Any opinions on running ethanol free fuel vs. using regular fuel with a fuel treatment added? I have only ever ran ethanol free until yesterday and i filled up with regular and added a fuel treatment that i picked up from West Marine. I have a 2 stroke 115 Mercury and it didn’t seem to like the fuel treatment. Harder starts and ran a little rough. Not sure if the fuel caused it. What do you think?
17.5 Searay
Ethanol in gasoline is the devil. Especially in carbureted engines or older engines with rubber fuel lines. It destroys the fuel line from the inside out and leaves those pieces to burn through your combustion chambers if they get that far. Also leaves behind residue when it separates and will soak up water.
There is no reason I will ever run anything other than nonethanol gasoline in anything I have to let sit more than a few days, period.
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Thanks tigerfin
17.5 Searay
Our repair bill from one tank of 10% ethanol gasoline (that sat unused for 5 - 7 weeks due to a family illness) was $532.00. A friend had to spend a lot more than that to have his motor repaired. My mechanic advises to avoid ethanol if at all possible. I will avoid it at all costs. Just think how much ethanol free gas we could have burned for the money we spent on repairs.
I’ve been running ethanol in my boats for the past 6 years. First in my 27’ inboard with a 1980 318 Chrysler, now in my 08 Merc F115… I’ve got over 200 trouble free hours with the Merc, and about 400 hours with the inboard. With the old boat the first few tanks were and issue - the E10 took all the old varnish off the tanks and dumped it into the carb. A few tanks, some Startron and a 10 micron filter and all was fine.
I dont even have an extra filter on my Merc. If you don’t mix the fuels - stick with one or the other - treat with startron and try to store with the tanks empty, you will be fine. E10 is a solvent, once your tanks are clean, it helps keep them clean. It will store for longer periods just fine with startron… and for long put ups, keep the tanks fairly empty.
Of you mix the two fuels on a regular basis - all bets are off.
I think I’m going to just run this tank out this week and stick with ethanol free. Thanks for all the advice.
17.5 Searay
Run either all of one or all of the other plus treatment. Older engines not designed to handle E-gas should only run non-e at any time. Combining the two is a problem in any engine.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
So it sounds like that is the reason it ran funny this weekend.
17.5 Searay
quote:
Originally posted by jughedI’ve been running ethanol in my boats for the past 6 years. First in my 27’ inboard with a 1980 318 Chrysler, now in my 08 Merc F115… I’ve got over 200 trouble free hours with the Merc, and about 400 hours with the inboard. With the old boat the first few tanks were and issue - the E10 took all the old varnish off the tanks and dumped it into the carb. A few tanks, some Startron and a 10 micron filter and all was fine.
I dont even have an extra filter on my Merc. If you don’t mix the fuels - stick with one or the other - treat with startron and try to store with the tanks empty, you will be fine. E10 is a solvent, once your tanks are clean, it helps keep them clean. It will store for longer periods just fine with startron… and for long put ups, keep the tanks fairly empty.
Of you mix the two fuels on a regular basis - all bets are off.
I have always heard the opposite. I was told to always store full when using E-gas because partially full tanks allow for moisture build-up in the tank… never know who to belive these days…
Key West 196 CC 115hp Merc// 14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
quote:
Originally posted by pitviper0404quote:
Originally posted by jughedI’ve been running ethanol in my boats for the past 6 years. First in my 27’ inboard with a 1980 318 Chrysler, now in my 08 Merc F115… I’ve got over 200 trouble free hours with the Merc, and about 400 hours with the inboard. With the old boat the first few tanks were and issue - the E10 took all the old varnish off the tanks and dumped it into the carb. A few tanks, some Startron and a 10 micron filter and all was fine.
I dont even have an extra filter on my Merc. If you don’t mix the fuels - stick with one or the other - treat with startron and try to store with the tanks empty, you will be fine. E10 is a solvent, once your tanks are clean, it helps keep them clean. It will store for longer periods just fine with startron… and for long put ups, keep the tanks fairly empty.
Of you mix the two fuels on a regular basis - all bets are off.
I have always heard the opposite. I was told to always store full when using E-gas because partially full tanks allow for moisture build-up in the tank… never know who to belive these days…
Key West 196 CC 115hp Merc// 14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
E-10 absorbs water, then the troubles start. Little or no E-10 in the tank is easy to deal with vs xx gallons that have gone bad. At least thats my thinking…
Have always used E-10.
Keep the tank full all the time-use 30 mic Racor backed up by two other filters in my 2005 Yam-150 4 stroke. Use blue Stabil.
As routine maintenance, had the fuel injectors cleaned a couple of years ago.
Boat often sits unused for a month or so.
Runs fine.
“Watch what we do, not what we say.” John Mitchell
Sea Hunt Triton 202
Yammy 150
quote:
Originally posted by sternlineHave always used E-10.
Keep the tank full all the time-use 30 mic Racor backed up by two other filters in my 2005 Yam-150 4 stroke. Use blue Stabil.
As routine maintenance, had the fuel injectors cleaned a couple of years ago.
Boat often sits unused for a month or so.
Runs fine.“Watch what we do, not what we say.” John Mitchell
Sea Hunt Triton 202
Yammy 150
The only times we had trouble (in Maryland) is during winter put up. The boats came out for 3-5 months during winter… drastic temp changes, moisture changes - you name it. Full tanks went bad over the winter.
We had/have to use E10, nothing else was available.
quote:
Originally posted by jughedquote:
Originally posted by pitviper0404quote:
Originally posted by jughedI’ve been running ethanol in my boats for the past 6 years. First in my 27’ inboard with a 1980 318 Chrysler, now in my 08 Merc F115… I’ve got over 200 trouble free hours with the Merc, and about 400 hours with the inboard. With the old boat the first few tanks were and issue - the E10 took all the old varnish off the tanks and dumped it into the carb. A few tanks, some Startron and a 10 micron filter and all was fine.
I dont even have an extra filter on my Merc. If you don’t mix the fuels - stick with one or the other - treat with startron and try to store with the tanks empty, you will be fine. E10 is a solvent, once your tanks are clean, it helps keep them clean. It will store for longer periods just fine with startron… and for long put ups, keep the tanks fairly empty.
Of you mix the two fuels on a regular basis - all bets are off.
I have always heard the opposite. I was told to always store full when using E-gas because partially full tanks allow for moisture build-up in the tank… never know who to belive these days…
Key West 196 CC 115hp Merc// 14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
E-10 absorbs water, then the troubles start. Little or no E-10 in the tank is easy to deal with vs xx gallons that have gone bad. At least thats my thinking…
I was told if you are us
One thing if for sure, we wouldnt have to have this discussion if our government didn’t feel the need to micromanage everything. Adding etnanol to gas has virtually zero pluses and so many negatives. The only plus I see is corn farmers get more money for their corn… the negatives… Corn costs a fortune, lower gas mileage, moisture problems, higher fuel costs, etc, etc…SMDH
Key West 19’6" CC 115hp Merc
14’ Fast Craft w/ 60hp Merc
Corn could be sold as a world wide commodity or other &@&$t grown for food. Don’t we have starving people in Merica and the world? The goobermint could quit just giving money away to countries that hate us, hand it to the farmers for the corn then feed the starving people of the world. Probably do a lot more to foster good will than the BS they do now. Then we could just buy real gas.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
quote:
Originally posted by jughedI dont even have an extra filter on my Merc. If you don’t mix the fuels - stick with one or the other - treat with startron and try to store with the tanks empty, you will be fine. E10 is a solvent, once your tanks are clean, it helps keep them clean. It will store for longer periods just fine with startron… and for long put ups, keep the tanks fairly empty.
Of you mix the two fuels on a regular basis - all bets are off.
I do agree that Startron is a good additive. I also agree what you are talking about on “cleaning” an old tank of varnish and then passing it through the fuel system. What I don’t agree with is swapping to E-10 and doing this with the knowledge you have an older system that was running non-blended fuel. On storing fairly empty, someone gave you bad advise. On storing Either all or nothing, I would not recommend storing one under 3/4 tank specially in our moist atmosphere the more air space the more moisture. Add in a metal tank and then you add condensation into the mix. The alcohol in E-10 WILL absorb moisture. Alcohol has always been used to get water out of fuel by blending with it and then making it able to pass through the filters and water separator then burnt through the engine. Ok you got the water out the tank, but what did you sacrifice, certainly lower octane which will cause detonation and if you had a fuel injected engine you just ran the chance of destroying your injectors. They don’t like water. Also some mentioned the fuel lines, I have seen on several instances the harm E-10 has done them. They will become mushy and collapse hopefully not sending crude down stream before engine shut down.
If you mix the two fuels? E-10 is a mixed fuel by mixing non ethanol fuel with E-10 you would actually improve it by maki
quote:
Originally posted by Fred67quote:
Originally posted by jughedI dont even have an extra filter on my Merc. If you don’t mix the fuels - stick with one or the other - treat with startron and try to store with the tanks empty, you will be fine. E10 is a solvent, once your tanks are clean, it helps keep them clean. It will store for longer periods just fine with startron… and for long put ups, keep the tanks fairly empty.
Of you mix the two fuels on a regular basis - all bets are off.
I do agree that Startron is a good additive. I also agree what you are talking about on “cleaning” an old tank of varnish and then passing it through the fuel system. What I don’t agree with is swapping to E-10 and doing this with the knowledge you have an older system that was running non-blended fuel. On storing fairly empty, someone gave you bad advise. On storing Either all or nothing, I would not recommend storing one under 3/4 tank specially in our moist atmosphere the more air space the more moisture. Add in a metal tank and then you add condensation into the mix. The alcohol in E-10 WILL absorb moisture. Alcohol has always been used to get water out of fuel by blending with it and then making it able to pass through the filters and water separator then burnt through the engine. Ok you got the water out the tank, but what did you sacrifice, certainly lower octane which will cause detonation and if you had a fuel injected engine you just ran the chance of destroying your injectors. They don’t like water. Also some mentioned the fuel lines, I have seen on several instances the harm E-10 has done them. They will become mushy and collapse hopefully not sending crude
Adding a stabilizer doesn’t change the chemical make up of the gasoline. It can’t “cure” the ethanol being in the gas. It won’t fix it, or change what it does. We all know that once the alcohol has attracted enough water, it will phase separate and leave you with water, and something gas-like that most engines don’t like.
If you don’t want the ill effects of ethanol laced gasoline, the best thing is to not use it. Luckily, in the Charleston - James Island - Mt Pleasant area there are many places that we have that option.
177 Scout F90
Exxon on Mathis Ferry has Non E 93 grade for 3.99!!!
My new boat has only non eth in it.
Stonoman