Anyone have any non horror stories with ethanol??

drb · 08-20-2006, 06:58 PM

I have not yet fed my Yammy ox66 ethanol...but I know its coming. All I have read on this board are horror stories. Does anyone have any smooth transition story to share? Particularly with outboards. I figure if I use a 10 micron filter and drain most, if not all, of the old MTBE gas then I will be ok...Thanks for sharing

TurboDan · 08-20-2006, 07:48 PM

I ran all of the gas out of my boat at the end of last season. When this season rolled around, I filled up and took off like every other year. I didn't even think about ethanol since I wasn't a member here at the time and wasn't aware of the problems people were having.

CJS · 08-20-2006, 07:50 PM

No problems in my 200 hp Opti. I do use the Merc additive
on a regular basis. Don't really know if it helps, but it can't hurt.

jawz · 08-20-2006, 07:53 PM

i usually winterize and store 75 boats,in the spring,i service them and launch for their owners...out of that 75 number,i have had ZERO problems....the only problem i ran into was from a fuel dock that was selling contaminated fuel...that's it,for the most part,this fuel reminds me of the great "y2k" bug-i promise,it's not the end of the world!!!!

PFO · 08-20-2006, 07:57 PM

Same as above i am not sure when my station switched over but i have put on about 40 hrs this season and my 225 evinrude fitch never skipped a beat, so far. and i have not heard of any of my buddies with any fuel issues.

gkizr · 08-20-2006, 07:59 PM

Do the stations selling ethanol have to disclose it? Should I be looking for a sticker or something?

Lone Ranger · 08-20-2006, 08:11 PM

Did'nt do anything different this year,Just added the E.Gas and went.No problems so far.I run a 2005[225]Optimax.[120 hrs.]

sixpack324 · 08-20-2006, 08:27 PM

I run a 2001 Yamaha 130 2 stroke and I have had no problems.I did, through happenstance, run my tanks almost dry at the end of last year. Today, I changed my fuel filter and emptied the contents into a glass bowl to let it settle so I could see any saparation. Well, it's 4 1/2 hrs. and counting and there's no water on top. By the way......KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!

bydand · 08-20-2006, 08:42 PM

Quick note. Sixpack mentioned no water on top, Probably a brain bubble (I have them all the time), but the water will be on the BOTTOM of your container. Just wanted to mention it in case somebody didn't know.

PFO · 08-20-2006, 08:42 PM

Yes they do have to disclose it. usually a sticker on the pump.

drb · 08-20-2006, 10:39 PM

very good...thanks for the replies

pastaman1234 · 08-20-2006, 10:58 PM

200 hp yammie ox66 saltwater series motor 2002. I use ethanol (at least 3 full tanks) and havent skipped a beat. No micron 10, been meaning to put one on but havent gotten around to it but i havent had any probs. I guess i am lucky. My buddy has a mercruiser i/o and has lots of issues. Just today we took his fuel water seperator off and poured the gas into a clear glass and you could see the crap floating around in it. He has to change the filter everytime he uses the boat or he will not make it back to the dock. Will take a couple of full tanks of gas to get it all out. As the ethanol continues to clean the inside of the tank the only remedy is to use the boat a lot and the problem will eventually fade away or buy a new boat with a brandy new tank haha The marina that we bought the fuel filter from recommended a fuel additive as well.

hatterasman · 08-21-2006, 02:29 AM

for years there was an offbrand gas station chain that sold gas at least 10cents a gal cheaper because it had 10% ethanol now we have to pay extra becaus e fuel has ethanol ! the fuel has been around for years. its like if you have fuel problems period youare going to have more fuel problems now. if you dont get a tank full of water or have fiberglass tanks or you arent the kind to hardly ever use your boat and let the fuel varnish you will be ok.....one year we were at a marina and this dual outboard was always having to cancel trips because he had a tank full of water and caused engine problems -he bought his fuel at the marina so did we . we never had problems yet he swore it was the marinas fault. and beware snake oil salesman will be descending upon us

Raider Ron · 08-21-2006, 07:53 AM

Let me start out by saying, I have had LOTS of problems with water in my tank in the past in my 2003 Parker 21320sc. with gas before ethenol mix.
I started out with about 1/4 a tank of gas from last year and filled with the new ethenol blend at a land gas station before I put the boat back in the water in late march.
So in other words, I made a big mistake according to what everyone was saying and to NOT mix the old with the new!
And I never top the tank off when the boat came out of the water , but the boat came out just a few days before new years day, so it was only out for about 3 months.
I figured I was in for big problems, and I would be changing Racor filters weekly.
I have had 0 water this year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have checked by trying to drain the bowl about once a week at 1st, lately it's been more like once a month!!!
Last week I changed the 1 racor that has been on since late march, I drained it upside down in a clear plastic container,
and 0 water, 0 rust !!!!!
I have been getting gas from the same Yacht club near my marina for the past 4 years!
My best guess, is that the yacht club had to make MAJOR changes in their filtering system coming out of their tanks

Their tanks were replaced only a few ( 3 or 4 ) years ago,

Lone Ranger · 08-21-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

PFO - 8/20/2006 8:42 PM

Yes they do have to disclose it. usually a sticker on the pump.

NOT in Maryland.

Afishinado · 08-21-2006, 10:07 AM

I have a non-horror story about it;
Was in a little tuna tournament Saturday. Fished with a friend on a year old 351 Triton, trip 250 Verados that he runs. Last weekend he put in 289 gallons of fuel, and the appropriate amt of Starton (first fill up on the Ethanol). Friday he deicded to replace the fuel filters (the ones on the engines). We got about 3 miles out the inlet ant the stbd shut down, then a little stumbling on the port engine. Rut Ro..... F'n ethanol!! We dumped the filter on the motor and there was a tiny bit of fuel, but nothing else. WTF? He was able to run on two back to the dealer (at 20kts BTW with only 500hp)... The mechanic was able to immediately look at it, hooked up his diagnostic, nothing shows wrong.... Pulls plugs... clean... Long story short, there was a recall on fuel pumps the owner never bothered to look at, figured what ever it was they'd fix it when it got serviced! LOL...

My boat experience so far;
I have been doing a major project on my house and used the boat very little so far. Burned off what was left in the boat from Florida, filled it and added Startron. I'm 32 gallons into the tank, no problems, fuel bowl on the Raycor looks clean.
About 25 gallons have been run thru my little 13 Whaler and I think maybe the ethanol trashed the fuel line/primer bulb.

TurboDan · 08-21-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

gkizr - 8/20/2006 6:59 PM

Do the stations selling ethanol have to disclose it? Should I be looking for a sticker or something?

Depends on the state. Some states require it to be posted on the pump, others actually make it illegal TO disclose it because they feel that people will choose not to buy it.

Ah, government at work for ya.

HEDJUG · 08-21-2006, 10:40 AM

I have 80 ethanol hours on my 1979 318 Chryslers with 0 problems.
My FIL has 40-50 hours on his 250 OX66 with 0 problems.
I have 20-30 hours on my 3.0 Merc I/O with 0 problems.

flying fish · 08-21-2006, 10:40 AM

So far, so good. [Fingers crossed.] I don't even know when my favorite fueling place switched, although I know they have switched, because I asked; and--they are in MD--they don't have a sign on the tanks.

FF

thundra · 08-21-2006, 12:31 PM

I repowered with a new, 06 150hp OptiMax this past May. The tank/boat, which is 19 years old, 1987 has a 70 gallon capacity. After the motor was hung we filled the tank up with 30 gallons of 87 octane and after having run 50 miles this past weekend, we have not had one single problem or issue with this new engine and/or the gas.

The 87 Merc we had was used almost every weekend last summer so new gas was constantly being put in and this season I've been putting in 15-20 gallons when needed along with the 1 oz. of Quickleen-6 gallons of gas with every addition of fuel.

I'm hoping that the new engine is able to compensate for the different fuel and that by using the engine as much as I do keeps everything nice and trouble free and by using the Quickleen helps as well. This is my non-horror story.