I have water of condensation in the fuel tank of my sailing ship (I have a
Yamaha four-stroke outboard motor, which runs on normal gasoline). The tank
is sealed and has no drain, cleaning is complicated, almost impossible.
Somebody advised me to put 10% methyl alcohol tot the fuel, because this
would dissolve the water. My question is: is this a good advice or is there
a better solution?
Thank you in advance for your help.

The alcohol does not "dissolve" the water. It bonds with it on the molecular
lever and allows it to pass through the engine and get burned.

"Jaap Telschouw" wrote in message
...

I have water of condensation in the fuel tank of my sailing ship (I have a
Yamaha four-stroke outboard motor, which runs on normal gasoline). The
tank
is sealed and has no drain, cleaning is complicated, almost impossible.
Somebody advised me to put 10% methyl alcohol tot the fuel, because this
would dissolve the water. My question is: is this a good advice or is
there
a better solution?
Thank you in advance for your help.

I once worked at an environmental laboratory and received the same advice
about my car. It seemed to work. It doesn't disolve the water. It
"hydrolizes" it which means as, as nearly as I can understand, that it bonds
to the water and somehow allows the new combination to be burned. Whatever
happens, it seemed to work, and I now make it habit to but gasoline that
contains "up to 10% alcohol" .


"Jaap Telschouw" wrote in message
...

I have water of condensation in the fuel tank of my sailing ship (I have a
Yamaha four-stroke outboard motor, which runs on normal gasoline). The
tank
is sealed and has no drain, cleaning is complicated, almost impossible.
Somebody advised me to put 10% methyl alcohol tot the fuel, because this
would dissolve the water. My question is: is this a good advice or is
there
a better solution?
Thank you in advance for your help.

It will also keep the water from freezing, which is terribly helpful up here
in North Dakota in the winter (but not, obviously, for sailing).

People up here used to use additives like "Heet", but with the advent of
gasohol fuels, that's not really necessary. I've also been told that it will
make the engine run hotter, and to avoid gasohol in the summer. I'm not sure
1)if thats true or 2) how that might affect an outboard.

But if you have bad fuel in a fix tank, you either need to pump it out or
try something like this.

Good luck.

"D.J. Platt" wrote in message
...
I once worked at an environmental laboratory and received the same advice
about my car. It seemed to work. It doesn't disolve the water. It
"hydrolizes" it which means as, as nearly as I can understand, that it
bonds
to the water and somehow allows the new combination to be burned.
Whatever
happens, it seemed to work, and I now make it habit to but gasoline that
contains "up to 10% alcohol" .


"Jaap Telschouw" wrote in message
...

I have water of condensation in the fuel tank of my sailing ship (I have
a
Yamaha four-stroke outboard motor, which runs on normal gasoline). The
tank
is sealed and has no drain, cleaning is complicated, almost impossible.
Somebody advised me to put 10% methyl alcohol tot the fuel, because
this
would dissolve the water. My question is: is this a good advice or is
there
a better solution?
Thank you in advance for your help.

make sure the additive is compatable with the engine. some seals and gaskets
don't like alcohol. check with your yamaha dealer.

"Jaap Telschouw" wrote in message
...

I have water of condensation in the fuel tank of my sailing ship (I have a
Yamaha four-stroke outboard motor, which runs on normal gasoline). The
tank
is sealed and has no drain, cleaning is complicated, almost impossible.
Somebody advised me to put 10% methyl alcohol tot the fuel, because this
would dissolve the water. My question is: is this a good advice or is
there
a better solution?
Thank you in advance for your help.

"Jaap Telschouw" wrote in message
...

I have water of condensation in the fuel tank of my sailing ship (I have a
Yamaha four-stroke outboard motor, which runs on normal gasoline).


If you have had water sitting in the tank for long, you easily could also
have a serious case of algea or sludge in the tank (don't ask how I know
this one) So you may want to look at the tank bottom contents more closely
before you rule out a pumpout solution.