ethanol strikes again
 

Coming pack from a very enjoyable "church staff meeting" on my boat today, the very reliable Mercury Optimax 90 quit. Oh, not all at once. It began surging, then smoking very heavily, then it quit. Smack in the very middle of Choctawhatchee bay, 3 miles from anything.

Thank God for SeaTow (member since 1984).

I spent 10 minutes on the phone with my Mercury mechanic, and he said, "What color is the fuel line leading from your tank to the water separator and then to the primer bulb? I'll bet it's gray PVC with a red stripe or black lettering." I looked, and sure enough, gray with red stripe to the water separator, and gray with black lettering to the primer bulb.

He said, "depress the high pressure schrader valve on the HPDI tank on the left side of the motor with the key switch on. Tell me if it squirts out under high pressure, or dribbles out"

It dribbled out.

He then tells me I'm going to need a new High Pressure fuel pump, because mine has been damaged by fuel system deterioration caused by ethanol in the fuel.

I said, "wait a minute, I've been using marine Sta-bil for ethanol fuels to prevent that" He then tells me that Sta-bil and other fuel stabilizers are really only effective for fuel with up to about 7%-8% ethanol, and many pump gasolines today regularly test out at 15%-18% ethanol, not the "up to 10%" it says on the pumps. He said no fuel stabilizer will work with that much ethanol alcohol, it just separates and deteriorates anyway, degrading fuel lines, gaskets, sensors, and fuel floats along the way. Nearly 1/3 of his business now is repairing damage caused by ethanol.

I asked "how much for the HPDI pump?", and he said, "$2650 plus labor, if we can re-use the tank". :eek: :eek: :eek:

Then he tells me, don't worry, according to the computer, you're under warranty until May.

I will never put ethanol gas in my boat again.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

That is scary. I don't have access to non-ethanol gas anywhere close to me!!

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I have to take that back - I went to the link on gofast's blog and found three stations - a bit of a drive but I'm thinking now its worth it.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Its worth it. Check your marinas. Some of them still have non-ethanol. Pricy, but cheap compared to the alternative.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

That $2650 is the whole fuel system less the tank.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Fr. Frank,

Please tell me how old your fuel lines were. And if the grey in question was that of a Quicksilver fuel line. I just re did my tank last spring and every line and hose and filter and separator and my carbs and I am running real nice now. New fuel lines said they were able to handle ethanol. I have run two tanks from the gas station through them about 6 months ago. I now only buy from the marina right next to my put in ramp and they have non ethanol fuel. I am just a bit nervous since I spent a good bit of money and time on the work and I heard some of the quicksilver fuel lines were the worst at deteriorating from ethanol.

Thanks,

Mick

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Gray w/ redstripe=Quicksilver "Silverado" fuel line, actually made by Sierra
Gray w/ black lettering came from West Marine, made by Moeller.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I just spent $700 bucks changing all orings and gaskets in may carbed Johnson 250hp. I hope I do not need to do anything else. I have always used Stabil or Startron to correct the Ethanol problem.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I've used Stabil faithfully for years. It may have delayed the problem, but didn't stop it.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I buy ethanol-free gas at the marina I keep my boat at....so no worries except for the $4.55/gallon price!

My 1988 triple carbed Yami 225 runs great on that gas, I guess the 4.50/gallon is worth it.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I guess I'm going to be buying a 'fuel caddy' so I can get some fuel without ethanol in it. There isn't a station within 30 miles of me that has ethanol-free gas and I can't picture putting that many miles on my trailer just for the gas....Not to mention the extra gas I would be burning to get it. :( :mad: :rolleyes:

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Yikes,
I could buy another Ocean Pro for that. I hope our ,cough cough, esteemed reps don`t legislate my smoker to Central America.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Out west in we've had gas pretty much mandated at 5.7% ethanol for years. That legislation recently expired but it will be interesting to see if the gas barons opt to give us some "pure gas" or if they jack up the ethanol to the 10% seen in Chervons money grab. I read somewhere that you can get ethanol free gas from the refinery in Pittsburg or Antioch if you're willing to buy 8000 gallons... Whatcha say, Strick? Can you stash a few gallons in the barn? :D :D :D

I'm unaware of any for sale ethanol free gas in the San Diego area.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Thanks FR. Frank. I will keep and eye on them. I plan on changing them in a few weeks as I have a bunch left over from other jobs anyway.

Mick

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Fr. Frank - sorry to hear about your problem on that fairly new motor, but thanks for sharing!

Thanks to your experience, I just ordered an ethanol tester from the experimental aircraft association (EAA) for $18 including shipping. (you can make your own with a 100ml graduated cylinder.) Best deal I could find - I want to know what's in my tank right now!

As you might expect, ethanol is a huge safety issue in the light aviation community, so the EAA is all over it. Some aircraft/engines are certified to use non-aviation gas, but NOT with any kind of alcohol, due to concerns for vapor lock and phase separation/octane loss at altitude.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I'm going to order one, too.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Thanks Bushwhacker - I just ordered on ass well!

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

:) :o :rolleyes:

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Bushwacker,

So aviation gas has no alcohol in it, did not know that. Is it possible to buy some for my Seacraft? Octane?

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I'm sure that is big bucks a gallon!

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I'm told it's currently $5.23 a gallon of 100 octane Low Lead avgas here at Sikes Field in Crestview.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Connor,

Av gas is typically at least 100 octane, but if you think marina gas is expensive, wait till you price av gas! I'd guess at least $5/gallon! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] Probably overkill for a boat, but if you ever get stuck in the Bahamas again with an empty fuel dock and have some 5 gallon jugs, that would be a viable option! Denny

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

There was a a piece on Ship Shape TV on it last night.

It showed a product called X12 or something like that... it looked like it works

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

oooops. Spell checker did not get that one!

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Jorge- Do a Google search on Formula X12. I saw the show yesterday and checked it out. A couple good threads on THT and another fishing site about it. I'm not convinced from those comments.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

X2.

Where did it go? Rather drain it like the little springs on a plane. I`ve been avoiding e10 like the plague. Pay now.

Danny,
I can send you the complete file of the de-slackerization process. :D

I like your idea of a tourney.

I may have a few local ringers. Honestly distributed Natch.

I also like the idea of an open and inclusive all fish with classes. What fun is it having a gathering without learning lots of new things?

Cheers,
GFS

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

yep X2! Thanks Sandy Bring on the hot shots, that will bring it all back. :D.

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Michael Barry was the speaker at the Club last Wed. I used to wait on his Dad at the Tavern back in the day. Great folks with big hearts. Saw him at the show.

I so want to deep drop for Swordies. He is a great guy who shared some mojo. Aussie rigged with flax. They do slap their meals if even dead.

His rig and presentation is indeed well thought out.

Anybody heard from Brian and the 21?

Cheers,
GFS

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

Save your money, use the boat or leave it empty and I switched to bombadier fuel line from the silver when I switched and no issues. Honest not a hicup, you do have to use the boat often which is hard for northern guys so leave it empty, no option

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

I agree...the same happened to me. I even did a post. What I found out was I needed to change fuel filter every 10 hours or so until all the loose junk got out.

Last week I went out and bang around about 7 miles off shore(snotty seas) and coming in the motor started acting up. By the time I got to the dock it was barely running.

Changed the filter. Started up coughed a few times and now running good.

Drained the filter and yep, water and junk. The rough seas broke loose more of the sediment loosened up by e10.

So I guess use it or loose it :D :D

Re: ethanol strikes again
 

If you're getting ethanol deterioration, change ALL your fuel lines.