There has been a lot of talk recently on the CharlestonFishing.com Boats and Motors Forum in regards to 10% Ethanol found in fuel and its impact on outboards. Below is a press release I received this week from Boat US in regards to some special preparation for storing ethanol laden fuel in your boat over the winter. Even if you are storing your boat for just a couple of months, there looks like there are some preventative measures you should take. Hope this article helps you prepare.
Captain Tim Pickett,
CharlestonFishing.Com</font id=“blue”>
BOATU.S. RECOMMENDS LEAVING YOUR BOAT’S GAS TANK FULL THIS WINTER
The Problem with Ethanol Fuel: Phase Separation
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Sept. 9, 2008 – Ethanol-laden gasoline, dubbed “E-10” for its 10% ethanol content, is now commonplace at marina fuel docks across the country. However, as winter approaches and boaters lay up their vessels for the season, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) has some recommendations to ensure that spring commissioning will go smoothly. That’s because E-10 can phase separate, or form two separate solutions in the gas tank - water and fuel - over a long winter storage period. Once this happens, the engine may not run and internal damage can occur.
BoatU.S. has these recommendations for storing boats fueled with E-10 this winter:
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Top Off: For boats with built-in gas tanks, stop at the fuel dock and top off the tank before you haul out, leaving it nearly full with just a little room for expansion. A tank that is almost full limits the flow of air into and out of the vent, which reduces the chance of fluctuating temperatures adding condensation (water) to the fuel, inviting phase separation. Anglers who fish over the winter should also top off their boat’s gasoline tanks between outings to prevent condensation. Draining built-in fuel tanks of E-10 gas, while completely eliminating any chances of phase separation, is not practical and potentially dangerous.
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