10 Percent Ethanol

[bobbert]

Question concerning I/O potential problems. YES there are problems.
A. When you first start using Ethanol enhanced fuel, any crud in the tank finds it's way very quickly to the filters and engine.
B. 10 Micron Filter is a must.
C. Initial service frequency about 25 Hours. You will surprised at the amount of crud you will find in the filter.
D. YOU MUST UPGRADE ALL FUEL LINE, FILL AND VENT LINES IMMEDIATELY. They will get real SOFT and Fall Apart. Not a Pretty sight, all that gas in the bilge.
E. If you have a fiberglass tank, REPLACE immediately.
F. Marginal Aluminum Tank REPLACE Immediately. Any marginal areas or deep pit 's will be eaten thru by the ethanol. For all you old timers remember when midgets and indy cars never filled their tanks until the race. The fuel was ethal alchol/ethanol.
G. ONLY BUY FUEL FROM A HIGH VOLUME STATION. Fuel will phase seperate at the station if they do not get a delivery at LEAST ounce a week.
H. Infrequent use will lead to problems. If you only us your boat every other week you are in trouble.
I. STAR TRON IS NOW YOUR WAY OF LIFE. USE CONSTANTLY!!!!

Blew two NEW 3.0liter Mercruiser's in one year when this stuff first came out.

BOBBERT

[3rdday]

YUP!
When I restored my boat I made sure to install a stainless filter head, 2 Micron Filter water seperator with clear bowl & purgevalve, Goodyear ethanol resistant fuel Line with Dupont Flouroelastomer lining, Fill Hoses and vent hoses , ethanol proof. Here is a link
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Goody...QQcmdZViewItem

BTW Autozone has the fuel hose, it is often called Fuel injection hose. I also went with Poly Tanks so I would never have to worry about corrosion. Aluminum tanks will also "perspire" internally especially here in Florida with the frequent temperature swings. Any marine mechanic will tell you the ethanol problems are increasing at a very high frequency. You guys with carbed engines will see what looks like corrosion / crust etc in the carbs and carb bowls,My buddy has a newer carbed Yamaha and it is wreaking havoc on his outboard. I would store boa with as little fuel as possible even if only for a week or two.

[Fr. Frank]

I use my boat infrequently, and I can no longer buy pure gas without ethanol, unless I go to Dunnellon Airport and buy 100 octane unleaded for $3.95 a gallon, or drive 78 mile RT and buy Sunoco 100 race gas in Ocala. It's currently $3.23 gal.

I have a Racor filter, and I drain a quart or more of separated alcohol and water every time I use it. I have new tank, lines, fittings, etcetera, but lately my boat is lucky to hit the water once every 90 days or so.

My Merc dealer suggested SeaFoam added at every fill-up, 1/2 oz per gallon, or use the new formula Sta-Bil designed for ethanol fuels.

[wavelength]

In Crystal River at the Mystic station accross from Wendy's has ethonal free gas.

[3rdday]

FR. Frank, SeaFoam is the greatest! It is great as a decarbon material full strength. I shoot some in each cylinder and I will dunk Spark plugs in it, I will also use it to clean the o2 sensor. I contacted thier tech support to verify that this was ok. I also use it to decarb my vehicle cylinders . they make DeepCreep also same thing just in an aerosol can, I believe.

[Ryank]

When we first started producing ethanol fuels many studies were done, the largest issue other then the separation factor is moisture absortion. Ethanol attracts moisture out of the air very rapidly. We were seeing a 2-3% plus, growth in moisture over a 30 day span in storage tanks that were not kept completly full. Meaning a 3000 gl tank would actualy end up with a LOT of water in it after a 30 day period. Keeping your tank full may be a hassle but it is well worth it, as well as using the additives. QMI out of Lakeland has a product called triple T (Tune That Tank) that is without a doubt one of the best water dispersers I have ever seen.

[Fr. Frank]

In Crystal River at the Mystic station accross from Wendy's has ethonal free gas.

Thanks, I'm planning to splash her tomorrow just to go burn some fuel.

[1bayouboy]

I would hope that a reasonably new I/O wold have adequate hoses...(2006 model)??

I happen to have a fuel tank with dual pickups and I have a 4S kicker with the I/O......If the boat sits any time I dosconnect the fuel line from the kicker and pump gass from the tank until I get clean fuel. Simple effort that can save you some problems.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I installed a Recor filter and using Star Tron. I read their info and it seams that I can stop using Ring Free and just switch over to Star Tron will do what Ring Free does plus deal with the ethanol gas problem. I am going to see if I can find ethanol free gas but that could be difficult we will see.
Although posts are still coming I want to thank everyone for their input so far.


FellowShip

Just for the Grins

[FELLOW-SHIP]

I hope this doesn’t happen to me.


http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=825129




FellowShip

Just for the Grins