rubber metal and uncured epoxy.
4.) Gas Stabl, does it really help keep the Ethanol in solution with the gas when it becomes saturated with water and wants to separate out or does Stabil only work to keep gasoline additives in place? When the Ethanol comes out of solution you also loose any octane boost it provides. Hope that it is not a component of the posted octane rating????
Very good point. The answer is no, stabil won't help preserve the blend nor will it prevent the hydroscopic effects of ethanol in your tank. The stuff can't be stored.
Rage, you bring up some good thoughts:
What are corrective measures that can be employed to mitigate the problem/protect the engine?
I'd say the best solution is to avoid ethanol like the plague in a marine environment. Do you really want to band aid the problem with a new filter? The stuff is still eating away at rubber aluminum and epoxy components of your fuel system. It may do it slowly since it's a concentrate but ethanol is still a solvent to rubber metal and uncured epoxy.
4.) Gas Stabl, does it really help keep the Ethanol in solution with the gas when it becomes saturated with water and wants to separate out or does Stabil only work to keep gasoline additives in place? When the Ethanol comes out of solution you also loose any octane boost it provides. Hope that it is not a component of the posted octane rating????
Very good point. The answer is no, stabil won't help preserve the blend nor will it prevent the hydroscopic effects of ethanol in your tank. The stuff can't be stored.
11-03-2005 | 01:34 PM
#74
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From: Beautiful Lake St. Clair,MI
Re: 10% ethanol fuel
First of all, I thinkg the remark that ethanol was used at the Indy 500 is incorrect. The engines run on methanol. Currently the ethanol rage is something the politicians are pushing to show the general public that they are doing something concerning alternative fuel. The truth is, it takes more conventional energy, natural gas, oil, electricity which is generated from one of the conventional fuels, to manufacture ethanol than the energy ethanol provides. But, it is creating new industries and enhancing others. Until they get more effecient at manufacturing ethanol, its impact on the nations energy needs will be negative.
11-03-2005 | 01:36 PM
#75
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From: Missouri
Re: 10% ethanol fuel
Originally Posted by Rage
What are corrective measures that can be employed to mitigate the problem/protect the engine?
1.) Recommended water separating fuel filter change interval?
2.) Special design fuel filter with better filtration, larger capacity, external warning device to say "change me I am done", etc.? The Boat Doctor article shown mentions a new 10 Micron spin on remote fuel filter with three times the capacity :"MAR-FUELF-IL-TR" to replace the previous remote mounted 25-35 micron filters. Any one know if this filter is a direct replacement for the 496HO filter which is a small 25 micron filter?????
3.) The 10 micron Rayco fuel filter would help protect but without a larger capacity would likely plug up three times as fast with dissolved debris. How to know when to change it?
4.) Gas Stabl, does it really help keep the Ethanol in solution with the gas when it becomes saturated with water and wants to separate out or does Stabil only work to keep gasoline additives in place? When the Ethanol comes out of solution you also loose any octane boost it provides. Hope that it is not a component of the posted octane rating????
1.) Recommended water separating fuel filter change interval?
2.) Special design fuel filter with better filtration, larger capacity, external warning device to say "change me I am done", etc.? The Boat Doctor article shown mentions a new 10 Micron spin on remote fuel filter with three times the capacity :"MAR-FUELF-IL-TR" to replace the previous remote mounted 25-35 micron filters. Any one know if this filter is a direct replacement for the 496HO filter which is a small 25 micron filter?????
3.) The 10 micron Rayco fuel filter would help protect but without a larger capacity would likely plug up three times as fast with dissolved debris. How to know when to change it?
4.) Gas Stabl, does it really help keep the Ethanol in solution with the gas when it becomes saturated with water and wants to separate out or does Stabil only work to keep gasoline additives in place? When the Ethanol comes out of solution you also loose any octane boost it provides. Hope that it is not a component of the posted octane rating????
PS that Yamaha fuel filter IS a BIG dude! I tried to buy two but they are using them everywhere since this is the time of year for winterizing and they limited me to one.
Also I now recall that it is the Methanol that comes out of solution from gasoline when it reaches a certain % water content. I am not sure if Ethanol will do this or not. Does anyone know for sure?
11-03-2005 | 02:50 PM
#76
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Re: 10% ethanol fuel
Whiteknuckle you are absolutely correct. I think I went over that earlier in this thread but ethanol is really not going to do us any huge favors, it just looks like it will because it's not oil. It benefits politicians and farmers more than anyone. Makes politicians look like they are seeking to employ alternative fueling, and boosts the farm economy. Everyone else has to suffer from the consequences highlighted in this thread.
11-03-2005 | 03:03 PM
#77
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Re: 10% ethanol fuel
Rage, gas stations are supposed to paint the fill caps on the ground to reflect the content of ethanol. Ethanol caps are red with a white plus and a white circle around the outer edge of the cap. Normal unleaded gasoline is the same but no circle around the outer edge.
11-03-2005 | 09:56 PM
#78
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From: Missouri
Re: 10% ethanol fuel
Originally Posted by at100plus
Rage, gas stations are supposed to paint the fill caps on the ground to reflect the content of ethanol. Ethanol caps are red with a white plus and a white circle around the outer edge of the cap. Normal unleaded gasoline is the same but no circle around the outer edge.
11-03-2005 | 10:01 PM
#79
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From: Missouri
Re: 10% ethanol fuel
Originally Posted by Rage
What are corrective measures that can be employed to mitigate the problem/protect the engine?
1.) Recommended water separating fuel filter change interval?
2.) Special design fuel filter with better filtration, larger capacity, external warning device to say "change me I am done", etc.? The Boat Doctor article shown mentions a new 10 Micron spin on remote fuel filter with three times the capacity :"MAR-FUELF-IL-TR" to replace the previous remote mounted 25-35 micron filters. Any one know if this filter is a direct replacement for the 496HO filter which is a small 25 micron filter?????
3.) The 10 micron Rayco fuel filter would help protect but without a larger capacity would likely plug up three times as fast with dissolved debris. How to know when to change it?
4.) Gas Stabl, does it really help keep the Ethanol in solution with the gas when it becomes saturated with water and wants to separate out or does Stabil only work to keep gasoline additives in place? When the Ethanol comes out of solution you also loose any octane boost it provides. Hope that it is not a component of the posted octane rating????
1.) Recommended water separating fuel filter change interval?
2.) Special design fuel filter with better filtration, larger capacity, external warning device to say "change me I am done", etc.? The Boat Doctor article shown mentions a new 10 Micron spin on remote fuel filter with three times the capacity :"MAR-FUELF-IL-TR" to replace the previous remote mounted 25-35 micron filters. Any one know if this filter is a direct replacement for the 496HO filter which is a small 25 micron filter?????
3.) The 10 micron Rayco fuel filter would help protect but without a larger capacity would likely plug up three times as fast with dissolved debris. How to know when to change it?
4.) Gas Stabl, does it really help keep the Ethanol in solution with the gas when it becomes saturated with water and wants to separate out or does Stabil only work to keep gasoline additives in place? When the Ethanol comes out of solution you also loose any octane boost it provides. Hope that it is not a component of the posted octane rating????
11-03-2005 | 10:56 PM
#80
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From: Central IL
Re: 10% ethanol fuel
Originally Posted by Rage
I am still looking for any and all mitigation suggestions other than abstinence.
