MTBE now E-10 fuel Gas problems

You guys back east see this:

"loss of horsepower - tendency to dissolve old coatings of varnish and dirt in existing fuel systems. This can lead to plugged fuel filters, and other mechanical problems....E-10 can hold up to four teaspoons of water in suspension per gallon..."

http://www.daybreakfishing.com/ethanol-fuel.html

Boaters are now faced with a new problem - ethanol fuel. For years, gasoline contained MTBE, an additive which controls the fuel's octane properties. The additive is being phased out, and now much of the nation's fuel supply is a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, commonly referred to as E-10 fuel.

Ethanol presents several problems to boaters. The immediate impact of the formulation is a loss of horsepower and fuel economy. Early indications show drops of 3-5 % in of both categories. The loss of range sounds small, but adds up on boats that are often already stretched to the limit in terms of fuel needs. Additionally, ethanol is a very effective solvent, and has a tendency to dissolve old coatings of varnish and dirt in existing fuel systems. This can lead to plugged fuel filters, and other mechanical problems.

The added amounts of particles associated with ethanol fuel may warrant upgrading filter systems. Many engineers are now recommending that boats using ethanol fuel need to use 10 micron filters. Pre-E-10 systems will likely be using 28 micron filters. Manufacturers such as Yamaha have been quick to respond to ethanol fuel use by introducing replacement 10 micron filters.

The corrosive nature of ethanol can affect fuel lines and other components, causing them to crack and fail. Many older boats will require replacement of all fuel hoses and possibly other system components. Especially affected are boats equipped with fiberglass tanks. Many older vessels must have the fiberglass tanks replaced prior to using E-10 fuels, or face certain engine failures.

Water in E-10 fuel is another problem that boaters must deal with. The introduction of water on E-10 fuel can be disasterous. E-10 can hold up to four teaspoons of water in suspension per gallon. Once this saturation point is exceeded, the solution separates and the gas floats on top while the ethanol and water mix on the bottom. This event is called "phase separation". Ethanol fuel can absorb enough water to reach it's phase separation point in just over 3 months at 70% humidity.

While the phase separation slurry in itself can cause problems by clogging fuel systems, the more immediate problem is that the remaining gasoline has now lost it's original octane value which can cause poor running and in some cases engine damage. When phase separation occurs, the fuel should be drained and replaced.

Fuel storage and winterization has to be handled differently when using E-10 fuels. Manufacturers are warning that fuels need to be stabilized if un-used for as little as 2 weeks. Not all stabilizers are known to be E-10 compatible. Non-alcohol based fuel stabilizer additives are a must for ethanol fuel.

 

This is common knowledge. I saw a tech take about a quart of water from the tank of a Buell last summer. The combination of ethanol in the gas and the plastic gas tank along with the cool air moving by the tank while driving, apparently compounds the creation of condensation in the gas tank. That is what they came up with as a theory.

 

Gas stations have had E-10 for almost 30 years here (wasn't called E10 until recently). Older vehicles did have some of the issues described, it would affect some cork floats and gaskets on carburetors and plug them up. Clean the carb, replace the float and gasket and all was fine.
They mention cleaning out varnish and dirt like that's a bad thing.
I've never seen or heard of any problems with water collecting in the fuel tanks.
Yes, Mileage is slightly lower than with straight Gasoline.

I'm not a big fan of Ethanol but the reasons I don't like it have nothing to do with performance how it affects engines.

 

Are you serious??? Go talk to a small engine repair shop and see how they feel about this. They are laughing all the way to the bank. Oh and that's the repair shops...but the people doing the sales aren't laughing. Customers are complaining about the products failing. Now this is effecting the cars/motorcycles. You won't be able to keep gas in car/motorcycle for long periods of time anymore. You are just beginning to see the problems this is going to cause. They are going to raise the 10% ethanol to 12-15%.. soon. We won't have a choice of using non-ethanol gas either because they won't sell it.

 

Yes I am serious. We had issues with older engines when we first started running it (back around 1980). Once the carbs were cleaned and cork floats replaced with plastic, no more problems. Newer engines didn't have problems because they didn't have the varnish build up and the float/gasket materials are compatible. So yes the repair shops had a couple of good years.
Been hard to find gas without ethanol since 1990 here (and they can't advertise "no ethanol" either). Yep, I haven't had a choice for quite a while.
I know the mileage affects because I get better mileage when I buy gas out of state.
I use stabil and keep the fuel tank full in anything that is going to sit for more than a few months. Same as I would with straight gas.
If you want reasons to hate ethanol look at the financial aspects and government involvement.

 

Exactly right. Everyone is all hyped up on E10 ruining an engine. Someone on talk radio once upon a time gave that scare tactic instead of giving an intellectual reason like financial impacts and consequences. Fear is much easier to sell than the truth more times than not.

 

Who cares about problems with ethanol in boats?? Come back with specific issues in Harleys, or cut out the alarmist craap.



The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

 

A gas engine is a gas engine. Whether you're using a weedwaker, chain saw or driving a motorcycle. If this has been this way for 30 years...why all of a sudden are these things failing just now? We haven't seen the effects on the motorcycles or cars typically because we tend to change over the gas quickly. Hence the problems for motors that sit for periods of time (Boats/small engines etc). I use a fuel additive when storing my bike to help with effects of the ethanol. I NEVER used anything before the past few years. I'm not chancing my 09 EGC on "This has been going on for years". For those of you who think this is just another scam keep doing what you're doing. Me I take what happened to my chainsaw and weedwaker seriously....both crapped the bed recently and the tech said it was due to the gas.

 

Sounds like a "that's normal" explanation because they couldn't invent anything else better that would put no blame on anyone but the easiest target.... ethanol. I'll keep doing what I'm doing since I've had my lawn mower (2 cycle) for 12 seasons, weedeater for 6 seasons, car for 7 years, current bike 3 yrs, bike before that 8 yrs, etc.