Final Word on Ethanol & Boats!?!?

[ClemsonTiger]

There have been multiple threads debating if ethanol fuel is ok or if it can cause harm.

Opinions have been all over the place; however, I have always maintained ethanol should never be used with any marine engine of any sort. Maybe the article below will dispel doubts.

 

[Neutron]

The problem with E10 in older boats was more of an issue than just moisture and water. It would tear up fuel lines and eat up fuel systems that weren't designed around E10. Anything produced in the past 15 years will have fuel systems that can handle E10.

Carbureted boats were a bigger problem because they ran leaner with E10 and to get good performance out of it you needed to jet and adjust the carb accordingly.

Non ethanol fuel has a long shelf life, almost 1 year.
E10 is like 3 to five months non treated.
If you dont use your boat often treat the tank with ethanol stabilizers, simple

 

[ClemsonTiger]

If you say so. Sometimes nothing can convince.

 

[Neutron]

All that article you have is referring to is moisture and seperation.
If you use your boat often or treat the gas there is no problem on newer designed fuel systems.

I dont disagree with what the article states.

My statement is regarding older systems and the havoc E10 can cause on it.
Not everyone can get non ethanol fuel.

 

[Scottie]

If you can't get non-ethanol, then e10 or e15 won't kill your boat. However, running fuel in a boat that will absorb water and is more costic towards rubber is pretty much a terrible idea IF there's a better option available. The negative margins between the two are debatable, and how many problems you may or may not have is also very debatable, but e10 or e15 will have a negative impact on your engine when compared to non-ethanol gasoline. That is a fact. The difference may not be large enough for you to care, or you may not be able to get non-ethanol leaving with you no choice in the matter, but the fact remains.

 

[Bluewater272]

Ah, the Gospel of BoatUS journalism. Wonder if they ever get together to compare notes, like the author that wrote this one:

"After the transition period from E0, E10 may actually be a superior marine fuel as it tends to keep low levels of water moving through the fuel system, keeping the system 'dry.'""

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/december/ethanol.asp

 

[the MfM]

Final word?!?


Sure, if @ClemsonTiger says so.

 

[ClemsonTiger]

I only posted the info, people will make their own conclusions regardless if it is logical or not.

 

[gthh]

10 seasons of boating using E10 and marine stabil and not one problem. I would be more concerned about the quality of the gas than burning E10 in my boat.

 

[mdchachi]

Well if you RTFM for a brand new Yamaha, it says to use gasohol with no more than 10% ethanol. Which means it's designed to use gasoline containing ethanol. But it also says to add Engine Med RX fuel additive which is a corrosive preventive for ethanol (and a de-carbonator). That would lead me to believe that E10 is not good, if not outright bad, for new boats.

Where do you guys even find pure gasoline? I've never seen it available as an option.
Admittedly I haven't looked for it either.

 

[ClemsonTiger]

Well if you RTFM for a brand new Yamaha, it says to use gasohol with no more than 10% ethanol. Which means it's designed to use gasoline containing ethanol. But it also says to add Engine Med RX fuel additive which is a corrosive preventive for ethanol (and a de-carbonator). That would lead me to believe that E10 is not good, if not outright bad, for new boats.

Where do you guys even find pure gasoline? I've never seen it available as an option.
Admittedly I haven't looked for it either.

REC 90 (no ethanol) is the only fuel (other than diesel) sold at marinas in FL.

I’m in the opposite bucket than you, I’ve never seen ethanol fuel at any marina...ever.

But when it come to freshwater or lakes...I wouldn’t know. I don’t boat in those waters.

 

[Jgorm]

The problem with E10 in older boats was more of an issue than just moisture and water. It would tear up fuel lines and eat up fuel systems that weren't designed around E10. Anything produced in the past 15 years will have fuel systems that can handle E10.

Carbureted boats were a bigger problem because they ran leaner with E10 and to get good performance out of it you needed to jet and adjust the carb accordingly.

Non ethanol fuel has a long shelf life, almost 1 year.
E10 is like 3 to five months non treated.
If you dont use your boat often treat the tank with ethanol stabilizers, simple

E10 is only 1% leaner than straight gas. That's like 12.375:1 instead of 12.5:1. That's within the accuracy of the sensor. Ethanol is much harsher to ferrous metals because of the OH bond. Fuel systems will get clogged with rusty crap, and that's more likely to be the reason to rejet the carb. If i had a choice i wouldn't run it in anything. E85 in cars is a different story. If there were stations everywhere I'd run it! I'd get about 100mi per tank on my mustang! (But probably 50hp)

 

[Zizzou 192]

Is ethanol added to gasoline at the gas station like octane boosters and detergents?

Or is it blended into the gas at the refinery?

 

[Scottie]

Is ethanol added to gasoline at the gas station like octane boosters and detergents?

Or is it blended into the gas at the refinery?

It's added at the terminal, where the tankers load, or in some cases, along the pipeline before it gets there.

 

[Zizzou 192]

Personally, I prefer about 7% ETOH in my cupholder.

In any case the inference in the article that cars do not have vented fuel systems is ridiculous.

 

[Jgorm]

But cars have a complicated evap vent system with a charcoal canister and valves. It's way easier for moisture to get into a single vent line.

 

[F.M.]

Where do you guys even find pure gasoline? I've never seen it available as an option.
Admittedly I haven't looked for it either.

I use this site to find stations on my route to whatever lake I'm going to. I've found it to be pretty accurate for the stations in my neck of the woods.

https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[Julian]

But cars have a complicated evap vent system with a charcoal canister and valves. It's way easier for moisture to get into a single vent line.

The new boats have this too...starting in 2017 I think.

If I had a choice I wouldn't run it. That said, 1) I have no choice, and 2) been running it for 15 years in boats with no issue - other than making damn sure I put stabil in the boat over winter.

 

[Zonie]

I've never filled up at a marina here so I'm not sure what they sell. However, at gas stations we can get E0 but only in 91 or higher octane. I've run it just because I was curious but my MR1's actually run better on E10 87. I lose about 300 rpm at WOT with the higher octane. I do add marine Stabil when storing it for the winter.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

ok so All I can add to this is I spend a lot of time on the water , I stop and fill up at a gas station on my way home I use regular pump gas I add fuel injector cleaner every month or so " when I remember to" Keep in mind I run in salt water . I have no problems with fuel, and I have no desire to change my habits . But that's just me I usually trade or sell when I hit 650 hours. I'm close to that now before ethanol was in the fuel I added alcohol to my fuel occasionally to remove moisture and I ran a water separator in the fuel line to monitor for water.
Years ago we had emissions testing every year, BIG FAT PAIN IN THE BUTT long lines and no new tag if you did not get your emissions passed the test.
At the time my tow vehicle was a huge dodge high top van with a 360 v8 carbureted engine pre catalytic converter I believe it was a late 70's model but I can't recall the exact year off the top of my head. I could not get that thing to pass emissions, so I remembered that water removes carbon in the combustion chambers, so I rigged up a water bottle a hose with a small valve I made to view the water traveling in the clear hose that I tied into a intake vacuum fitting on the engine. I would set the valve to allow water to be sucked into the intake in single drops when I could see them traveling one after another I would run the heck out of the van in second gear all the way to the emissions station. Remember long lines and a lot of idling while you wait so this contributed to the emissions reading in a bad way. When I finally was pulled into the emissions test I would watch the person get a big mirror and check every square inch of the underside of my van trying to see what I did to get the readings so low, then they would look perplexed and confused as they gave me my sticker.
I also recall reading about early airplane engines using water injection in the engines to increase the horsepower . Not taking sides on this as it means nothing to me personally but to each their own .