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Cobalt 25 · 09-26-2006, 09:34 PM

Last fall I left the tank half full with the proper amount of Sta-Bil (fuel stabilizer). This summer it cost $1600 to get the ethanol issue to where I THINK it is resolved.

The gel that formed looked like pudding and clogged the fuel filter and ruined one of the fuel pumps (2001 496 Merc MPI). We eventually decided to install a Racor 10 micron filter which is twice as restrictive as the OEM unit from Merc.

After implementing the Racor system, we decided to just run the bad fuel/ethanol mix through the system. This decision was based on the reluctance of the marina to try to drain the 92 gallon tank and the expense of disposing of all that fuel. Also, there is no way to completely drain a baffled fuel tank without removing it.

I then emptied the Racor filter after about each hour of use. This produced some pretty nasty stuff, but it was effective. After about three or four tanks of fuel, it now SEEMS O.K. And, in spite of the Merc bulletin listed above, there have been no fuel restriction issues with the Racor 10 micron filter. The engine attains full RPM.

This winter? Full tank, no doubt about it.

Peter

Oh yeah, almost all of my boating was on Cape Cod.

09-26-2006, 09:34 PM	#14
Cobalt 25 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 216 Thanks: 227 Thanked 36 Times in 20 Posts	unfortunate real world experience Last fall I left the tank half full with the proper amount of Sta-Bil (fuel stabilizer). This summer it cost $1600 to get the ethanol issue to where I THINK it is resolved. The gel that formed looked like pudding and clogged the fuel filter and ruined one of the fuel pumps (2001 496 Merc MPI). We eventually decided to install a Racor 10 micron filter which is twice as restrictive as the OEM unit from Merc. After implementing the Racor system, we decided to just run the bad fuel/ethanol mix through the system. This decision was based on the reluctance of the marina to try to drain the 92 gallon tank and the expense of disposing of all that fuel. Also, there is no way to completely drain a baffled fuel tank without removing it. I then emptied the Racor filter after about each hour of use. This produced some pretty nasty stuff, but it was effective. After about three or four tanks of fuel, it now SEEMS O.K. And, in spite of the Merc bulletin listed above, there have been no fuel restriction issues with the Racor 10 micron filter. The engine attains full RPM. This winter? Full tank, no doubt about it. Peter Oh yeah, almost all of my boating was on Cape Cod.