Ethanol in Gas & Boat Motors

[Limb Bream]

There was a good article by Bryan Hendricks in Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about the possible increase of ethanol in gas and the effect on boat motors, ATVs, etc. He got information from Larry Morris at H2O Sports who is a top notch mechanic and knows quite a bit about boat motors. Bottom line: Ethanol + Gas not good. I have posted the article below for those that didn't see it.

LB

ARKANSAS SPORTSMAN: Be wary of ethanol in engines
BY BRYAN HENDRICKS
Thursday, February 10, 2011
LITTLE ROCK — If ethanol wasn’t enough of a headache for boat owners and ATV riders, it’s about to get even worse.
In November, the Environmental Protection Agency approved gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol for use in motor vehicles. Previously, fuel couldn’t contain more than 10 percent ethanol. The increase was a boost to corn growers and the ethanol manufacturing industry, but it was bad news for the marine industry and other recreational markets that use small engines in their products. That’s because fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol can cause catastrophic failure in small, two-cycle engines.
To be fair, the EPA warns that 15-percent ethanol is not for use in marine engines, motorcycle engines and motorized lawn and garden tools. However, retailers will not be required to label E15 fuel. To be safe, you’ll just have to assume that all ethanol will contain the higher concentration.
Larry Morris, a marine technician at H2O Sports in Sherwood, said that 15-percent ethanol poses two major problems to boat motors. One, ethanol is a less efficient fuel than pure gasoline, so it doesn’t create as much energy per unit. Since 15-percent ethanol is less efficient than 10-percent ethanol, it requires more E15 to create the same amount of energy that you currently get from E85 (10-percent ethanol). Therefore, the fuel-oil-air mixture in E85 will probably be too lean.
The bigger problem is that 10-percent ethanol deteriorates fuel lines. It breaks down their inner lining, which releases solid particles into the fuel and can clog carburetor jets, fuel injectors and fuel pumps. E15 will be even more destructive.
“Then you’ve got problems,” Morris said. “It could be catastrophic problems, like taking out a power head, or leaning out an engine to the point that it melts the pistons, but the main thing we’ve been seeing is problems with rubber components.”
Also, a weakened section of fuel line loses its rigidity and collapses, which starves the engine of fuel. I’ve seen this happen on the water, most recently in October while crappie fishing on Lake Hamilton. In a worst case, a fuel line can break, which will not only disable your engine but also cause a fire hazard.
“We started seeing it about two years ago. It’s out there,” Morris said. “When older boats come in, one of the first things we look at are the fuel lines from the tank to the engine. The percentage [of line failures] is growing every day. I’ve seen engines a year old that start up and run fine, but then you get halfway across the lake, and it dies. It’s already made the liner come loose in the fuel line. After it runs awhile, the line collapses and starves the engine.”
Fortunately, the marine and recreational engine market has been proactive in trying to get ahead of E85 problems, but there’s probably no way to outpace E15 mischief. The best thing boat owners and ATV riders can do is not run their machines on ethanol. That means you’ll have to find a gas station that sells pure gas. We have a number of those in central Arkansas, including five in Little Rock, six in North Little Rock and one in Sherwood. A comprehensive, statewide list is available online at http://pure-gas.org/index. jsp?stateprov=AR.
You can also buy fuel additives that stabilize ethanol, including Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment and StaBil Marine Formula. I use the StaBil in my 25 horsepower Yamaha outboard and the Star Tron in my ATV. Both perform satisfactorily, and I haven’t seen enough difference to recommend one over the other except price. Star Tron is more expensive.
Also, fuel line manufacturers are making new generations of line with materials that are more resistant to ethanol deterioration.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, when fuel makers quit putting lead in their gasoline, the automotive press lamented that older engines, particularly those in vintage muscle cars, wouldn’t run on unleaded gas. They ran just fine, however, and I wonder if these alarms about ethanol are false prophesies.
Morris said no. Ethanol can and does damage small motors, and E15 will probably cost you a lot of money if you use it in your boat or ATV. Since there’s no way of knowing if the gas you buy is E15 or E85, just avoid it altogether and hope the feds don’t outlaw pure gasoline.

[rwindis]

Thanks for the post. The link to finding stations is great to have.

[Roughneck]

I ALWAYS use STABIL MARINE FUEL TREATMENT, even though I have to stations near my home that has non-Ethanol gas. This is the blue colored Stabil not the Red. I use it in all my outdoor equipment and my wquipment ran great with no problems last year. I put it in my boat gas even though it has no Ethanol in it. You can also use Johnson's 2+4 gas treatment but is is more expensive.

[1carym]

Where does one find Blue Sta-Bli???? Thanks

[broharrell]

So when is this increase in ethonol supposed to begin showing up at the pump? I have been using the blue Stabil since learning about it last year, and have had no problems yet. I have a 1985 Merc 115hp, so should I get rid of it while the getting is good. I don't understand why something cannot be done about this, knowing of the problems it will cost folks with marine engines and ATV's. Then just because a station says they are alcohol free, how do you know for sure? I've not even seen any making that claim in Memphis area.

[broharrell]

I have seen the blue Stabil at Wal-Mart in the automotive dept. and they have it at Bass Pro Shop. Believe it or not the Wal-Mart price was $10 and BPS has it for $8 for a 8oz. bottle. That was last week.

[fishbaskett]

I have a 1987 60 hp merc, 2 cycle, 3 cylinder, that now has a bad cylinder, it had been running just great then suddenly it has a bad cylinder. I really feel strongly the fuel had something to do with it. I tried to purchase non-ethanol but it was not always convienant so sometimes I bought the gas with ethanol. If I have the motor rebuilt it will be about $2,000. That is a hard lick to take just for unsupectedly buying something that is working to destroy your motor. I have been hearing about consumers having chainsaws, lawnmowers and other small engines going bad related to ethanol. Personaly I do not know if ethanol was the culprit in my engine failure,
if it was it is hard for me to grasp how our government, that wants to regulate everything, can allow the sale of something that reaks so much damage.

If anyone else out there has a nightmare to relate involving ethanol please share it. Not trying to hijack the thread just wondering is ethanol really devil water.

[olduckhunter]

i talked to a motor mechanic this afternoon and he said the additives will not stop ethanol gas from eating away at the hoses. and the new hoses are expensive. i'm talking about the gas line from tank to motor but i'm going to replace the hoses on my motor with the new hoses too.

[hotrod98]

Personally I don't believe half of what the fuel additive companies claim so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't help curve the issue.

[1carym]

Here is my 2 cents.....YouTube Ethanol and one can see what it does in an open (vented) system as in boat motors and other small engines.

Bryant Wal-Mart never has Blu Sta-Bil. I have been using Sea Foam. I buy what the station claims ethanol free.

2007 Optimax 150 gray fuel line red lettering and was told to replace it. Because it is not if it will go bad but when. :rolleyes:

Hope this helps.