Ethanol in our Boats!

[skynimrod]

Are some of you having problems with this?
I HAVE AN OLDER BOAT WITH A FIBERGLASS GAS TANK, AND OLD GAS LINES.
Finding petrol with out this crap is getting tough. I'm using Seafoam as a defender against E-10, if I cannot find the good stuff.
And just finding gas and or heading out on the water is really becoming a pain in the arse.
Maybe back to bank fishing for me

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Yeap, I'm hearing about it lots around here.

Luckily, I have several stations that don't have any in their's but I'm sure its coming everywhere.

Seems to be the older boats having the problems. My luck, my boat is older. lol

 

[Catwagon]

The bad thing about ethanol is that it's hydroscopic, which means it attracts atmospheric water. If you have a steel fuel tank or lines, the natural water content of the ethanol will get to work rusting everything out over time. Your motor will run this stuff ok, but you'll have to switch over to a plastic tank and eliminate whatever steel components are in the fuel delivery system.

Newer motor vehicles can take it because they use stainless lined or alloy tanks. I'm already starting to have trouble with my '67 Ford truck which has an all steel fuel system. Over time this cursed ethanol blended fuel is gonna ruin it unless I drop some big bucks for a stainless lined tank and modify my fuel system (my carb has a steel base).

 

[skynimrod]

Catwagon I never heard about the steel line problem. Thanks for the heads up. About you 67 Ford I also have a 67 F250 with 72 drive train powered by a carter 4 barrel atop a 390 :grin:

 

[Crosshairy]

The refinery in Memphis started blending up to 10% ethanol in all the gasoline it makes starting this last April, so basically any gas station in SW TN or the surrounding area likely has ethanol in it.

I can't speak to middle/east TN, since we don't send a lot of product there on a regular basis.

 

[skynimrod]

Do you know if TN law states that retailers have to sticker the ethanol or E-10 on the pumps that have it?

 

[mossyhorns300]

I don't know about the law, but most gas stations around Memphis do have stickers on the pump stating that the gas contains up to 10% Ethanol.

 

[stik]

ethanol did $2300 damage to my motor years ago. it will separate from the gas if left to sit for a week. a straight shot of ethanol will melt the tops off your pistons. texaco here has no ethanol and there is a mom and pop station advertising 100% gas. i will go well out of my way to buy pure gas.

 

[Fence Post]

ethanol did $2300 damage to my motor years ago. it will separate from the gas if left to sit for a week. a straight shot of ethanol will melt the tops off your pistons. texaco here has no ethanol and there is a mom and pop station advertising 100% gas. i will go well out of my way to buy pure gas.

Have used real gas here since the ethanol hoax started.I did a search for non ethanol brands and Chevron is one of the few.Since I can throw a rock to our new Chevron station, I asked about their fuel.It wasn't a week until they had the 100% sign up,also. From what I found, it is law that the sticker must be posted on the pump if not 100% petroleum....

 

[holstonangler]

Exxon I believe sells 100% gas as well.

 

[Crosshairy]

FYI..."Exxon" and "Chevron" do not necessarily do anything consistently with regards to their products across all stores. Each store does its own thing based on who owns the franchise and where that area gets its fuel products from. If it just so happens that the stores in your area do that, then you're lucky, but it's not going to apply across a whole region, state, or nation.

A common misconception is that Exxon refineries truck their product to Exxon stations, for example.

In the vast majority of cases, the only difference between the gasoline at one station to the next is the additive they put into the load of gasoline at the terminal where the delivery truck is loaded. The additive puts the "brand" on the gasoline. If a particular terminal blends ethanol into their gasoline, then all stations in that area that use the terminal will have ethanol in their tanks.

Just an FYI.

 

[bohun10g]

What gets me is,Like they are watering the gas down with ethanol and we are still paying full price for it.

 

[Crosshairy]

what's even more crazy is that the ethanol that we all hate costs more than the gasoline it is replacing.

The only reason it doesn't make gas MORE expensive is that the government is paying huge subsidies to companies that blend it into the gasoline to encourage "alternative fuels" even though corn-based ethanol is practically the least efficient alternative fuel we could be using.

 

[holstonangler]

Maybe thats why the cost of corn has doubled this year.

 

[Polecat]

The bad thing about ethanol is that it's hydroscopic, which means it attracts atmospheric water.

and that's where the big problem is gonna lie come this winter. I can't wait to see how many boats are going to be stuck at the ramp with frozen fuel lines come the first hard freeze.

 

[Crosshairy]

Polecat,

Check the following link for freezing points of ethanol/water mixtures.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethan ... d_989.html

It's a chemical phenomenon called freezing point depression. Sort of like antifreeze does with water in your radiator.

Just thought you might like to know.

 

[kdxdude]

I talked with my boat mechanic about the Ethanol problems, he actually brought the subject up. He said he had been seeing a lot of problems with the Ethanol affecting the fuel system. He said, that if I use any gas with ethanol in it, to change the fuel filter every season.

 

[Daddybucktn]

Do you know if TN law states that retailers have to sticker the ethanol or E-10 on the pumps that have it?

I am told it is the law? Not sure where you are putting in but I know the BP and Shell here at the Clinton Exit 122 is advertising 100% gas. Its only 12 miles away from you!

 

[JA1234]

What do yall think about Marine Sta-Bil

 

[skynimrod]

I have checked the Shells, BP's, and Maps, around here, and all have Eth. stickers. The Exxon Tiger Market does not have stickers. I run my gas with Seafoam, keep it topped off, and fire her up every week to maybe off set this crap.