Do I need to use ethanol treatment in my motor?

I have a 2005 fuel injected 2 stroke yamaha saltwater series 200 hp. I always fill the tank back up after every trip, and use a 10 micron racor filter/seperator. I have been using the blue stabil for ethanol but don’t know if I need to. I’ve heard that the ethanol is not a big deal for fuel injected engines.

What do ya’ll think? Any mechanics out there? Am I wasting my money on the stabil?

53’ Hatteras

I’m not a mechanic, but I have a similar engine. I asked around and learned that the ethanol attracts water and over time the water will sepearte and create it’s own layer. The fuel treatment prevents this seperation andaids in the prevention of the effects (drying) of the ethanol on all of the rubber hoses and seals in the fuel system. For me, it’s cheap insurance. Hankle Marine said to use it and so I do. Best bet is try to find ethanol free fuel if you don’t want to use the additive. But according to some folks on here, some stations sell ethanol tainted fuel without putting th sticker on the pumps. To me, it’s not worth the risk of damage to my fuel system or motor. I use the additive.

21’ Sea-Pro CC
Yamaha 150
“Aquaholic”
2008 Dodge Ram Mega-Cab 4x4 6.7 Cummins

“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway

Definitly money well spent!! The ethanol will attract water and seperate in your tank. More of a storage problem while in your tank versus running it thru any motor. I’ve prolly pumped a few thousand gallons out of folks boats this season to get rid of the water that it attracts.

Russ B.

Psalm 55:22

First off, I’m not a “professionally trained mechanic.” With that being said, I’ too have seen my share of ethanol problems. (here I go again Chris V.) I use the Sta Bil ethanol treatment, but it does nothing for the induction of water, created from blended fuel. It only protects engine parts from corrosion, by the water in the fuel system. READ THE BOTTLE! It seems the chemical introduced by the refineries to make ethanol and gasoline blend is the problem. Not the ethanol (alchahol) itself. I remember we used to pour alchahol into car fuel tanks to disperse water in them. The blended fuels actually attract water. I saw another post about a product sold @ Wal-Mart, for ethanol problems, I’m going to check out ASAP. It’s best to use only pure gasoline, but if not, run out as much as possible, and start fresh just before your next trip. TexasRed, I’ve talked with a couple of station owners around the upstate, and have been told that if bio-fuel (diesel) , or blended fuel (gas) is not posted at the pumps. The S.C. Dept. of Agriculture, will fine the pi$$ out of them, not sure though. Hope this helps, Scott

I started adding Startron fuel treatment to my tank after reading all the problems people are having

Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI

tprice, That’s the product I was referring to in my previous post. What is it, and where can one buy it? I think I recognize the name from a couple of other forums, aren’t you from the upstate?

quote:
Originally posted by Physical Therapy

I have been using the blue stabil for ethanol but don’t know if I need to. I’ve heard that the ethanol is not a big deal for fuel injected engines.

What do ya’ll think? Any mechanics out there? Am I wasting my money on the stabil?


water is just as bad for fuel injected engines as it is for carbureted ones.

if you use your boat constantly and are putting new fuel in it all the time there is no need to stabilize your fuel. if it sits for periods of more than a couple of weeks you need to stabilize it

congratz

Hoppy, I Don’t mean any ill will, and being a newby, don’t want to step on any toes, but the blue Sta Bill, does protect against water damage to the engine, from water in the fuel!(READ THE BOTTLE!) That’s about all it does! Just trying to help, seeya, Scott

MN -

read the guys post and read my answer.

1 - he asked if water was bad for a fuel injected engine. what was my answer?

2 - ethanol fuel does not contain water. ethanol attracts water if it sits in a vented tank for a long period of time. what question did i ask him?

now - are you saying that everyone needs to run stabil in an engine just b/c they use etanol fuel?

congratz

YEP!!!

why?

Because, I said to!!:smiley: No, It’s really cheap insurance, but if you don’t want to, then so be it. Just trying to help, my friend!!! Seeya, Scott

you missed the whole point

Being??

quote:
Originally posted by Mixed Nutz

First off, I’m not a “professionally trained mechanic.” With that being said, I’ too have seen my share of ethanol problems. (here I go again Chris V.) I use the Sta Bil ethanol treatment, but it does nothing for the induction of water, created from blended fuel. It only protects engine parts from corrosion, by the water in the fuel system. READ THE BOTTLE! It seems the chemical introduced by the refineries to make ethanol and gasoline blend is the problem. Not the ethanol (alchahol) itself. I remember we used to pour alchahol into car fuel tanks to disperse water in them. The blended fuels actually attract water. I saw another post about a product sold @ Wal-Mart, for ethanol problems, I’m going to check out ASAP. It’s best to use only pure gasoline, but if not, run out as much as possible, and start fresh just before your next trip. TexasRed, I’ve talked with a couple of station owners around the upstate, and have been told that if bio-fuel (diesel) , or blended fuel (gas) is not posted at the pumps. The S.C. Dept. of Agriculture, will fine the pi$$ out of them, not sure though. Hope this helps, Scott


NO, I think you missed the whole point, but maybe I'm wrong!

there is no reason to arbitrarily put stabil in your fuel. if there is a need for it, then its absolutely a good thing. i’m not certain if you really understand this, but etahnol fuel does not come with water in it

Hoppy, I would like to sit here, and debate the evils of ethanol. I’m just trying to help my fellow fisherman, and boaters, to avoid the many, many, many, problems, associated with using blended fuel!!! NO SWEAT MAN !!! You do you’re thing, and I’ll do mine. Seeya friend, Scott

Hoppy, don’t cruise my posts, “READ” them, about ethanol!!!

quote:
Originally posted by Mixed Nutz

tprice, That’s the product I was referring to in my previous post. What is it, and where can one buy it? I think I recognize the name from a couple of other forums, aren’t you from the upstate?


The product is by StarBirte(they make a great deck cleaner) and is Startron. You can pick it up at West Marine and I think even Walmart but I do not go in there much.

The guy at WM said they are selling a ton of this. You put in a heavy dose for initial tank (seems like it is 1 oz for each 8 gallons of gas) and then everytime you fill up you add the appropriate amount.

Got a 1 yr old F200 and I do not want any problems and some of the guys up here in Anderson are having some problems.

In fact Lake Hartwell Marine(old Garretts) right at the entrance to Portman has got word of the problem and owner Cliff Bowman is not going to carry the new gas and is going to make sure they have gas without the ethanol.

According to the guys at WM you can not put too much in and it also acts as a fuel stabilizer.

Would love for Chris V to chime in on this

Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI

scott - you still cant grasp it!! but thats ok.

i never said not to use it, i said its not always needed. do you know whay its not always needed? i have put about 800hrs on my fuel injected 4 stroke since ethanol has been added to gas and have never put a drop of fuel additive in it (except for 2 cans of ring free a friend gave me once). how can that be??