the real ethanol story??????

[huntmarlin]

does aney one know what the real story about ethanol in marine boats????? is the ethanol drawing in moisture in to the fule or is it more of an algy in the tank like diesel??

also has aneyone herd about gell coating the gas thank to keep down crosion in the tank ???

[Capt Charley]

I'm no expert but this will be of some help.

I'm a charter Capt out of Cape May NJ and we have had ethanol for at least 2...maybe 3 years.

1: Your engines should be fine running ethanol blend. Diesel engines are not affected since diesel does not have any ethanol.

2: Ethanol has a cleansing affect on your fuel tank. Any sludge that has accumulated over the years bill be "scrubbed" from the walls and bottom of your tanks. In one sense, this is a good thing because at the end of the day you'll end up with a very clean tank. This might take a whole season (or two?) to happen. As a result of this "cleaning", all the crap that was there is headed to your engine and I believe that is the root of the problem if you have steel tanks (see # 4). The remedy is to use the best fuel filter available for your engine, and then change it every few weeks for a year or two. This keeps the junk out of your engine.

3: Another issue is that ethanol has another property that separates the water from the fuel. Changing the filters helps this along with using an additive. I have used Startron with no problems. If you have "old" gas in your tank the water problem is more likely from condensation. I run 93 octane and always add Startron.....it adds to the cost of a fill up but it will keep you away from TowBoatUS.

4: If you have fiberglass tanks, you are up the proverbial creek. Apparently, ethanol eats away at the fiberglass. A buddy of mine had to spend in excess of $20,000 to replace the tank on his Bertram.

Other members may have more to add on the subject, but I've "been there and done that" and my engines have never even burped. I hope you find this useful. Charley

[edgewater225]

Ethanol is a pain in the "gas"

Charley is right on track, but while ethanol does absolutely react badly with some fiberglass, it does not attack all fiberglass.

Some f/g fuel tanks are fine when used to store E10. Ask your boatbuilder. If they used the specific resin that is eaten up by ethanol, they have to tell you.

We've had E10 for 5-6 months in South Florida. After you get through the first tank that has been cleaned by the stuff, you're usually good to go. Star Tron is a big plus, since it gives back a lot of power lost to the alcohol and removes water as you run the engine.
Do NOT use a fuel additive that has any alcohol (ethanol is alcohol) - many of them do contain it. If you do add alcohol to E10, you risk running fuel that is outside the manufacturer's specs and could lead to engine damage.

[Uglyfish]

Giving this post a "bump" in hopes of getting more feedback

[Shamus Otoole]

The guys above pretty much hit it on the head.

If you have an older boat and have not changed your fuel lines, keep an eye on them. Older fuel lines will break down faster with the use of E10.
I personally have a ************************ close to me the has none ethenol gas. I buy from them every chance I can.

[E10Solutions]

Here's a good site for all of your E10/ethanol questions: www.fueltestkit.com

To prevent damage from E10 it is important to follow simple precautions such as replacing the fuel often, testing for correct ethanol % upon purchase and installing a decent sized (10 micron or better) water separating filter. If all else fails, using an additive can possible eliminate the damage caused by e10 fuels. Lubrication of the fuel system parts will greatly decrease the chance of rubber, plastic and metal degradation.

A list of common additives and how safe they are in E10 fuel: www.e10gasadditives.com/fuel_additive_list.html

We recommend using Eth-Guard, a complete fuel additive for ethanol problems. Many fuel additives contain alcohol - exactly what you DON'T want to use in E10. Eth-Guard is safe in all engines and contains no harmful ingredients. It will increase the energy of the fuel, lubricate the fuel system and prevent phase separation in most applications.

Good luck finding non-ethanol fuel!

[spring99]

Stay away from it!

[captcl]

Capt. Charley is right on with the startron! Use it!