Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

I haven't had any ethanol-related fuel problems *yet* on either outboard
boat, but I keep running into tales of boaters who have. I'm not doing
anything special to avoid ethanol problems, aside from pouring some
mystery stuff into the tank when I buy gas, but I know lots of guys who
don't do that, either, and aren't having problems.

So...have you had any ethanol-related problems? If so, what? How did you
resolve them?

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

"HK" wrote in message
. ..
I haven't had any ethanol-related fuel problems *yet* on either outboard
boat, but I keep running into tales of boaters who have. I'm not doing
anything special to avoid ethanol problems, aside from pouring some mystery
stuff into the tank when I buy gas, but I know lots of guys who don't do
that, either, and aren't having problems.

So...have you had any ethanol-related problems? If so, what? How did you
resolve them?

No problems at all.

I use diesel.

Eisboch

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

On Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:43:39 -0500, HK wrote:

I haven't had any ethanol-related fuel problems *yet* on either outboard
boat, but I keep running into tales of boaters who have. I'm not doing
anything special to avoid ethanol problems, aside from pouring some
mystery stuff into the tank when I buy gas, but I know lots of guys who
don't do that, either, and aren't having problems.

So...have you had any ethanol-related problems? If so, what? How did you
resolve them?

No problems so far.

The only problems I've seen, witnessed or been told about are usually
older boats with older tanks, in particular steel/fiberglass, fuel
line upgrades to resistant rubber, carbed engines or lack of
stabilizers or E-Zorb. A lot of that is related to crap in the tank.
Usually a good running with one or two filter changes does the trick.
One fellow at my boat/engine dealer went through six filters before he
got it all out.

I do know that there have been problems, supposedly, with phase
separation in the Upper Mid-West, but they have QC problems with their
ethanol levels - sometimes up to 30% ethanol depending on the fuel
load delivery and where it came from. BoatUS is reporting a whole,
forgive me, boat load of ethanol problems, but I'm not sure if this is
hearsay or accurate reporting - I know we're not seeing the same level
of problems that others are seeing. With respect to water absorption
and phase separation, it's not existent in this area.

Finally, I do know one guy at my old marina who was having trouble
with his two E-TECs. Concurrently, some Optimax owners were having
problems and those who were still operating carbed engines were
screaming bloody murder. Finally the head mechanic had a brain fart
and had the fuel tested - it was contaminated and the fuel tested out
at 40% ethanol. Apparently it was a screw up at the distribution
center. Drain the tank, clean it, seal it, new fuel and the problems
went away.

So that's it for what it's worth.

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

HK wrote:
I haven't had any ethanol-related fuel problems *yet* on either outboard
boat, but I keep running into tales of boaters who have. I'm not doing
anything special to avoid ethanol problems, aside from pouring some
mystery stuff into the tank when I buy gas, but I know lots of guys who
don't do that, either, and aren't having problems.

So...have you had any ethanol-related problems? If so, what? How did you
resolve them?

From BoatU.S.

Do You Have A Fiberglass Tank?

If your boat has a fiberglass tank built before 1991, don't use ethanol.
As reported in the January 2006 edition of BoatU.S. Seaworthy, these
older tanks have clogged fuel as a result of ethanol's effect on
fiberglass, resulting in sludge formed by a chemical reaction the the
material.

Dan

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

On Dec 23, 6:43*pm, HK wrote:
I haven't had any ethanol-related fuel problems *yet* on either outboard
boat, but I keep running into tales of boaters who have. I'm not doing
anything special to avoid ethanol problems, aside from pouring some
mystery stuff into the tank when I buy gas, but I know lots of guys who
don't do that, either, and aren't having problems.

So...have you had any ethanol-related problems? If so, what? How did you
resolve them?

The problem seems to be limited to older boats, with many hours of
use. You will not need to worry about it.

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

"HK" wrote
So...have you had any ethanol-related problems?

I never used anything but E10 in my 1977 Merc 165. (Hasn't been anything
else available here since the 80s.) No problems. My new 1991 Yamaha OB
doesn't seem to mind it either.

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

"Eisboch" wrote in
:

No problems at all.

I use diesel.

Eisboch



Me either. Running diesels on free french fry oil mixed with a little
mineral spirits. About 15c/gallon....(c;

Larry
--
I found what I wanted for Christmas at Best Buy,
but she wouldn't stop screaming obscenities while
we were scanning her and forcing her into the bag!

How was I s'posed ta know associate girls weren't
on sale?

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Eisboch" wrote in
:

No problems at all.

I use diesel.

Eisboch



Me either. Running diesels on free french fry oil mixed with a little
mineral spirits. About 15c/gallon....(c;

Larry

I might be inclined to try that in a land based motor vehicle like your old
Mercedes. I am not sure I am ready to fill up with 550 gallons of french
fry oil in the boat and get underway.

Eisboch

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

Larry wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in
:

No problems at all.

I use diesel.

Eisboch



Me either. Running diesels on free french fry oil mixed with a little
mineral spirits. About 15c/gallon....(c;

Larry


A. What do you filter it with, cheesecloth? By hand?

B. Does everything you drive smell like a fast-food restaurant?

C. Which fast-food chain supplies the highest-class used oil?

Ethanol...A Problem on Your Boat?
 

"Eisboch" wrote in
:

I might be inclined to try that in a land based motor vehicle like
your old Mercedes. I am not sure I am ready to fill up with 550
gallons of french fry oil in the boat and get underway.



It's not really practical in a boat....and the marina knows it. You can't
get it down the dock.....

Larry
--
I found what I wanted for Christmas at Best Buy,
but she wouldn't stop screaming obscenities while
we were scanning her and forcing her into the bag!

How was I s'posed ta know associate girls weren't
on sale?