Ethanol vs older outboard motors

[bluka43]

I have heard that the 10% ethanol added to most gasolines today are not good for the older outboard engines. Especially the rubber parts. Is this true? I have been using the Marine Sta-Bil as per the directions for some time now and hadn't incurred any problems whatsoever so far. I know that the ethanol attracts moisture, etc., but the Sta-Bil is supposed to take care of that, right? For instance I have a 1998 Yamaha 90 HP that has no oil injection system. You have to mix the oil with the gasoline, like in the old days. The previous owner ordered it that way, because at that time, he didn't trust the oil injection systems. I have also been thinking about adding a fuel/water separator filter, but is is necessary? Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks......

 

[F_R]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Friend, there are oil drillers and there are corn growers. They are at war with each other and all the rest of us are caught in the middle. The subject is full of truths, semi-truths, tales, and outright lies.

Your motor was built to tolerate the ethanol blend. Run it. Unless you want to take unreasonable steps to get something else, that is all you are going to get.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

When I read the post heading I thought you were going to ask about OLD motors. Yours is not old so it should be fine.

I routinely run a 1952, a 1970 and a 1984. All Evinrudes. The "old" one has a rebuilt carb and new fuel lines. The others are right out of the box never tinkered with. No problems at all, except the gas tank float sank and needed to be replaced.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

and get a 10 micron 90 GPH water separator for goodness sake..

 

[bluka43]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Thanks guys. No, really, I thought that a 1998 year model was considered old. You know, you hear all sorts of stuff on the streets. (or in this case, water) I just like hearing from people that seem to know what they're talking about, and some of you guys have probably been boating or have been around boats like forever.
And SparkieBoat...........I will get a 10 micron 90 GPH water separator......you can bank on it.
Thanks again for the replies.

 

[float2]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

'98 old??? Everything I own is 70s vintage.

The issue that I have found is that I feel safe running ethanol tainted fuel so long as I burn it right away and not let it sit for more than a week or so. After sitting awhile it turns to a varnish like substance that can't be good for any fuel system. Last year when I did get ethanol free fuel they marked it up almost fifty cents extra per gallon vs regular.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Ethanol blended fuel DOES NOT turn to varnish a week or so. If it did every vehicle using it would be dead in the owners garage. Again - unfounded BS. We've been using corn squeezin's since 1997 with zero issues and we store our boats for 5 - 6 months up here in the tundra.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

there does seem to be some real issues with EFI/DI outboard motors..they cannot pass anything over 2 microns through the injectors and they are giving lotsd of problems..some outboard mechanics I know are calling the Government requirement to put ethanol in most of our gas, the outboard mechanics bail-out program..this is the reason I am selling my 2003 F115 and going back to carbs...as soon as I get my injectors back from the shop that is. Carbs can pass up to 10 microns easily..ethanol is food based and will begin to break down fairly quickly leaving lots of solid chunks floating around. the reason it cannot be piped is it will begin to corrode up the pipes..ethanol has to be trucked and the tanks have to be washed out regularly..I actually worked for a company that built fuel truck tank wash stations for the military about 8 years ago. I really wish they would just stop with the ethanol, but they never listen to me.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Oh! I am so tired of hearing platitudes and misinformation about ethanol fortified gasoline.

You gentlemen should really research your answers or have first hand experience with the stuff before spouting!

I worked in a distillery for a number of years and we never had a problem with it chunking, caking, or leaving residue on the equipment or bottles. And, we put lots of organics into it to make gin, whiskey, and aperatifs. Yeah, we did rinse out the rail cars of 190 proof grain alcohol, but that was it. Ethanol is a remarkably clean liquid that makes tons of money for the federal government when we drink it.

True, when it first came out as 10% additive to gas, MBTE was still being used. If the two were mixed with moisture present, a gel would form, clogging fuel systems. BUT, MBTE is no longer used so that is now a moot point.

So get over it! Just put it in the tank and burn it! If or when the rubber hardens or deteriorates, replace it for a couple of bucks.

I know, I know: Booze is not gasoline. I suppose, that when 10% gas is put into the tank, gremlins just jump in too and make it poison for the engine.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

I do know what I am talking about. It is not misinformation. it is a ridiculous idea to put a food based product in our gas...it reduces fuel mileage and is not helping anything..if its so great then why not run %100..i will tell you why..it runs like crap thats why, most cars can not even run %15 unless it is flex fuel car..get it out of my gas...and tell all the people who will have to have their EFI fuel systems cleaned this year when they go to use their boats and they do not run right. Ethanol gas has no where near the stability of %100 gas even with stability additives...food has no place in my gas. here is just one article proving that ethanol cannot be piped.. http://dailyreckoning.com/investing-in-ethanol/
so maybe you should research your facts before accusing someone else of giving misinformation! you can google it and find out I KNOW what I am talking about. I am tired of having to subsidize with my tax dollars putting crap in my gas. google the MPG results also..here I will help you out.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/ethanol/overview/index.htm

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

"Daily Reckoning.com"
Come on, you can do better than that!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Hey Sparkie: You want some cheese with that whine?

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

there are many links..it was just the first one I saw..well here are a couple more in case your google button is broken. note that one is a government site...also a lot of info available explaining how quickly ethanol begins to break down and how it then is very prone to absorb moisture..and there are all kinds of extra things that have to be done to store and distribute ethanol. ethanol has presented many problems to distributors and consumers and there is just no reason to introduce such hardships on us for absolutely no reason at all..ethanol lessens the energy produced from a gallon of gas. It is really just insane but someone is getting very rich from it....
http://www.enewsbuilder.net/aopl/e_article000570935.cfm
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/sep06/keep.htm

here is a great informative article
http://fuelschool.blogspot.com/2009/02/phase-separation-in-ethanol-blended.html

I just do not like being accused of providing misinformation..I make a very conscious effort to know what I am talking about and not just spout off.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Not disagreeing with you.
Do you know of any other oxygenator (besides MTBE) that can be used with gasoline? That's how ethanol got in there to begin with....

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

I do not. It is not needed in gas anyway, it is used to help reduce emissions..But there are no studies that MTBE has had any significant impact on the environment, traces have been found in some of the water, but there is no proof that it has caused any real harm. studies are still being done to determine health risk from exposure and the fact is that there are many other chemicals in gas that are much more harmful. here is a great info pdf file
www.uwex.edu/farmandhome/wqpaap/pdf/mtbe.pdf

 

[blacksmith04]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

'98 old??? Everything I own is 70s vintage.

.

All I have is 1960's and I'm just glad the wife let me get those.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

Yeah! If you want to spend the money, you can add methanol, a petroleum based alcohol, or nitromethane as an additive. Anything from 2% on up to 100% like they use in dragsters is effective. (actually, not 100% as it is sold in drums already mixed with methanol.)

But as with any short chain hydrocarbon, while power will go up, mileage will go down. And, if you add too much you will need to re-jet the carbs richer.

 

[bluka43]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

and get a 10 micron 90 GPH water separator for goodness sake..

Sparkieboat........Got er done. Installed the 10 micron fuel/water separator yesterday.

 

[BIGALF]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

I was just told today that you should not mix fuel with ethanol with fuel without ethanol for my 5.7l EFI engine? I have a vapor lock and was thinking about switching fuel to non ethanol fuel.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Ethanol vs older outboard motors

yea there is problems when you mix MBTE and ethanol..if you are going to run out most of the tank, you should be ok though, I think the problem starts when you let it sit up. I know I have run mixed gas before without any problem.