Ethanol Article Posted To Br

[BaitMonkey1984]

So I just read the new article posted to the site regarding the fact that 91% of boat owners want ethanol free gas.

 

I thought to myself, in my two boats I have had minimal problems. I have had zero problems in my Ranger. In my aluminum bat with a 1988 motor I had to replace the fuel lines and clean the carbs a couple of times over the past 10 years. Yet, I cannot definitively say that these were not due to some other problem. The gas lines were the original gas lines- rubber eventually wears out and was a quick $10.00 fix at the autoparts store. Problem solved.

 

I then thought, well I sure would save money on full additives as they won't be necessary and I use at every fill-up, year round. This is costly. But even if the fuel was ethanol free, I would still still use seafoam to clean the engine from the inside out and stabilizer to keep the fuel fresh. Thus, in my experience I am fortunate to say that I do not PERSONALLY see a need for ethanol free gas- for me.

 

Just wondering what the opposing school of thought is on this issue and everyone else's luck or lack thereof with ethanol. 

[WIGuide]

As someone who had to deal with fuel lines falling apart from the inside out due to ethanol, I'd rather not go through that again. Also in ethanol free gas, you don't need to use anything to stabilize it because it doesn't break down nearly as quick. Personally I'd rather run ethanol free and I do unless absolutely necessary not to. 

[Jaw1]

I will go out of my way to buy ethanol free gas. I've read to many articles and horror stories about the adverse effects of ethanol. No one I know puts ethanol gas in their boats on purpose. I won't even run it in my lawnmowers, weedeater,chainsaw or anything that the gas is more likely to sit for awhile. I have friends who refuse to use it in their vehicles but I run Atleast a tank of gas out every 4 days or so in my truck so I'm not worried about that.

[Glenn]

I blew 2 engines in 6 years as a result of using Ethanol gas.  Now I go out of my way to use Ethanol-free gas 100% of the time.  I've gone 8 years without any issues since.  That said, I use a healthy dose of fuel additives year-round as well.

 

Here's why.

 

Non-Ethanol fuel will leave deposits in your engine, fuel lines, filters, etc.  Usually not a big issue, really.  Until you use gas with Ethanol in it.  Ethanol is a potent solvent.  It will clean out all that gunk in a hurry - and that gunk will quickly clog a fuel injector, and then Boom.  Blown engine.

 

My mechanic advised me to always use Sta-bil, and to double down on fuel cleaner - as in double dosage - with every fill up.  That way, everything is kept much cleaner, which reduces the risk should I ever be forced to use Ethanol gas again.

 

Of course, the engine performs better too.  Not to mention, you get more power out of Ethanol-free gas. 

[J Francho]

I know of two stations that sell non ethanol within 100 miles, that's not an option. I haven't had an issue with it either. My motors are a '98 115 elpto, and a '99 2.5l Promax. I use Startron and Stabil cocktail.

[BaitMonkey1984]

I know of two stations that sell non ethanol within 100 miles, that's not an option. I haven't had an issue with it either. My motors are a '98 115 elpto, and a '99 2.5l Promax. I use Startron and Stabil cocktail.

This is another part of the equation that I failed to mention. I do not have a place nearby where I could get ethanol even if I wanted to.

 

My fill-up routine is this: premium gas, star ton stabilizer,marvel mystery, and seafoam. Every other fill up I use fuel system cleaner. It isn't cheap but it's cheaper then repairing/replacing my 150hp max. Have had boat 5 years and not a single fuel issue, knock on wood. 

[NathanW]

Yep, never had any issues with ethonal. Its interesting to me that some guys swear their problems are caused by ethonal.  I live within a block of the a gas station and two blocks of the boat launch and this particular gas station is absolutely slammed with boaters all day every day and they do not sell any ethonal free gasoline. I guess those boaters are just as ignorant as I. I have a 1996 Mercury than has never seen a dealer or service shop in its 20 year life. I run Seafoam if she is acting sluggish and Startron when I think the boat might sit a little.

 

I have been told that I use my boat to often for ethanol cause any problems. On the other hand if I was running a $15,0000-25,000 outboard I probably wouldn't risk it.

[Siebert Outdoors]

One of my big questions is why do the motor companies not update their hoses and gaskets to ethanol proof materials.  I do not know of a single place in my area that sells ethanol free fuel.

[WIGuide]

One of my big questions is why do the motor companies not update their hoses and gaskets to ethanol proof materials.  I do not know of a single place in my area that sells ethanol free fuel.

I don't think the new motors are the ones that have an issue with it, but go to the boat ramp and see how many newer boats are there. Maybe in your area there's lots, but around me it might be 1 in 10 at best. There's a lot of old outboards still in service and those are the ones that will generally have the problems. 

[NathanW]

I don't think the new motors are the ones that have an issue with it, but go to the boat ramp and see how many newer boats are there. Maybe in your area there's lots, but around me it might be 1 in 10 at best. There's a lot of old outboards still in service and those are the ones that will generally have the problems. 

A couple of takeaways from this article I read a while back. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a11687/four-things-to-know-about-e15-15096134/

 

Scared me a little due to the last paragraph but not because the fuel systems can't handle it but because 2 stroke engines run hotter with ethonal. 

 

Its just not convenient for most people to go ethonal free. It would be a 40 mile round trip through the busiest part of town for me to get E Free fuel. 

[Glenn]

Where do you live, Nathan?  There are several stations in the Tri-Cities area that have Ethanol-free gas, plus the marina at Clover Island.

[A-Jay]

Try this site out - might help.

 

A-Jay

 

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

​

 

[nosdog2]

It is nice to have non-ethonol gas station right outside Silver Lake.  I try and time my fill ups.   

[BassnChris]

I use only ethanol free fuel and add startron.

[Al Wolbach]

I live in a 2 traffic light town and we have several stations with ethanol free gasoline. The town is on the lake, so many boats but also many farm tractors. Farmers really don't like ethanol, God bless 'em

[NathanW]

Where do you live, Nathan?  There are several stations in the Tri-Cities area that have Ethanol-free gas, plus the marina at Clover Island.

Yeah, there are a bunch of Pacific Prides nearby that do no ethanol but I never looked into an account there. The Conoco's in Richland are out of the question for me because of Hanford traffic and dragging a trailer through Richland is stupid if you don't have to. It would be an hour ordeal for me to do that. It would be nice if one of the other marinas had it because clover islands no wake zone is massive but that is actually an option I never realized. 

 

Really though I am usually in the Moses Lake area with my boat and the only option they had there, by Connelly Park hasn't had ethanol free for a few years. Other option is to drive into Ephrata which I just not realistic. Does the Marina at Mardon offer ethanol free fuel? This would actually be a possibility for me.

[Way2slow]

I run Exxon, Chevron, and BP.  Those are the three top tier gasoline's most prevalent in my neck of the woods and the only ones I carry cards for.   Since I will only run top tier gasoline, which is far more important than whether it has a little ethanol or not, since most motors made in the past 20 years are pretty much designed to run up to 10% ethanol I don't even look to see if they are ethanol free or not, since most are not.  I have eight running motors, a 96 4hp Merc, a 76 9.9 Johnson, a 82 25hp merc, 90 28hp Johnson, 88 115hp merc, two modified 325hp Johnsons, and a 1999 225 Evinrude ficht which all have been upgraded to ethanol resistant fuel lines and some of the gaskets in the older motors, and I have never had any problems associated with ethanol gasoline with any of them.  I do keep a mild dose of SeaFoam in the fuel but other than that, I don't do anything out of my way because of ethanol gasoline. 

 

Granted, there are some problems it can and will cause if the motor does not have the ethanol resistant fuel lines and gaskets but for the most part, ethanol is like oil injections, they get blamed for a whole bunch of failures that they had nothing to do with.  

[Glenn]

So, to be crystal clear, there will be NO political inferences, innuendos, comments, or statements on this site.  This thread will be shut down in a hurry, and warnings and/or suspensions may be handed out.

 

Got it?

 

Some posts have been removed.  Further action will be taken if necessary.