EXPLAINING ETHANOL

What is ethanol? How can it damage your engine? What can be done to prevent ethanol-related fuel issues? Find out below.

Developed from corn, ethanol is mixed with traditional gasoline. Commonly referred to as “E85” or “E90”, ethanol-mixed fuels are now sold exclusively at gas stations throughout the United States. Ethanol helps reduce our dependence on oil, helps support farming throughout the United States and is more environmentally friendly. So what is the big deal?

For automobiles, the downsides are minimal. Cars are generally used more than once a week, which agitates the gasoline and provides a more stable fuel.

A boat, on the other hand, may go for weeks or months sitting at the dock or in storage. Over this time the ethanol breaks down, attracts moisture (which is especially prevalent in a marine environment) and separates into two substances, neither of which can be processed by a motor. This process is called “phase separation”.

Ethanol can also dislodge debris that normally settles to the bottom of your fuel tank, which in turn gets sent through your fuel system and clogs it up. Additionally, ethanol is especially corrosive towards the gaskets and seals inside fuel tanks, fuel lines and motors. Left unchecked, ethanol can create leaky seals and cause further damage to internal engine components.

If you have ever turned your engine on, had it run for a short time before shutting down, you most likely have a fuel-related issue. It’s not that your engine does not have fuel, it just has bad fuel. While the repairs for this problem are not extensive, why ruin a great weekend on the lake because of bad gas?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The best way to fight against ethanol is to use an ethanol-free gasoline. While this is exceedingly hard to find, Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Marinas both offer ethanol-free gasoline at the pump. This gasoline is much more resistant to phase separation, although stabilizer treatment is still recommended.
Short of that, your next line of protection is a good fuel stabilizer. While it will not protect gasoline that has already separated, STA-BIL and similar products like Yamaha’s Fuel Stabilizer and Conditioner Plus will help protect against the effects of phase separation. By conditioning your fuel with these products, you can extend its useful life two or three times over.

But what about the end of the season? Gas that is leftover from your summer boating can sit for as much as six or seven months. To prevent phase separation over that time period use these two tactics: 1) Run as much fuel as possible out of the tank. By leaving a minimal amount of fuel over the winter, the less fuel can separate. 2) Add a “shock treatment” of stabilizer product, usually twice the amount you would put in during the summer.

We always tell people that your boat, just like anything else you own, is an investment. By using ethanol-free gasoline and fuel stabilizers, you protect that investment and minimize repairs that cost you both time and money.