Florida boater sues oil companies over ethanol

[wgregan]

Florida boater sues oil companies over ethanol with eye to class action suit

By IBI Magazine

A Florida boat owner last week filed a lawsuit against US oil companies, alleging they sold ethanol-blended fuel to boaters while knowing it would cause damage to engines. Florida boat owner Erick Kelecseny claims that his boat engine and fuel tank were damaged by ethanol-blended gas.

His lawsuit alleges that gas companies including Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Shell, continued to sell ethanol-blended fuel to the marine industry after they knew it would cause damage to the motors. Kelecseny is seeking punitive damages and class-action status to include all Florida boat owners whose vessels were damaged by the blended gas.

The Florida lawsuit follows a second class-action lawsuit filed last April in California. "The oil companies know this fuel is harmful, but they're keeping it on the market to pump up profits," Brian Kabateck, an attorney in the California case, told IBI in April. "But it costs consumers thousands of dollars in repairs."

Kelecseny's attorney, Brian Ferguson, told the Tampa Tribune that the ethanol in the fuel Kelecseny bought disintegrated the resins in the fibreglass tank. Those resins passed through the fuel system, and fouled the engine. "We have the tank," said Ferguson. "Mechanics have taken it and could see the damage to the tank."

"We're not looking for $1,500 or $10,000 to repair the engine or the boat," said Ferguson. "We're looking for the approval of a class, so that whether people spent $100 or $30,000, they can get compensated."

(20 August 2008)

Article is here:

http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsd...34ibinews.html

[SeaJay]

Don't know about other places, but in my state ethanol must be added to the fuel by law. In a court of law that would be a pretty solid and convincing defense for an oil company for that type of lawsuit.

[stimmy]

I believe the inclusion of alcohol is federally mandated just as mtbe was before it was banned. They are added to enhance the fuel's ability to be oxygenated, that is, to have air entrained in the fuel to lower emissions. Of course, air entrainment increases the volume of fuel and you buy by volume, so since the addition of air to ethanol, you are paying more for the same amount of energy. Just more pelosi isms to "save the planet." I call it "Bend over and spread em!"

[deepwaters]

Ethanol isn't added to marine fuel by the smaller dealers that service the Morehead area of the NC coast. I asked the distributor that delivers to the marina where I keep my boat. I do know that the larger distributors are adding it per one of their drivers.

[billinstuart]

Oxygenated fuel only benefits digitally controlled vehicles. It is unnecessary and counterproductive to use it in boat engines, lawn mower engines, and other non-automotive applications. Previously oxygenated fuels were only required in areas of high air pollution.

[aftergolf]

In NC, ethanol is added to the tanker truck at the time of fill up at the fuel terminal. You really never know exactly how much ethanol is added. Marinas in NC can still get non-ethanol fuel, but they need to order a full tanker truck load or split it with another marina. Don't know about other states and how this is handled.

[sickcat]

billinstuart - 8/24/2008 10:02 AM Oxygenated fuel only benefits digitally controlled vehicles. It is unnecessary and counterproductive to use it in boat engines, lawn mower engines, and other non-automotive applications. Previously oxygenated fuels were only required in areas of high air pollution.

Curious why you say that oxigenated fuel only benefits computer controlled engines Bill and counter productive in non automotive applications? I assume that you mean it is only effective if used in computer controlled engines. Since oxigenated fuel is supposed to induce more complete combustion of the fuel I would think that it would show a greater benefit in older techology stuff. I certainly agree that it would be better left out of marine fuels.

[billinstuart]

Like Nitrous oxide, it provides additional oxygen for combustion. In a carbureted engine, this causes a lean mixture. Additionally, the ethanol, while having a higher effective octane rating, has a lower energy content. Therefor, you have to have a greater throttle opening to achieve the same power output. A lean mixture can cause engine damage from higher combustion and exhaust temperatures.

an engine that runs off an O2 sensor, is self compensating. No matter what fuel goes thru the injectors, pulse width, timing, and other parameters are adjusted to arrive at the 14.7:1 EFFECTIVE air/fuel ratio.

[ovrrdrive]

Unfortunately, the only person that wins in a class action suite is the lawyer representing the case. I think I got $.46 from one once.