Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

[JustJason]

Hey Rodbolt, question for ya.
Have you seen blends of E10 go sour enough, acidic enough, to start to strip the seal coating from the carbs in as little as a few weeks? Motor is a 2001 Merc/Yammy 30 4 stroke?
Thanks,
Jason

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

yes.
more than one set I have rebuilt I had to do it again in three weeks.
and its hard to find how fresh the fuel was when you pumped it.
mostly we find as it deteriorates it starts turning acidic due to a reaction with the moisture in it, sunlight on poly tanks seems to accelerate this.
I am no expert, I just got to see more of it than most techs due to our location.
we deal with everything from tiny mite blowboat kickers to the big gradys and regulators with twin and triple F350 engines as well as the twin stern drive fishing boats in the 27-33 ft range.
probably 1/2 the boats on the racks or in the drystack have owners than live closer than a 7 hour drive.
there is a 33 rinker with twin 5.7s and it moves about 10 hours per year.
couple other boats with similar usage patterns.
its how we figgured out what storing a hull for extended times with E fuels does.
I have seen odd fuel issues in the past 2 years that I havent seen in the prior 33 years or so I have been doing this.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

I"m thinking about doing an experiment. Tell me what you think, I'm going to PM you in a bit too, It's a money proposition for ya, so make sure you have some room in your inbox.
Do you think the introduction of diesel fuel, even very small amounts of it, speeds up or makes it more acidic when it does decide to spoil. Specifically, the sulphur in the diesel mixing with the ethanol.
Some of the fuel stations up here have 1 pump with 4 option buttons. 87, 89, 93, and diesel. But it's the same hose that goes into your tank.

Check your PM's about the money thing...

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

dunno, never tried it.
what? me with a full PM box?
what would give anyone that idea

 

[jp10]

Re: Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

Rodbolt, are you employed by Yamaha? If that's not to personal, please.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

ME? employed by Yamaha?
nope.
I work at Joes marine down hearu in whuchezze NC.
been offered a job as an RTA over the years and Volvo offered me the same slot with them but I make more than they care to pay.
maybe in another 5 years ill quit twisting and try teaching wrenchs.
I am just another tech thats done this type of work way longer than I care to think that probably needs a life.
also spent some time as an automotive tech, 6 years programming and setting up CNC lathes and mills and 6 years in the USN as an FC.
other than that, thats about me.
why?

 

[jp10]

Re: Resident Rodbolt ethanol expert....

PM replied, Rodbolt