ethanol fuel

[oldironnut]

For all the benefits proclaimed for using alcohol in boat fuel I have heard that it is hydroscopic. Which is dandy for absorbing small amounts of water and burning it up as the engine runs. On the other hand would it also attract moisture during long periods of storage exacerbating the problem? Maybe accumulating enough water preventing the engine from even starting. Do I leave the tank full with stabilizer added with no air above the fuel. Or should I drain and dry the tank?

[MarkCK]

I assume you are talking about how to store the boat if it isnt in use for a while. I get the tank near empty then put stabilizer in and then run the engine until I am sure the stabilized gas has been run through the entire system. Then next spring I fill it up with fresh gas and it runs fine.

[hellosailor]

"For all the benefits proclaimed for using alcohol in boat fuel "
You must have access to better propaganda than I do. I've never heard anyone call gasahol a good fuel for boats. Not even the folks who sell it. And the problems it causes get endless press.

[wingNwing]

Yes, in addition to the water issues, ethanol is corrosive to rubber hoses and gaskets and will cause (particularly older rubber) to break down, creating little particles to come loose and clog injectors. I don't know a cure or additive for this other than proactively changing out hoses every couple of years, and running the engine dry before storage of more than a few days.

[sailhog]

If the engine is going to be sitting idle for more than a few months, I would drain the tank and refill with non-ethanol fuel. I've heard of some folks topping off their tanks with 100LL, which is available at most small general aviation airports.

The stuff is terrible... I'm not defending it. However, I've also heard from lots of folks who have just used fuel stabilizer during winter lay-up who have not had problems. In general, if the fuel starts to get shades of red, that means it's starting to separate and "stratify." If you see that at the end of the layup, drain the tank, clean it, clean your lines, carb, filters -- everything -- and use fresh fuel.

[pdqaltair]

Good for what? It seems Al Gore, one of the prime suporters of ethanol, has reversed himself, stating on the record that he suported ethanol for political gain.
Sail Delmarva: Al Gore and ethanol--So, now it's not a good thing, now that I'm out of politics?

But that genii isn't going back in the bottle, no sir.

Some additional information on e-10 and wate rabsorption:
Sail Delmarva: Ethanol and Gasoline and Diesel - References


I've been quite happy simply closing the tank vents (small engines) and filling the tank after every use; full tank means no breathing.

Also, I highly recomend going sailing often. Tell your wife it's "required boat maintainace." Mine believes that... perhaps 30% and only when I say it in the dead of winter!

[tommays]

While i hate the stuff its main issue is in small stroke outboard motors as it seems to clog the new tiny 3 star carbs up its also causes some issues on boats with the 200 gallon tanks that don't turn over there fuel often enough and wrecked a bunch of fiberglass fuel tanks that used resin it did not like

In my 19' powerboat with 36 gallon tank it took 9 years before there was enough issue to pull the siphon tube and suck off a few gallons from the bottom and keep on going

When i sold the boat last year the E-10 had been heavily stabilized and was 18 months old the boat performed without issue on the demo

[WDfrmTN]

Find ethanol free gas near you!

Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada

[peikenberry]

See Much Ado About Ethanol http://newboatbuilders.com/docs/Ethanol.pdf