Fuel Stabilizer

Steve - I heard that the ethanol interferes with the 2 stroke oil wetting out.

Probabaly just another myth.

Maybe we need Jamie & Adam to do some research!

[QUOTE=Hollywood] So now the thinking is to leave the crud in the fuel system? I know to let a sleeping dog lie, but one day it will clog you up. If you've gone through the trouble of cleaning it all, I suppose the ethanol has nothing to mung up anymore.QUOTE]

The normal varnish or buildup in a tank will not go into solution unless attacked by a solvent, like alchohol. The problem with E10 fuel is it has a high affinity for water. It soaks up water then seperates out of the fuel and creates a snot like buildup. I bet your camaro fuel was regular fuel, not ethanol, which lasts a lot longer. Store some e10 in an open glass for a few months, then see what it looks like.

Well, that is a glossing over. Our older boats fuel systems were not designed to resist the alchohol. Rubber lines, carb seals, etc. Alchohol is a strong solvent. So, if you have varnish in your old tank, lines, carb etc then the E10 is going to clean it and it has to go somewhere. Into your filter and carb. That is why stations had to have there tanks cleaned prior to switching over to E10. Some have done a better job than others. Also, ethanol is added at the distribution center, not at the refinery for a very good reason. Because it is not very stable and does not store long.

Also, cars generally have closed fuel venting sytems that resist exposure to open humid air. Boats have open vents to the atmosphere.

Also, newer boats and cars have knock sensors to deal with lowered octane. Many folks here are still using older electronics and do not have knock sensors, so they would not tolerate lower octane fuel as easily.

I think our boats, being similar to a car have the least effect of marine engines. The fuel injected outboards are getting the worst of it. At the very least I would run a very good water seperation filter.

Boaters tend to store fuel in their boat gas tanks much longer than automobiles.
Strictly user based.

Fuel systems of cars also tend to have better seals, (EG. tightly closed gas caps).
Eh, not buying it.

Boat engines also are most used during the most humid (summer) months. Moisture from humid air can be absorbed into E10 fuel.
This one applies to cars and autos exactly the same.

Clogging of carburetor and fuel filters is now more common.
Boats and autos exactly the same again.

Octane drops when fuel water contaminates, which makes fuel problems even more problematic. Driveability and performance problems seem most noticeable in marine engines, motorcycles and older or classic cars.
Boats and autos exactly the same again, again.

So, my conclusion to E10 gasoline... run the engine (no matter what its in) often!

Please explain why ethanol is particularly bad for "marine" engines.

In Iowa they still sell straight gas, although it usually is 12 cents per gallon more.   Funny, since our state is a big ethanol producer.   I stopped buying E10 altogether after reading about all the problems.

There is a list of company's that still carry no-ethonal fuel in the south and southeast. I'll try find and post it. I'mm planning on bringing 30-40gal. with me to St. John's just in case.

Your best bet is to try and find non ethanol fuel and use Stabil. Ethanol fuel really scares me leaving it in the tank for several months. It has a high affinity for water and will clean all the gunk out of your tank and plug up the filters. If I could only find ethanol fuel, I think I would consider storing it with no fuel at all.

Just my opinion, after spending several hours completely cleaning a fuel system stored with ethanol fuel and Stabil. Try a google search on ethanol and marine engines. It is eye opening.

I don't know if it's the "best", but any stabilizer would work. Measure it out so it treats a full tank, and fill her all the way up to prevent condensation. Make sure you run the boat a good little bit so that stabilized fuel gets into the carb.

Check the winterization thread for other winterization tips.