Motor does not like E10 gasoline?

[livemusic]

As soon as I bragged to my gf about how good my Bass Tracker 40hp motor was running, it started acting up! Here's the story. After I bought the used boat (1997 model), I had fits starting it and keeping it running. After months of use, I stumbled upon a solution; with the gear in neutral, just give it quite a bit of throttle when cranking and it would crank right up! Worked like a champ for months. About two months ago, I found a source for ethanol free gas (87 octane) nearby a river and I started fishing that river, catfishing at night with limb lines, and I needed to keep the motor continuously running, but it did not idle good. I bought some Sea Foam just to see what it would do... maybe clean up the motor and Voila!.. instant solution. It has been cranking and idling great.

Yesterday, my source for non-ethanol gas was out of gas, so, I filled with E10 gas (87 octane), and I added a half can of Sea Foam and filled the tank with gas. I felt okay about doing this because an excellent mechanic around here recommended to just use E10 and put Sea Foam in it and there wouldn't be any ethanol problems. Lo and behold, after changing to the E10, the boat ran like crap yesterday. Very hard to crank and tended to die at idle. It was very frustrating, just like before when it was hard to crank. Do you think switching off the E-free gas to E10 could be the problem? That is the only thing that has changed. Ugh, I still got 3/4 tank of E10 gas!

[Bluebasser86]

I would not put any ethanol in my boat, period. I'll fish with the trolling motor by the ramp if I had to. The stuff is a nightmare for a boat motor. 

[wnspain]

Ethanol attracts water. Ethanol in any internal combustion system that does not have fuel system that is sealed off from the atmosphere = problems. Modern autos usually have a sealed system, most small engines including most marine engines, are not sealed. 

[livemusic]

I am very aware of the controversy about E10 fuel for outboards and small 2 cycle engines. My question about this problem I am having is that the boat did not sit up for a period of time, which is often where people see problems with ethanol gas. I filled the boat up with the gas and Sea Foam and immediately went fishing. I am wondering if E10 gas can cause a motor to be very difficult to start and keep running.

[tander]

I would say that is your problem. I am running a 1997 Johnson 90hp. The guy I bought it from used e10 gas but did use Stabil. There are 2 non ethanol gas stations close to me so I started using that gas in my motor. Since then, the boat starts better and runs better.

[livemusic]

Dang, if that E10 gas is my problem, I need a siphon hose to get it out and just put it in my truck! I haven't siphoned gas in about 45 years, lol.

[crazyjoeclemens]

Water is the real problem.  Ethanol just amplifies that problem significantly.  Ethanol doesn't actually attract water - it repels it.  There's always trace amounts of water in gasoline, plus your boat is operating in a high humidity environment.  Most motors don't have trouble with a little water in the gas, as long as its well-blended.  When you add ethanol to your fuel tank, it forces the water out of the mixture.  This causes the water to separate out into larger beads that can cause your boat motor to run poorly.  You don't notice it at high RPM's, because it tends to suck those droplets through fairly quickly.  You really notice the water at idle, or when trying to start it up.  Since we cant always keep the humidity/moisture out of the fuel tank on our boats, its easier to run 100% pure gas, to minimize the issues that moisture causes.

[livemusic]

Crazyjoe, that makes sense. You are dead on, my boat ran fine at high rpms.

BTW, has anyone else found this to be true with their boat... not running well at all on E10 gas?

[Hez]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I would not put any ethanol in my boat, period. I'll fish with the trolling motor by the ramp if I had to. The stuff is a nightmare for a boat motor. 

This x 2!!!  I would never run anything but ethanol free in my motor.  

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, livemusic said:

Dang, if that E10 gas is my problem, I need a siphon hose to get it out and just put it in my truck! I haven't siphoned gas in about 45 years, lol.

May I suggest you do it with a flashlight, in the middle of the night, & while wearing some kind of mask.

Just for old time sake.

Oh, and pretend it's someone else's truck . . .

A-Jay

 

[Al Wolbach]

I have been told that the ethanol cleans your fuel system better than gasoline also. In your case it may have cleaned the bottom of the tank and sent the debris through the system which caused the problem. It doesn't take much to be a problem.

[jbh3]

In addition to the comments above, IMO, you need to look into changing your fuel lines and primer bulb to the newer ethanol resistant parts. The material in the liner of the older fuel lines will react in a bad way to E10 and cause pieces of the liner to be transmitted to the engine. Get your parts at a boat dealer - NOT Walmart. Start with fresh gas, fuel lines and a clean fuel system on your engine all at once or you will be chasing your tail for a long time. Good luck!

[Scott F]

I suspect you might have a clogged fuel filter. True, ethanol can cause problems, but there are thousands of people who run have run their boats for years using E10 that never have had problems, including me. Take it to a good mechanic to have it checked over.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

Yes E10 is your problem. I work in the OPE business and it is an absolute nightmare for any engine really. I would never put it in my boat or equipment. I will always buy non ethanol. Ethanol gas has caused more damage to outboards, 2 stroke, and small engines than you can even begin to understand. 

[fishnkamp]

I live in MD.  Every boater here in my state is forced to run E10. My 75 carbed Merc runs on E10 gas with Startron in it, and It runs fine, I have replaced my fuel lines and primer ball and even cut the old line open (the boat is a 2010 Lowe) and it was still okay.  I have no choice but to run E10, as it is required in this socialist state I live in. The only time I can run real unleaded fuel is on vacation, when I am boating in Tennessee.  My boat does start easier and run smoother out there. My Chevy S10 gets 6 mpg better also. So fuel makes a difference, but I suspect you got a bad tank of fuel, not just fuel with ethanol in it. I would go back to the station and talk to the manager to see if they had any complaints because you are making one right now. I would try running your motor from a portable can of fresh unleaded gas and see if it clears up before syphoning out the fuel in your tank.

If the station got a bad load they may assist in having the tank syphoned for you.

[Gundog]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

May I suggest you do it with a flashlight, in the middle of the night, & while wearing some kind of mask.

Just for old time sake.

Oh, and pretend it's someone else's truck . . .

A-Jay

 

^^^^This

[F14A-B]

I wouldn't use ethanol in ANY 2 cycle motor, ever. However, it sounds as if you have fuel delivery issues.

Good luck siphoning your fuel.

I might suggest hiring some inner city types for the task, they may revel in the notion..

[Catch 22]

9 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I live in MD.  Every boater here in my state is forced to run E10. My 75 carbed Merc runs on E10 gas with Startron in it, and It runs fine, I have replaced my fuel lines and primer ball and even cut the old line open (the boat is a 2010 Lowe) and it was still okay.  I have no choice but to run E10, as it is required in this socialist state I live in. The only time I can run real unleaded fuel is on vacation, when I am boating in Tennessee.  My boat does start easier and run smoother out there. My Chevy S10 gets 6 mpg better also. So fuel makes a difference, but I suspect you got a bad tank of fuel, not just fuel with ethanol in it. I would go back to the station and talk to the manager to see if they had any complaints because you are making one right now. I would try running your motor from a portable can of fresh unleaded gas and see if it clears up before syphoning out the fuel in your tank.

If the station got a bad load they may assist in having the tank syphoned for you.

Excellent advice to try a different fuel source.

Maybe  inspect the fuel for water in a glass jar .

If you do find water you might want to install a water separator filter because the problem may still exist even with all new fuel.

Good luck getting any dealer to admit  to bad fuel.

[livemusic]

Say, I bought a shaker type siphon thingy, I hope it works, lol. You stick one end into the gas tank and shake the other end, I assume. It has some type of vacuum-creating gizmo on the other end. I hope it works, lol. If nothing else, I am going to test that gasoline, I do have a little test bottle that measure the amount of water in gasoline.

[webertime]

On ‎8‎/‎1‎/‎2016 at 9:07 AM, livemusic said:

Dang, if that E10 gas is my problem, I need a siphon hose to get it out and just put it in my truck! I haven't siphoned gas in about 45 years, lol.

Use an air compressor!  lol  just pumped 50 gallons of old gas out of a boat the other day.

[geo g]

Welcome to the group. All our boat engines hate that crap.  I have not used E10 in years.  I use recreation fuel that is ethanol free, and refuse to put that garbage in the boat.  Find a station with the good stuff.  It costs more but saves money in the long run.  Wait to they jump it up to E15.

[blackmax135]

I will never put E10 back in my boat.   I have a 94 mercury and have never had a single problem, except when I used fuel with ethanol.  I have put E10 in my tank twice since I purchased the boat and both times I had a time cranking it up, and went to take off from the landing, the engine stalled out before I could get going good.  This ethanol stuff is no good.  Maybe its ok in a newer motor but not my old 2 stroke.