This post varies from our normal subjects, but is about a consumer related item that you need to know about.
The State of Florida quietly forced gasoline distributors to start distributing gasoline with 10% ethanol about two weeks ago, even though many articles have appeared in the past about the damage that Ethanol causes. Ethanol has been used in other states trying to reduce smog, thus there is already experience with the damage, and Florida has no smog. Most gas pumps now have decal that says up to 10% ethanol will be in the fuel mixture.
I have a 1965 Mustang with an expensive rebuilt engine, and I don't want the internal systems damaged.
Read the articles below, then call your State legislators AND Charley Crist if you also believe the use of ethanol is stupid and can reduce the value of any vehicle or engine in Florida.
Below are articles I have found so far, and I will add more as we find them. You can find them also - just do a google search on "ethanol damage" and you will find 510,000 hits (although many are related to ethanol binge drinking!)
vj
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from http://www.amlibpub.com/liberty_blog/2006/09/ethanol-damage.html
Monday, September 04, 2006
Ethanol Damage
Yesterday's weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal has an article on the shocking costs of ethanol damage to boat motors. The damage has been increasing as politicians have increased the legal mandate to use ethanol. Yamaha Marine Group reports that ethanol problems have more than tripled this year, compared to the same period in 2005, and complaints “are coming from all over the country.” Refiners would like to offer a different product, but “legally we can't,” says a spokesman for the refiners. Government has phased out MTBE as an gasoline oxygenate because this previously federally required additive resulted in ground water pollution (see my blog of March 13, 2006.) This has left only ethanol as a way of meeting the federal oxygenate requirement.
It has long been known that many small engines aren't designed to run on ethanol and, in fact, are destroyed by them. Owners of brand new outboard motors, lawn mowers, chainsaws, and snow blowers have had their engines burn out because of ethanol. Many of the manufacturers of these devices have cautioned in their owner's manuals against using ethanol in these machines. (Some states have recognized this and have allowed non-ethanol gasoline to be sold for these small engines as well as for antique cars, which are also damaged by ethanol.) But in many localities this accommodation is not available, and the costs that now involve larger boats far surpass the money which small engines owners have been forced to shell out for ethanol damage.
The 10 percent ethanol-gasoline blend common throughout the country can leach the resin out of fiberglass gas tanks found in as many as 15,000 boats. This results in a black goo that coats the motor's innards and hardens as the motor cools. Walter Kaprielian of East Hampton, N.Y., bought a 20-foot boat with a small cabin, but the damage from ethanol will now require him to pay $25,000 for a new motor. Erich Koch of Old Saybrook, Conn, spent nearly $40,000 to buy and restore a 34-foot boat. But then ethanol problems set in and he ended up selling it for $9,000. He says it was time to cut his losses.
Ethanol was foisted on the public by claims an oxygenate was necessary to improve air quality by reducing automobile air pollution. But automobiles since the mid 1980s have automatic sensors that regulate the oxygen/fuel mixture to provide the most efficient combustion, thus doing exactly what an oxygenate (ethanol or MTBE) is supposed to do and making it unnecessary.
And where is the improvement in air quality from ethanol? Forget those ads by Archer Daniels Midland (the largest producer of ethanol) about “cleaner burning ethanol.” Even EPA admits that ethanol produces more nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons (components of smog) than regular gas. Its vapor pressure also leads to greater evaporation even when the engine is not running. EPA initially refused to approve ethanol on the grounds it violated the Clean Air Act. EPA's position on ethanol was reversed only after a presidential waiver from the first President Bush, which, by coincidence, came in an election year when the votes of farmers in cornbelt states were important.
Study after study has shown no air quality benefit from ethanol. For example, a study by the National Academy of Science states that “using ethanol as a blending agent in gasoline would not achieve significant air-quality benefits, and in fact WOULD LIKELY BE DETRINMENTAL.” And an article in SCIENCE by J.G. Calvert of the National Center for Atmospheric Research states: “No convincing argument based on combustion or atmospheric chemistry can be made for the addition of ethanol to gasoline.” And NBC News, reporting on an 8-year study by the National Research Council, stated: “There is no evidence that special fuels do anything.” Professor Douglas Lawson, who headed the study, said, “We are not getting the effects the models predicted.” For more examples, see my book MAKERS AND TAKERS, available from American Liberty Publishers.
Ethanol is just one more example of government solutions to economic problems turning out to be less beneficial and far more costly than what would result if the government just stood aside and let the marketplace decide products and prices. Professor John Deutch, a professor of chemistry at MIT and former director of energy research and Undersecretary of Energy in the Carter Administration, states that federal ethanol subsidy is costing the taxpayers $120 for every barrel of oil displaced by ethanol. With the price of oil hovering around $70 per barrel, only the ethanol industry (or maybe a politician) would consider that a bargain.
posted by Edmund Contoski @ 9/04/2006 09:43:00 PM
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from http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/02/19/1045638364665.html
Even in Australia in 2003, ethanol was pulled from gas mixes after many complaints, although they said a mix up to 10% was "relatively safe" (which means damage is slower, and might not be noticed for months).
Ethanol damage to engines confirmed
February 20 2003
The Federal Government will push for mandatory labelling of petrol mixed with ethanol after studies released yesterday found the additive could damage vital engine parts.
The studies, on an outboard motor and a garden trimmer, found 10 per cent ethanol content was relatively safe, but 20 per cent caused major problems.
Federal Environment Minister David Kemp said there was still no proof that the additive - derived from grain crops or sugar cane - caused damage to car engines. But he hoped the states would force fuel outlets to carry ethanol labelling within two months.
A recent Environment Australia study of 615 fuel samples found 9 per cent contained ethanol. Seven samples had more than 20 per cent ethanol, and another 38 had between 10 and 20 per cent.
The study of ethanol's impact on engines found the 10 per cent blend caused no substantial changes, except slight swelling and blistering on the carburettor and an increase in carbon deposits on pistons.
But when the fuel contained 20 per cent ethanol, substantial problems were encountered. The outboard engine stalled on occasions, exhaust gas temperature increased by a significant margin and in some cases there was extensive corrosion of engine parts.
Dr Kemp said the studies increased pressure on the states and territories to require labelling of fuel that has been mixed with ethanol.
The studies came after BP dumped a trial of a 10 per cent ethanol blend in six Brisbane service stations. The company said demand from motorists collapsed after controversy grew over the additive.
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Here is a discussion thread on ethanol damage on a surfing website - E10 or E15 ethanol mixes apparently damage fiberglass fuel tanks in boats:
http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=487790
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Questions and answers with details about how ethanol damages engines:
from:
http://askville.amazon.com/ethanol-damage-car/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=5237993
"Will ethanol damage my car?"
Topics: fuel, cars
Asked by: WKEley - 6 months ago ( Send a Compliment)
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Details:
A lot of people say ethanol is a bad thing, but so is oil. So what's the best fuel?
Answers:
1. This answer explains that a car with computerized fuel injection can adjust for ethanol, but if you have an older car or other type of engine without computers, it can't adjust and you have to know how to do it.
"No, but your car must be set up to burn it."
by: IchtheosaurusRex on Oct 29 2007 (6 months ago)
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You can go to any GM dealer right now and buy a car that will run on either gasoline or E85, a fuel that is mostly ethanol. If you buy gas at almost any pump, you are running on a mixture that is up to 10% ethanol as it is.
You cannot run E85 in a car that isn’t set up for it because of differences in the programming required for fuel injection. E85 and gasoline have different stoichiometric ratios, roughly 14.7 by weight for gasoline, 9.0 for ethanol. In plain language, to achieve ideal combustion, more E85 must be injected into the mix than gasoline, when you’re running on it. The computer must adjust the injector pulse width to produce the correct air/fuel ratio for each fuel. In a vehicle that’s not designed to burn E85, the mixture would be wrong.
There are also some physical requirements in engine and fuel system design that must be considered. Alcohol will damage some substances, like rubber, that gasoline won’t. However, almost any car on the road could be modified to use E85 by retrofitting the affected components with ones that are compatible with both ethanol and gasoline. This has been done for years in cars that have been modified for racing.
Finally - what’s the best? Ethanol burns cleaner and produces less carbon dioxide than gasoline does. It also provides a modest increase in horsepower, but at the expense of greater overall fuel consumption. If we could produce ethanol in sufficient quantities to supply all of our motor fuel needs, then it would be the better fuel. Unfortunately, we cannot produce it in sufficient quantities now. Most of our ethanol comes from corn, and we don’t grow enough of it that we could divert enough into fuel production, without adversely affecting food prices. It is also harder to transport and store. Backers of E85 are confident that these problems can be solved, but I remain skeptical.
Answer 2: Yes. Ethanol damages your car."
by: JayD on Oct 29 2007 (6 months ago)
This is one of my SME areas... I am designing and building a "Flexfuel" road rally racer...
Ethanol, aka Grain Alcohol, is the same alcohol we drink to get drunk (if you want to take it that far). It is "denatured" to make it undrinkable so it can be sold without worry of abuse. For cars it is sold as E10, E85, E100... etc. This means "E-Ethanol" and 10%, 85%, 100%.... with the other proportion being gasoline. Alcohol will carry an electrical current and gasoline will not so the higher the percentage of alchol the more "galvanic corrosion" you get in your fuel system due to electrical current between unlike metals and also erosion of incompatible materials. Incompatible material are rubber and aluminum which alcohol is exceptional hard on over time. Basically the materials that are good to use in gasoline systems are bad to use in alcohol systems and vice versa. Most fuel systems not rated as "flexifuel" have incompatible materials in them. Running even 10% Ethanol (common these days) will have an impact on your car and reduce its useful life. There are also other problems... alchohol runs at about 19:1 parts (alcohol to air--by weight) gasoline at 14.7:1... so by running alcohol you are running lean...and the float that tells your system when the carburator float bown is full is no longer correct because of density differences. Electronic fuel injection systems can make on-the-fly adjustments to air fuel ratio because of a closed loop in the computer that constantly takes a measure of the oxygen levels in the exhaust gas and if there is oxygen then knows the system is running lean and increases the fuel amount injected. Running alchohol also decreases your fuel economy somewhat... pure E100 fuel econonmy is terrible (about half that of gasoline). The performance you can get out of alchohol is better with an Octane equivalency of about 108 octane for E100... about 103 for E10 (pump gas available nationally with Ehtanol). I can stand behind everything I have said above.
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This YouTube video talks about what parts have to be DIFFERENT in a "flex fuel" vehicle which runs on E85. The text screens are from a flex fuel kit maker, who is biased. (or 85% ethanol - Florida is only using E10 or 10% ethanol at this time, but do you get the ). But, you notice that they talk about different metals that can stand up to ethanol caused erosion. Even 10% ethanol could erode and wear you valve seats, etc. if they were not the required metal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1_3rfK3yiY
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from http://boatingsailing.suite101.com/blog.cfm/ethanol_fuel_tank_damage_suit
Lawsuit filed in California on behalf of boaters who had ethanol caused damage to gas tanks.
Ethanol Fuel Tank Damage Suit
Class Action Lawsuit for Boaters Filed Against Major Oil Companies
© Alan Sorum
Apr 7, 2008
Ethanol problems experienced by California boaters may be addressed in class action law suit against major oil companies.
Problems related to use of ethanol blended gasoline have been highlighted here in the Boating and Sailing Section of Suite101. Now the law firm of Kabateck Brown Kellner, a business known for tackling consumer related issues, is suing a number of major oil industry companies for the damage caused to fiberglass fuel tank from ethanol blended fuel.
Ethanol has been linked to problems with fiberglass fuel tanks, phase separation of water in tanks, damage to fuel system components, and engine failures. ExxonMobil, Chevron, British Petroleum, Shell, Valero, Tesoro, ConocoPhillips, Tower Energy, PetroDiamond, and Big West are among the companies that manufactured and sold ethanol to boaters named in the law suit.
In a press release, Managing Partner Brian Kabateck says, "The price of gas is bad enough, but selling gasoline that dissolves gas tanks is a new low even for the oil companies. The oil companies know this fuel is corrosive, but they're keeping consumers in the dark to pump up their profits. The cost to the consumer is thousands of dollars in repairs." The law firm points out that ExxonMobil recorded a profit of $40.6 billion and Chevron $18.7 billion in 2007.
Ethyl alcohol has become a popular additive to gasoline. Oil companies used MTBE or methyl tert-butyl ether to boost octane and oxygenate fuel, but MTBE has been linked extensive groundwater contamination problems throughout the country. Boaters found out that adding ethanol blended gasoline to fuel tanks containing fuel blended with MTBE created problems. The ethyl alcohol used in ethanol is a powerful solvent and dissolved the resins used in some fiberglass fuel tanks.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California in Los Angeles. Kabateck Brown Kellner are seeking to represent all boat owners that filled their fiberglass fuel tanks with ethanol from a California retailer.
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from the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/16/AR2007071601845_pf.html
Another side effect of ethanol is that more farmers are planting corn, and corn uses more fertilizer which gets into the aquifer, etc. Here is what the Washington Post had to say...
'Green' Fuel May Damage The Bay
Ethanol Study Has Dire Prediction for The Chesapeake
By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 17, 2007; B01
A surge in the demand for ethanol -- touted as a greener alternative to gasoline -- could have a serious environmental downside for the Chesapeake Bay, because more farmers growing corn could mean more pollution washing off farm fields, a new study warned yesterday.
The study, whose sponsors included the U.S. government and an environmental group, predicted that farmers in the bay watershed will plant 500,000 or more new acres of corn in the next five years. Because fields of corn generally produce more polluted runoff than those of other crops, that's a problem.
"It's going in the opposite direction from where we want to go," said Jim Pease, a professor at Virginia Tech and one of the study's authors.
Ethanol, a fuel made from processed and fermented plant matter, is an old invention with enormous new cachet. Proponents say that it offers an alternative to oil imported from overseas and that it emits fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. In his State of the Union address in January, President Bush called for its use in motor fuels to be increased sevenfold by 2017. Already, 15 ethanol facilities are either planned or under construction in the mid-Atlantic, according to yesterday's report.
But ethanol's boom has also produced a variety of unintended, and unwanted, consequences. Because the primary ingredient at U.S. ethanol plants is corn, the price of that grain has shot up, making everything from tortillas to beef to chocolate more expensive.
In the Chesapeake area, according to the study, the drawback to ethanol's boom is that more farmers have planted cornfields to take advantage of the prices. Corn harvests are expected to increase 12 percent in Maryland this year and 8 percent in Virginia, according to a forecast in March from the U.S. Agriculture Department.
Although the spike is expected to be greater in Mississippi, where forecasters predict a 179 percent jump, across the vast Chesapeake watershed -- extending from southern Virginia to Cooperstown, N.Y. -- smaller shifts can add up. The authors of the study released yesterday forecast that over the next five years, the area of land newly planted with corn could be as much as 1 million acres, four times the size of Fairfax County.
Those shifting to corn production included Craig Giese, a farmer with 600 acres on Virginia's Northern Neck. Giese said in a telephone interview yesterday that he planted 50 new acres of corn after prices climbed from about $2.30 per 56-pound bushel last year to about $3.40 this year.
But Giese said he left many of his acres planted with soybeans to ensure against a disaster if corn prices drop or a drought makes the plants wither.
"If you put in all corn, you could hit a home run, with the prices we have now," said Giese, whose farm is near Lancaster, about 120 miles from Washington. "But . . . you could also go belly up."
More cornfields could be trouble, the study warned, because corn generally requires more fertilizer than such crops as soybeans or hay. When it rains, some of this fertilizer washes downstream, and it brings such pollutants as nitrogen and phosphorus, which feed unnatural algae blooms in the bay. These algae consume the oxygen that fish, crabs and other creatures need to breathe, creating the Chesapeake's infamous dead zones.
Governments around the bay have pledged to cut their output of nitrogen by 110 million pounds by 2010. But the study estimated that an ethanol-driven increase in cornfields could add 8 million to 16 million pounds of pollution.
"We've made it that much harder to meet our bay restoration goals," said Beth McGee, a senior water quality specialist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, an environmental group based in Annapolis. McGee helped compile the study released yesterday.
The impact could be lessened, McGee said, by measures that trap farm pollution before it can reach a stream. These include forested "buffers" along rivers, where plants can filter runoff, or "cover crops" that soak up fertilizer after the main harvest.
U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has pushed for such measures to get federal funding from the 2007 farm bill, which is scheduled for a markup in a House committee this week. McGee said yesterday's report was timed to show the need for those funds.
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from: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/14334
Another Q& A regarding ethanol damage to a 2 stroke engine (like used in lawnmowers, chainsaws, some older motorcyles, etc)
Question:
Would the use of ethanol fuel damage a 50cc 2-stroke engine? If so, how long would it take and which parts of the engine would be damaged?
Answer:
A small motor, especially a carbureted 2 stroke that uses oil mixed in the gas, such as a chain saw, will indeed be damaged over time. The alcohol content will disperse the mixed oil as it is atomized and the spray "hits" the piston. The oil is then essentially washed away before it can provide the proper lubrication.
This is where the engine wear will occur the most, on the intake side of the piston, and when it has gotten bad enough, the engine will cease to run due to the loss of compression. Usually you can get away with replacing just the piston and ring, but sometimes the cylinder is also damaged as well. It's not an immediate problem, but a day in, day out, four hours a day use of a chain saw will probably last 6 months or so.
Many small engine manufacturers will even consider your warranty void for damage such as this. As it means you did not use the proper alcohol free fuel when operating the engine, it's usually well defined in owner's manuals to use ethanol free fuel. It's also pretty non disputible as well, since when the piston is only worn/damaged on the intake side, it means that either you didn't have an air filter on, or were using poor fuel.
Overall, in a low use homeowner engine, i wouldn't worry too much about using an ethanol mix. By the time this damage will compound, the rest of the machine might be worn out beyond reasonable repair anyway. If you are a professional user, and demand a high level of long term quality use out of your equipment, i'd do my best to find non-oxygenated gasoline. You could also use aviation gas, it should also be alcohol (ethanol) free, and will be high octane, which is also good for many small motors.
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from: http://www.evinrude-parts.com/outboard_engine_damage_and_ethanol_fuel.html
This article talks about damage to outboard boat engines from ethanol. It brings up the point that ethanol reduces the "shelf life" of gasoline, thus you can't let it sit for long before it degrades.
Boat Engines - Dangers and Precautions Necessary
with E10 Ethanol-Blend Gasoline.
OMC - BRP - Evinrude - Johnson - E-Tec - OMC Cobra -
- Honda - Indmar - Mercury - Yamaha - Nissan - Pleasurecraft - Suzuki...
Many Boat Owners, in recent years, have unknowingly used gas, blended with too high (unsafe) levels of ethanol alcohol. Running on gas with over 10 % alcohol in a marine engine will cause performance problems, and can also cause permanent damage to your marine motor.
Understanding the dangers and effects of alcohol gas, in addition to following all the necessary marine fuel system precautions, is now necessary to avoid any problems with E10 gasoline.
There has been much controversy, misinformation and confusion since the recent (2006) increased distribution of ethanol gasoline in the United States.
Recent marketing gimmicks by some fuel additive product companies, have confused boaters even more. These ads falsely claim their new products can "fix" or repair ethanol water-contaminated fuel...Phase-separated fuel can not be fixed, and it must be discarded.
Even high level, reputable government authorities, have recently published information that conflicts with previous articles and bulletins written years ago on ethanol.
Marine manufacturer fuel recommendations (eg. owners manuals), which in the past, often warned against using alcohol fuels, now document that up to 10 % ethanol in gas is acceptable.
As more people are using E10, the necessary precautions and dangers are becoming more apparent and better documented.
Boaters looking for instant answers and solutions will not find them- But, increased knowledge and following all the necessary precautions can spare you from most of the inconvenience and problems with alcohol gas.
All reputable authorities agree, that running on ethanol alcohol above 10 % will cause motor damage and/or performance issues with gas-powered engines, and it is always unsafe to run on contaminated fuel.
Prevention is your best weapon against ethanol gas.
Ethanol Fuel Background:
E10, Is a gasoline blended with up to 10 % ethanol alcohol and is now in widespread use in the U.S. Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, is made from corn, sugar and other grains.
Alcohol is an excellent cleaner, solvent, anti-freeze and most important, ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it will absorb large amounts of water.
Government regulations and laws for ethanol fuel use and labeling differ from state-to-state, and are constantly changing. View Ethanol Handbook 2006 State-By-State Laws.
The most serious boat engine problems, resulting from ethanol E10 use, have mainly occurred due to illegal amounts of ethanol (over 10 %) being incorrectly added at the gas station pumps, by the delivery truck drivers..
Since using over 10 % alcohol gas is dangerous, it will invalidate all marine company engine warranties.
Many ethanol problems, reported by boaters appears to be due to their lack of knowledge/information on how to properly manage alcohol fuels.
Many boat engine breakdowns in recent months are directly related to the mismanagement of E10 gas.
Your marine mechanic may not even suspect or test the fuel as a possible cause of breakdowns. Many marine engine repair businesses have flourished as a result of ethanol gas engine damage.
Several older engines can not use any fuels that contains alcohol. Eg. Certain fiberglass tanks, mostly manufactured prior to 1992, will decompose from alcohol.
Fortunately newer outboard engines (past 5 years) have been designed to be more compatible with alcohol fuels.
Reasons Boat Engines Have More Problems with Ethanol Gas:
Boaters, often store gas in tanks longer than recommended for E10 (90 days).
Cars, unlike boats, usually replace fuel every week or two, which will successfully prevent the possibility of water-contamination/phase separation.
Boat engines live in a water environment - Alcohol gas loves to absorb water.
Ethanol E10 gas can absorb large amounts of water into the fuel tank, MTBE in conventional gasoline did not.
Plus, boat engines usually last longer than cars. Still owning and using a marine engine from the 1970's or 1980's is not uncommon. * These older engine parts and tanks were not usually designed or tested to withstand the damaging effects of alcohol gas.
* Several older marine engines (made prior to 1992) have plastic and rubber parts, and fiberglass tanks that are NOT compatible with E10 alcohol fuel.
Ethanol's adverse effects to boat motors involves all types of performance issues and disintegration and deterioration, drying and clogging of engine parts.
Signs and symptoms of ethanol problems and damage include:
Stalling, prematurely worn engine parts, rusting, clogging of fuel filters and carburetor jets, release of gunk and sludge throughout the engine, frequent water-contamination/phase separation of fuel, and eventually engine breakdowns and death.
Ethanol can cause a motor to run lean on fuel, due to water will not burn, which will take the place of fuel.
Vapor lock (fuel starvation) is common when using ethanol fuels.
Alcohol fuels are very prone to phase separation, when the weight of the ethanol and water will sink to the bottom of the fuel tank and get picked up by the motors fuel system. (Even small amounts of water can harm the fuel system).
The initial symptoms, (of using a higher than acceptable concentration of alcohol in fuel, is usually engine stalling when you demand acceleration (WOT).
You'll notice other performance issues, such as increased stalling, misfire, hesitation and difficulty maintaining boat speed during trolling.
The long term dangers of ethanol (and other alcohol-blended fuels) are many, including deterioration of parts (rubber, aluminum, fiberglass etc.), rusting, fuel system clogging, and other varied damage to engine parts and components. Older engines are more prone to ethanol alcohol damage.
The most reported and troublesome issue with marine engines and ethanol fuel has been regarding the decomposition of certain fiberglass gas tanks. There really is no solution to this issue, other than to replace the tank (very costly, time-consuming project); Lining or sealing the tank, for added protection, is sometimes possible.
1. It is dangerous to use greater than 10 % ethanol in marine engines.
Some gas supplies are illegally much higher. Check gas with an alcohol fuel test kit to make sure ethanol present is less than 10%.
A recent post on a Long Island, NY message board states,
"Believe it or not, some of the fuel samples tested 48 % ethanol and most were above the 10 % 'maximum allowable by law'.".
All marine engines sold in the United States are designed to operate on fuel containing no more than 10 percent ethanol. Engines built before ethanol became popular for environmental reasons, (past 10 years) have minimal safeguards from the damage alcohol fuels will cause.
2. Ethanol absorbs water - Water molecules combine with petroleum (gas) in your gas fuel tank and lines...
Ethanol has an increased risk of fuel water-contamination due to ability to absorb H20.
(Ethanol attracts and absorbs moisture from the air). Vapor lock and fuel starvation can occur.
The gasoline you pump in your tank may be dry, but due to condensation (from humidity, temperature, etc.) water does exist in your tank. Since water is insoluble in gasoline, it sinks to the bottom of your tank -
As long as it remains below the level of your fuel pickup tube it will not affect your engine. The problem is water is soluble in ethanol and will travel thru your engine fuel system.
A water/ethanol mixture, being heavier than gas, will sink to the bottom of the gas tank, leaving a lower octane gas on top. This low octane gas (lean fuel) can cause performance issues with 4-stroke engines, and can cause damage to 2-stroke engines.
Excess water in engines will also cause premature rusting.
3. Ethanol is an amazing solvent and cleansing agent.
High levels of ethanol can dissolve, deteriorate and breakdown solid material, including rubber, plastic, fiberglass and even aluminum and steel.
Ethanol will also cleanse and release corrosive matter (gunk), varnish and rust, which will travel through the engine and clog fuel filters, carburetor jets and injectors. In many outboard engines it will also contaminate the fuel present in your fuel tank.
Ethanol tends to dissolve certain resins, which can travel through the engine intake and coat intake valves, causing sticking and bent pushrods or worse. This has been well documented for boats equipped with certain fiberglass gas tanks, made before the early 1990's.
The more gunk (rust, sediment, dirt, etc.) collected in your outboard engine over the years, the more noticeable the cleansing effects of alcohol will be noticed.
Ethanol's solvent and cleansing abilities can lead to engine failure and expensive (avoidable) repairs.
4. Ethanol can wear-down and dry-out the plastic and rubber parts in your engine.
Rubber seals and plastic material used in older boats are often not compatible with alcohol. Ethanol will make engine parts dry and brittle. Since ethanol is a cleansing and drying solution, it will clean the oil right off the internal components of a 2 stroke, Extra lubrication is necessary.
5. Ethanol blends can cause additional contamination by reacting chemically with MTBE fuel blends.
Do not mix gas that contains MTBE with ethanol E10.
Mixing MTBE fuel with ethanol blend fuel can create a gel-like substance that clogs passages in carburetors.
Stalled engines and engine damage are the result. Fuel injected engines have shown less damage, than carbureted engines, from this gel-like substance.
6. Engines with older fiberglass gas tanks have the greatest risks when using fuel with ethanol.
Fiberglass gas tanks can "deteriorate" from ethanol, causing this degraded resin stuff, (you'll see "black sludge") to circulate through your engine, coating intake manifolds and building up on intake valves - which basically destroys your engine.
How to Prevent Damage From Ethanol in Your Outboard Motor:
1. If possible, try to avoid using ethanol fuel blends in your outboard and marine engines.
If you are unable to obtain alcohol-free fuel in your area, you SHOULD TEST THE FUEL YOU BUY to assure the ethanol content is at or below 10 %.
2. Follow engine manufacturer gas recommendations. Check with your marine motor manufacturer and/or check your owners manual.
.
3. Always use fresh, high-quality gasoline and replace it every 2-4 weeks.
Always avoid storing gas in tank for greater than 90 days. Remember that gas with ethanol has a shorter shelf life - use it up and replace it quickly.
Buy gas from busy gas stations - Fuel turnover is faster, gas will be fresher.
4. Check your gas tank for the presence of water and remove all water before adding an ethanol blend.
5. Avoid running on bottom of gas tank (where most water will sink).
6. Do not mix MTBE and ethanol-blended fuels.
Run out or remove your old (MTBE) fuel before putting the new ethanol fuel in your tank.
7. Make sure your motor is equipped with a water separating fuel filter.
Evinrude E-Tec's, and other newer engine models have them, other engines may or may not. The installation of a water separator in the fuel line will help with small amounts of water. Some marine engines are also equipped with water sensors.
8. Check fuel system for contaminants and clogging and replace your fuel filter often.
Fuel filters should be replaced at least every 50 -100 hours.
9. Evinrude - Johnson 2 + 4 fuel conditioner will stabilize fuel, inhibit corrosion and absorb moisture (water) without adding alcohol to the fuel. Add fuel conditioner at every gas fill-up.
10 . Evinrude (OMC BRP) also recommends carbon guard be added to the fuel tank each time you add gasoline, (Reduces possibility of rusting, piston ring sticking and carbon build-up, better overall engine performance, increases engine life), but it will not remove water.
11. Keep your engine well-tuned and lubricated.
12. If your engine has an older fiberglass gas tank, replace it. (Check with manufacturer if your tank was designed to tolerate alcohol fuels). Newer fiberglass tanks are double-lined and made of special material that holds up to ethanol.
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