What kind of gas should I use?

[brad614]

We just purchased a 2004 Larson with the 5.7 Volvo-Penta setup. I've had several people tell me that on a boat this new you do not need to worry about ethanol-free gas, while others tell me I should never run anything with ethanol unless I put a stabilizer in it. Who's right? Is it any cheaper to put regular in and add a stabilizer than it is to just buy ethonal-free in the first place?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

I've never run anything other than regular gas in mine - no stabilizers etc. Keep a water / fuel separator on and you are good to go. Especially since you live on the beautiful Gulf Coast and can boat year around.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

Use what the engine manufacturer recommends. If you have an owners manual, it should be in the manual, if not, ask Volvo-Penta. Then go with that. Do avoid any gas that has greater then 10% ETHANOL. There are no marine engines yet that are designed for greater than 10% ethanol.

 

[250Gimp]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

The time to worry about the ethanol gas is when it is time to store your boat, if you store it since you are in the sunny south!

If you use it regularly then I say go with what you can get, as long as it is less than 10% ethanol, but as Peter says above, check your manufacturers specs!

Cheers

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

I present for your consideration the latest word on ethanol

Three Ethanol Myths Clarified: http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/december/ethanol.asp

 

[Shamfarlango]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

I always top up and run stabilizer before winter storage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

I avoid ethanol and all the issues that ethanol has - phase separation, lack of the carbon chain backbone for stability, bad fuel economy, etc. pure gasoline usually means buying premium (must have the "contains no ethanol" sticker). for me, the $50 per year additional cost of fuel is worth it to prevent issues.

 

[Shamfarlango]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

Even our marina gas has ethanol (10%), i'm not even sure non-ethanol is an option around here

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What kind of gas should I use?

Even our marina gas has ethanol (10%), i'm not even sure non-ethanol is an option around here

Check here for non-ethanol stations in your area: http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=ON

If it REALLY bothers you, check the fuel using a test kit to see if it really is "ethanol free" http://www.eaa.org/autofuel/autogas/test_kit.asp

I don't let it bother me at all. (in my boat)...... I don't use it in my airplane though.......

I just leave the tank at 1/4 or less and fill it up in Spring and call it "good".

I don't use STABIL or any other snake oils.............(and no, I don't worry about condensation either) There's a LOT of BS out there in "radio-land"



regards,


Rick