Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethanol grows...

[DracoDan]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Errrrm, actually "fuel polishing", is the term that professionals will often use to describe the process of cleaning and drying contaminated fuels. So, as most people know, as long as you're following my advice, you won't sound like a total tard.

Sorry, no disrespect was meant, I only said that because you placed quotation marks around "polish". I thought you were suggesting that was what you call it but may not be the technical term.

For now my plan is to stick with the filters, pickup and antisiphon valve replacement. Depending on what the old filters look like I may or may not continue down this path.

Dan

 

[DracoDan]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

All new parts, and it wasn't even very expensive (other than the fuel level sender)

Items Ordered
Item Product Part # Quantity Price Extended

24" Fuel Pick-Up, 1/4" NPT Aluminum Fitting - Moeller 033500-24 1 $14.00 $14.00

Anti-Siphon Valve, 3/8" Barb, 1/4 NPT - Moeller 033801-10 1 $9.94 $9.94

Fuel Water Separator Filter Only - Sierra 18-7845 2 $5.99 $11.98

Fuel Level Sender, Gas, 24" - 12" - Teleflex Marine LL-0000-240-02P 1 $105.91 $105.91

Mallory Coolant Temp Sensor 9-42400 9-42400 2 $17.09 $34.18


UPS Ground Wednesday, June 20, 2012 * $22.39
Invoice Total

Subtotal $176.01
Tax $0.00
S & H $22.39
Order Total $198.40

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Put Star Tron ethanol treatment in every time you add fuel from now on--after you check the fuel water separators

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Put Star Tron ethanol treatment in every time you add fuel from now on--after you check the fuel water separators

Bah - snake oil

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Bah - snake oil

Not true at all. I made a post on here about my lawn mower. Older mower with 3500 hours on it. Started ticking and sputtering after it ran for around 15 minutes or so. The sound was coming from the fuel pump area. I tried Seafoam first to no effect. Then I tried Star Tron. Keep in mind that is was ticking and sputtering for going on 2 years. After one can of gas mixed with Star tron the problem started fading away. 2nd can mix it disappeared altogether and never returned the rest of the Summer. Here it is June and still no problem. In fact the engine has more power. Runs like new. I always run 89 octane and gas without ethanol is too not convenient to use. I live in a hot/humid area for a good part of the year. I put a little in each tank every time I fuel up

 

[QC]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Inconclusive ^^^^^^ I know it seems like it worked, and it may very well have, but that description does not prove it was Startron. Only way your test would have proved it was if you did not use Sea Foam first, and you also had a second, exact copy of the engine as a control.

You have proved that Startron does not destroy lawn mowers in one season

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

I've got this stuff I put in my gas that repells elephants - havn't seen any so I know it works

Ethanol has been in gas for 20+ years up here, you don't need to put any additional additives in it - it comes with anything it needs.

 

[QC]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

i've got this stuff i put in my gas that repells elephants - havn't seen any so i know it works

I ain't got no Elephants around here either. That's some good stuff

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Inconclusive ^^^^^^ I know it seems like it worked, and it may very well have, but that description does not prove it was Startron. Only way your test would have proved it was if you did not use Sea Foam first, and you also had a second, exact copy of the engine as a control.

You have proved that Startron does not destroy lawn mowers in one season

I let a good bit of time pass between using the entire bottle of Seafoam before I went to the Star tron. I have seen reports that ethanol attracts moisture and evaporates/detonates sooner than regular gas at high temperatures. I am no expert. Just relating my experience. I have found that Seafoam works for my diesel engines. Makes them run better

 

[QC]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

That's cool. I was just pointing out that your test will always draw skeptics. No other intent.

 

[davezz]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethanol grows...

I am fairly young (29) and I am not married, so I have a ton of other responsibilities that compete for my time.

Watch out! Add 15 years, a wife and kids. Then see how many things compete for your time.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

I understand QC . I had a weedeater that started surging and cutting off when it got hot and Humid. Cured that problem too. Ethanol must evaporate? Attract moisture?

 

[DracoDan]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Well, I finally got back to the boat today with a free hundred dollars worth of parts in tow... As soon as I went to get started I realized that most of the ideas that I and others had were in error.

as it turns out, each engine has its own completely isolated fuel system, all the way to the fuel tank (there are two pickup tubes even). Since both engines acted the exact same way when they stopped working and again when they started (after adding fuel) I think it's safe to rule out anything that isn't shared between the two. At this point, the only thing shared is the fuel (well, that and the tank that I previously ruled out). I bought some stabil to try, but I'm hoping someone has an idea for something I might have missed.

Thanks!

 

[Philster]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

No additives can fix fuel.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Let's try it - - fuel polishing - - fuel polishing - - fuel polishing

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethenol grows...

better than fuel polishing - suck it out, have a bonfire, buy new fuel

fuel polishing will only remove contaminates, not fix degraded fuel.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Fouled fuel? My hatred for all things ethanol grows...

Short version:
... throttle up but engines peaked at 2200 RPM. Stopped boat and checked for debris or other problems.
Tried to start engines back and both of them would start and then die right away.
After adding 10 gallons (5 wasn't enough) the engines finally started.
During the short ride back to the marina the engines were back firing.
Added 60 gallons of gas... Boat ran perfect for the rest of the evening (started and stopped 3 separate times and went about 12 miles total).

Questions:
Is the 150+ gallons of fuel currently in my tank completely garbage that needs to be disposed of?

I have re-read the thread... It appears that 3 weeks ago the engines were having problems.
You added fresh gas to the tanks and even though it you haven't operated the boat in those three weeks, it has run fine since.

Add some Sta-Bil if that gives you a secure feeling.
Go out and run the boat.
This isn't a pontoon boat, don't run it like one!
Open it up. It can burn over 70 gallons an hour.
There is a reason the manufacturer installed 160 gallon tanks!
It wont take long to burn off a big part of the gas tank even at half throttle.
Run the tank down below 1/4 and then fill it up at least to a half.
Run it down again, top it off, and you will be fine.
Most people would be happy to to have a reason to blow through 150 gallons of gas!

If the engines sound fine running the "Marginal?" Gas I wouldn't worry about it.
The engines were designed to run E-10 fuel
They are MPI's and adjust the mixture and timing automatically to whatever is required for an optimum burn.

And get over the Ethanol Paranoia, it is here to stay!