ethanol gas additives

[jerkoz]

have a 1986 outboard motor which states gas with up to 10% ethanol is ok. have seen additives which state that it removes the problems that ethanol creates.. has anyone used these products?

 

[dingbat]

have a 1986 outboard motor which states gas with up to 10% ethanol is ok. have seen additives which state that it removes the problems that ethanol creates.. has anyone used these products?

Snake oil.....have yet to see one advertised to change out old, out of date fuel lines, carb gaskets and fuel pump diaphragms.

If you’ve changed out the above in the last 10 years, don’t worry about it....go boating

 

[Scott Danforth]

The key to boating with ethanol fuel.....,,go boating and dont let your ship sit

 

[jerkoz]

thanks

 

[Tim Frank]

The key to boating with ethanol fuel.....,,go boating and dont let your ship sit

^^^^ Amen!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I read this on my morning internet coffe time and thought it was perfect



The Myth:

Gasoline is a bunch of dead dinosaurs. It's just chock full of dirt, sediment, bone fragments and the occasional restless raptor soul. Using a fuel additive helps keep deposits from building up and clogging your fuel system. Some of them may also increase gas mileage and prevent fuel line freezing, but only if you kiss them after and promise to call.



The Reality:

Gasoline does indeed have crap in it that can clog up your fuel system. That's why every gasoline manufacturer since 1995 has been required by law to add detergents that prevent deposits and buildups. Using an aftermarket additive is basically like rubbing two bars of soap together; you're not actually cleaning anything and you look really stupid doing it. Gasoline antifreeze additives are largely useless, too, since most gasoline is good for temperatures down to -40 degrees, and if you're driving in climates colder than that, just move. There are way nicer places, even in Canada.

 

[GA_Boater]

"Put a tiger in your tank" could easily have been "Put a T-Rex in your tank"

Or was the implication the tiger was a Sabretooth?

 

[lindy46]

Why not just buy 100% gas?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Why not just buy 100% gas?

you can, however in many states its not available with E10 being mandatory, or comes at a $.80 per gallon premium.

 

[Crosbyman]

never had problems ( during 45 years of boating pre-ethanol and post ethanol

boat sits 6 month frozen and fully fuel in the garage

I do use 2+4D and some Seafoam

Seafoam did clean up and clear up my flame throwing back firing Honda snowblower last winter

 

[BAYDOG225]

Just a word to the uniformed who buy the 91 or 90 non-ethanol gas. If you frequent a station that does not have a dedicated non-eth pump, Make sure you put the first gallon of gas in you truck. the hose more then likely will be filled with 87 Ethanol gas from the last user and you will have payed that premium , and been jipped.

 

[matt167]

I read this on my morning internet coffe time and thought it was perfect


Gasoline does indeed have crap in it that can clog up your fuel system. That's why every gasoline manufacturer since 1995 has been required by law to add detergents that prevent deposits and buildups. Using an aftermarket additive is basically like rubbing two bars of soap together; you're not actually cleaning anything and you look really stupid doing it. Gasoline antifreeze additives are largely useless, too, since most gasoline is good for temperatures down to -40 degrees, and if you're driving in climates colder than that, just move. There are way nicer places, even in Canada.

Antifreeze for sure has effect when it's needed. I used to daily drive a JDM 1992 Suzuki Carry Kei truck. 660cc 3cyl carburated. And it ran a 32mm Mikuni carburator that had some idle and enrichment controls tied into it which were controlled by relays. The idle control/ enrichment stopped working and several times over the winter the carburator froze up and left me stranded. After keeping it full of Heet I never had the problem even if it was colder than I had the carb freeze up. Never experienced a carburator freeze up like that but it led me to sell the truck

However, it was below 32* when the carb froze and if your boating when it's freezing your doing it wrong

 

[Scott Danforth]

most of the time carb icing is simply from the amount of humidity in the air. it generally occurs between 30F and 36F that coupled with the Bernoulli effect from the venturi and you have carb icing as the incoming moist air is super-cooled.

has nothing to do with additives

 

[matt167]

nope this was well below 32*, and there was an exact spot where it would give up if it was going to do it. Could keep it running on the accelerator pump but the jet was frozen. The tank held 7 gallons and I put a full bottle in good for 20 gallons so it was a very strong mix of methanol.