ethanol blend gas WARNING !!!

[B.M.W II]

I dont know if anyone has heard about this yet or not. But some boaters hear in Virginia have had problems with the ethanol blended gas, it sounds like this stuff is clogging up filters and carbs even eating away the gas tanks and some rubber parts. From what I have read you cant mix the old gas with the new ethanol blended stuff or have water in the tank, this will cause the ethanol to seperate and live a black sludge in the bottom of the tank.I have a web site for everyone to check out. (http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/fueltest.asp) I'm going to check it out now. Later guys, Joe

 

[Silvertip]

Re: ethanol blend gas WARNING !!!

You are getting half the story right and the other half is wrong. If the fuel system is clean to start with you will have absolutely no problem with the switch in newer engines. We in the midwest have been using ethanol blended fuel for years. The problem of clogged fuel filters and the need for carb rebuilds is true in older dirty systems. Any gunk in the fuel system is loosened by ethanol since it is a good cleaning agent. Ethanol is also known to attack some metals (older carbs) and some rubber parts. Engines from the mid 80's and up should weather the storm just fine. Replace the filter (buy two as you may need to repeat this a few times), clean the carbs and reassemble with new kits. Once the fuel system is clean you will have far fewer fuel related problems with gum and debris as you did before. Alcohol and water mix so nothing separates and turns to a black gunk. Thats simply garbage that was already in the system. Mixing old gas and new is also a rediculous statement since Ethanol is added to regular gas to make the blend. In fact my new Impala runs on E-85 (85% Ethanol and 15% gas). I can switch back and forth at will between regular gas (85% regular & 15% ethanol) and E-85.

 

[B.M.W II]

Re: ethanol blend gas WARNING !!!

Well (upinsmoke) the only thing I can say to that is you need to read the artical from the web site. Your new impala is made to run of E-85 and its does not run in the water its not in a marine environment. So tell me thats half the truth.I am one of those guys that has a older motor 1984. I dont know about the rest of you guys but my pockets are not real deep these days. This is a web site to the local news channel, read what they have to say. (www.wtkr.com) I only trying to get the word out about this. I'm not trying to get bashed here. It seems that it affects fiberglass tanks the most. Thanks, Joe

 

[Silvertip]

Re: ethanol blend gas WARNING !!!

Ok - the tests were run on 1968 vintage boats with fiberglass tanks. Nearly 40 years old. Did I not say that "older" engines would have a problem. Besides, the engines are not having the problem, the fuel systems feeding them are the cause. My comment about E-85 was to counter your statement about not mixing old gas and blended fuel. Mixing ethanol with regular fuel is how you get "blended fuel". The "My gosh the world will end using this stuff" is rediculous. How do you think people in California that owned carbed two strokes felt when they were told they can no longer use them. Times change -- generally for the better.

 

[JB]

Re: ethanol blend gas WARNING !!!

Non-repair topic