Ethanol In Gas Sold At Marinas?

Weekend Pundit · 02-09-2008, 10:19 PM

Does anyone know if the marinas will be pumping gasoline containing ethanol this coming summer? I know that gas stations around the Lakes Region have new stickers on their pumps stating the gasoline from the pumps may contain ethanol.

I own a 1993 cuddy and I have no idea if ethanol is going to cause problems with the gas tank, gaskets, or fuel lines of my boat. I don't want to find out the hard way.

Dave R · 02-09-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weekend Pundit

Does anyone know if the marinas will be pumping gasoline containing ethanol this coming summer? I know that gas stations around the Lakes Region have new stickers on their pumps stating the gasoline from the pumps may contain ethanol.

I own a 1993 cuddy and I have no idea if ethanol is going to cause problems with the gas tank, gaskets, or fuel lines of my boat. I don't want to find out the hard way.

Should only be a problem if the tank is fiberglass. Aluminum, steel or poly is a non-issue. The gaskets and fuel lines should not be a problem for you, but if your fuel lines are 1993 vintage, it would wise to change them anyway.

I have run ethanol blend in my trailered boat for at least two seasons with no issues at all.

LIforrelaxin · 02-10-2008, 12:08 AM

As mentioned the only tank type that becomes a concern are fiberglas tanks.... and if you contact the Manufacturer they can tell you what the gas tank is made out of.....

Then after that the big thing I have heard is not to switch back and forth, once running ethanol laced fuel, keep running ethanol laced fuel....other wise from what i have been told you end up with moisture build up. The other thing to look into is a Fuel additive called "Star Tron" by starbrite, that is supposed to help stablize the seperation issue with Ethanol gasoline.... The product seem to have good reviews I have seen it pluged on many shows.....

jrc · 02-10-2008, 03:49 PM

With the effective banning of MTBE, I've been predicting ethanol in the lakes region for a couple of years. So far I've been wrong. Last season every marina I went to did not have ethanol. The pump must be labeled if there is ethanol.

Airwaves · 02-10-2008, 04:17 PM

Ethanol becomes a problem when you don't use your boat for prolonged periods of time.

If you aren't going to be using the boat on a regular basis my advice is to keep the tank completely full and add a water separator if your boat doesn't already have one.

Star-tron does appear to help deal with the separation issues.

GWC... · 02-10-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

As mentioned the only tank type that becomes a concern are fiberglas tanks.... and if you contact the Manufacturer they can tell you what the gas tank is made out of.....

Then after that the big thing I have heard is not to switch back and forth, once running ethanol laced fuel, keep running ethanol laced fuel....other wise from what i have been told you end up with moisture build up. The other thing to look into is a Fuel additive called "Star Tron" by starbrite, that is supposed to help stablize the seperation issue with Ethanol gasoline.... The product seem to have good reviews I have seen it pluged on many shows.....

Here's an interesting thread at another Forum regarding Star Tron...

Cobalt 25 · 02-10-2008, 10:07 PM

I have about $1500 worth of first hand knowledge concerning ethanol.

In the fall of '05 I made the mistake of storing my 90 gallon aluminum tank half full of Sta-Bil treated gasoline. I ran the rest of that tank without issues in the spring of '06. In May of '06 ethanol became mandatory in Massachusetts and I filled the tank with it.

When I tried to take the second run of the season, I learned that the water accumulated from storing the tank half full had combined with the ethanol to make my life less than pleasant. This was a new phenomenon so it took a lot of trial and error and $$$ to figure out what was causing the engine (2001 Merc 8.1 Mag) not to run. Once figured out, it ran fine for the rest of the season. Part of the solution was the installation of a Racor fuel filter.

In the fall, tank FILLED, Sta-Bil. and Startron. No problemo ever since.

If the state of New Hampshire mandates ethanol, I strongly suggest the Racor filter changed/emptied HOURLY until the sludge created by the inevitable mixture of ethanol and water is cleared out. Adding Startron for the first few tanks is also advisable.

Good luck if NH goes to ethanol. Once your engine gets through the transition, you should be fine. It's the transition that's the killer if you are not aware of what to do.

Peter

Grady223 · 02-14-2008, 11:03 AM

Airwaves Says: Ethanol becomes a problem when you don't use your boat for prolonged periods of time.

Or, if you store it over the winter and the tank is not topped off.

BTW - Wolfeboro Corinthian Yacht Club uses only non MBTE and non ethonol fuel - mid grade.

02-09-2008, 10:19 PM	#1
Weekend Pundit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gilford Posts: 354 Thanks: 26 Thanked 70 Times in 43 Posts	Ethanol In Gas Sold At Marinas? Does anyone know if the marinas will be pumping gasoline containing ethanol this coming summer? I know that gas stations around the Lakes Region have new stickers on their pumps stating the gasoline from the pumps may contain ethanol. I own a 1993 cuddy and I have no idea if ethanol is going to cause problems with the gas tank, gaskets, or fuel lines of my boat. I don't want to find out the hard way.

02-10-2008, 12:08 AM	#3
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,901 Thanks: 1,045 Thanked 897 Times in 529 Posts	What I have heard As mentioned the only tank type that becomes a concern are fiberglas tanks.... and if you contact the Manufacturer they can tell you what the gas tank is made out of..... Then after that the big thing I have heard is not to switch back and forth, once running ethanol laced fuel, keep running ethanol laced fuel....other wise from what i have been told you end up with moisture build up. The other thing to look into is a Fuel additive called "Star Tron" by starbrite, that is supposed to help stablize the seperation issue with Ethanol gasoline.... The product seem to have good reviews I have seen it pluged on many shows..... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

02-10-2008, 10:07 PM	#7
Cobalt 25 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 228 Thanks: 228 Thanked 36 Times in 20 Posts	ethanol suggestions I have about $1500 worth of first hand knowledge concerning ethanol. In the fall of '05 I made the mistake of storing my 90 gallon aluminum tank half full of Sta-Bil treated gasoline. I ran the rest of that tank without issues in the spring of '06. In May of '06 ethanol became mandatory in Massachusetts and I filled the tank with it. When I tried to take the second run of the season, I learned that the water accumulated from storing the tank half full had combined with the ethanol to make my life less than pleasant. This was a new phenomenon so it took a lot of trial and error and $$$ to figure out what was causing the engine (2001 Merc 8.1 Mag) not to run. Once figured out, it ran fine for the rest of the season. Part of the solution was the installation of a Racor fuel filter. In the fall, tank FILLED, Sta-Bil. and Startron. No problemo ever since. If the state of New Hampshire mandates ethanol, I strongly suggest the Racor filter changed/emptied HOURLY until the sludge created by the inevitable mixture of ethanol and water is cleared out. Adding Startron for the first few tanks is also advisable. Good luck if NH goes to ethanol. Once your engine gets through the transition, you should be fine. It's the transition that's the killer if you are not aware of what to do. Peter

02-14-2008, 11:03 AM	#8
Grady223 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hope, PA & Barndoor Island Posts: 465 Thanks: 93 Thanked 24 Times in 18 Posts	Ethanol Airwaves Says: Ethanol becomes a problem when you don't use your boat for prolonged periods of time. Or, if you store it over the winter and the tank is not topped off. BTW - Wolfeboro Corinthian Yacht Club uses only non MBTE and non ethonol fuel - mid grade.

02-10-2008, 03:49 PM	#4
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	With the effective banning of MTBE, I've been predicting ethanol in the lakes region for a couple of years. So far I've been wrong. Last season every marina I went to did not have ethanol. The pump must be labeled if there is ethanol.

02-10-2008, 04:17 PM	#5
Airwaves Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: I'm right here! Posts: 1,153 Thanks: 9 Thanked 102 Times in 37 Posts	Ethanol becomes a problem when you don't use your boat for prolonged periods of time. If you aren't going to be using the boat on a regular basis my advice is to keep the tank completely full and add a water separator if your boat doesn't already have one. Star-tron does appear to help deal with the separation issues.