Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

maxturbo

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Oct 31, 2007
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Is there a difference between the two except for the price? And why? I know the auto fuel has detergents that cleans injectors, carbon deposits, etc,
Reason why I ask is because I hear two different sides of the story.
 

arks

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

No difference.
 

pduquette

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Jun 22, 2007
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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

As they say in real estate class ; location,location, location! anything on the waterfront will cost you dearly.
 

studlymandingo

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Marine fuel can be accessed from a boat in the water; automotive fuel cannot.​
 

erikgreen

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Marine fuel is blessed several times by priests of neptune, the sea god, as it's refined by elves from the remains of aquatic dinosaurs that lived exceptionally pure lives several million years ago. It's then transferred using gold lined tanker trucks to ritually constructed gas tanks located at each marina, where a teenager making minimum wage sells it to rich boaters.

Or at least, that's what I can deduce from the price of gas on the water.

Erik

PS: Or maybe it's because it has the word "marine" on it... that seems to drive up the price of everything by 2x.
 

JCF350

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Is there a difference between the two except for the price? And why? I know the auto fuel has detergents that cleans injectors, carbon deposits, etc,
Reason why I ask is because I hear two different sides of the story.

Taxes on the fuel plus cost of doing business.
 

magster65

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Sep 1, 2002
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2,573
Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Incredibly, marine and farm (89 octane) fuel is cheaper here by about 30 cents a gallon at certain service stations. Our gas is so expensive partly because of the 'road taxes' that our government applies to it. Marine and farm fuels are exempt. Yes, all you need is a gas can(s) and say it's for your boat... go home and dump it in... :)

The marinas mark it up to about the 'road' price but it's generally about the same price on the water... maybe a couple cents more during the summer.
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

here gas and diesel at marina's is 75 cents to $1.00 more than at the station. it is the price of convenience. do you want to roll a 55 gallon drum, down the dock to your boat, then have to use a hand pump to fill the boat. then you spill some, and have to have the coast guard clean it up.
 

nlain

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Nov 17, 2005
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2,445
Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Insurance costs, storage costs, have to protect the water from contamination, have to have enough insurance to protect them if they do contaminate the water. It costs more to build and maintain storage and pumping systems for marine use.
 

maxturbo

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 31, 2007
Messages
174
Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Thanks guys thats what I thought. I'm new to the boating world but not new to the automotive world.
Its a good thing I will be trailering my boat. So while i fill up my truck i'll fill up my 75 gallon tank. :eek:
 

PhatboyC

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Sep 28, 2007
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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

I only put Top Tier gas in my cars. Which would be impossible to know if that's what they use at the marina's. But I want to do the same for my boat this summer. I bough 4 6.6 gallons canisters. I figured 9 of them will fill it up and 4 of them every weekend should keep up my demands (I hope). :)

http://www.toptiergas.com/
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

with a 75 gal tank, besure to use a fuel stabilizer, as you may not use it all at once.
 

Silvertip

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28,771
Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Many people fail to realize that fuel that is used for off-road (mowers, boats, dirt bikes, tractors, etc) can deduct some or all of the taxes on that fuel when filing their tax returns. You obviously need receipts and iin some cases a log book to support the claim. For most small boat owners this is not a big issue but if you are a tournament fisherman or simply use your boat a lot, this can be a significant deduction.
 

joed

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Incredibly, marine and farm (89 octane) fuel is cheaper here by about 30 cents a gallon at certain service stations. Our gas is so expensive partly because of the 'road taxes' that our government applies to it. Marine and farm fuels are exempt. Yes, all you need is a gas can(s) and say it's for your boat... go home and dump it in... :)

That fuel usually has a die in it. If they catch you on the road with died fuel serious fines can be imposed. They can tell even if you stop using it. The die will mark your fuel filters. Cut open the fuel filter and find died filter material same problem.
 

maxturbo

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 31, 2007
Messages
174
Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

with a 75 gal tank, besure to use a fuel stabilizer, as you may not use it all at once.
Thats a good idea cause im sure i wont be using it all at once. I did put it when i wenterized it.
 

magster65

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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

That fuel usually has a die in it. If they catch you on the road with died fuel serious fines can be imposed. They can tell even if you stop using it. The die will mark your fuel filters. Cut open the fuel filter and find died filter material same problem.

Yep, it has a purple-ish tinge to it and it's called 'marked gas'. Chevron's 94 is almost the same color but a bit lighter. I haven't been pulled over and had my filters checked lately though... I'm sure it's only a matter of time... :D
 

donnymac

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Aug 6, 2007
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Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Yep, it has a purple-ish tinge to it and it's called 'marked gas'. Chevron's 94 is almost the same color but a bit lighter. I haven't been pulled over and had my filters checked lately though... I'm sure it's only a matter of time... :D

That's funny cuz I'm always tempted to fill up a couple of large jerry cans whilist I'm filling the boat. I get my "marine gas" or marked from a on land based gas station. It's a mid-grade(91) and it's away from the marine enviroment. Buy it from a marina on the water and back up the price goes.
 

dcg9381

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Aug 26, 2007
Messages
308
Re: Marine fuel vs automotive fuel

Eye... There's the rub.

Buy "auto" gas and pay for road use taxes that may be high in your state.. Of course, you can write them off at a later time.

Buy "marine" gas - no road taxes, just the premium on "location location".

There was a time where I could get AV gas (100 octane leaded) for less than premium at my local airport - not for use in catalytic converter vehicles or anything with water/exhaust, but it was great for fueling drag and off road motorcycles.
 
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