BigBendFishing.Net

What are you guys doing to protect your motor from ethanol? I usually buy ethanol free gas but the station is not always open. What is the best way to protect your motor if you have to put E gas in your tank?

Thanks

Install a water separator and use your boat at least twice a week.

Fill it when you're through and run it frequently, even if it's in the yard with the muffs on.

So ethanol is only a problem if the boat sits for a period of time?

Joshjack84 wrote:So ethanol is only a problem if the boat sits for a period of time?

The ethanol isn't really the problem, the condensate, water and varnishing are the issues. From what I've read, anyway.

Ethanol mixed with gasoline allows the gas to become hydroscopic, meaning it will allow moisture to be absorbed. In the car fixing biz we have been seeing more water contamination since ethanol. I have been using the stabil marine formula as directed and have not seen any water problems as of yet. They claim it cancels the ethanol effect.
Good Luck

who sells the marine stabil in these parts?

someone said west marine has it or can get it in

I've seen it at West Marine and Wallyworld...several different kinds, stabil included.

My dealer said make sure you use only the marine stabil...(Blue Color)

Sea-foam it's a bit pricey but i used it for 3 yrs in honda 4-stroke with 80 gallon tank with no problems. Like the other post said install a water separator and change filter every 100 hrs or season. You can buy it at any auto parts house.

use marine stabil every time u put gas in your boat. e gas or not

The worst problem we've seen is that ethanol will clean your fuel tank of all oxidation and anything else that is between your gas tank and your engine. On newer Yamahas that are fuel injected we've seen lots of clogged VST filters (3 hours in and out and test run) and the ethanol actually eats the cadium plating off the high pressure pump inside the VST. Never see these problems on boats that get their gas at Marinas and almost nevsr on boats only a couple of years old or boats with plastic fuel tanks. Ethanol is a marine mechanics full employment guarantee.

carramar wrote:The worst problem we've seen is that ethanol will clean your fuel tank of all oxidation and anything else that is between your gas tank and your engine. On newer Yamahas that are fuel injected we've seen lots of clogged VST filters (3 hours in and out and test run) and the ethanol actually eats the cadium plating off the high pressure pump inside the VST. Never see these problems on boats that get their gas at Marinas and almost nevsr on boats only a couple of years old or boats with plastic fuel tanks. Ethanol is a marine mechanics full employment guarantee.

So you're saying the ethanol doesn't affect plastic fuel tanks??