Another warning: Gas pump fuel

[JETTYWOLF]

NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

This little label on a gas pump could be all that separates boaters from dangerously misfueling their boat.
With E15, Boaters, Anglers Will Need Extra Vigilance

When Filling up at the Gas Station

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 7, 2011 - With the EPA's recent decision to allow the use of gasoline with up to 15% ethanol (E15) in 2001 and newer model cars and trucks, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) says that trailerboaters will need to remain extra vigilant when filling up their truck and trailered boat at the local gas station. That's because while E15 could be fine for the tow vehicle, it's not good - nor authorized by the EPA - for use with boats. A strong solvent, ethanol has been known to degrade marine fuel systems, damage engines, add safety concerns, and lead to expensive repair bills.
"When filling up at gas stations, boaters are used to pulling up to the pump and filling up the tow vehicle first, and then putting the same fuel nozzle into the boat," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "If that happens with E15, it could be a big mistake."

The EPA intends to put a warning on the pump - a small label with the exact wording yet to determined. "This is going to be a lot different from the choices offered to boaters today, where it's nearly impossible to misfuel gas or diesel engines, or where there are few consequences when choosing 87 octane over a higher 93 octane gasoline, for example," added Adriance.
All of this means that when E15 starts to appear in gasoline stations, boaters must heed the warning on the pump and shouldn't even think about using it in a boat.

Here's why:
Going Lean isn't good: In addition to hydrogen and carbon found in regular gasoline, ethanol also contains oxygen, which means less air (or conversely, more fuel) is required for combustion. The term "enleanment" is used to describe what can happen when there is too much air and not enough fuel. While most cars and trucks on the road today have closed-loop systems that can adjust to prevent enleanment, most boats have open-loop systems which do not, adding a greater risk of heat-related damage to your boat's engine with E15.


Compatibility questions: Many components on a boat come in contact with ethanol-laden gasoline, including fuel lines, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, fuel injectors, carburetors, pressure regulators, valves, o-rings, and gaskets. The compatibility of these components with any blend greater than E10 is currently unknown. The failure of only one of these components in your engine could lead to failure or, worse, a fire or explosion.


A "good" thing isn't what it seems: Phase separation is what happens when gas becomes over-saturated with water, leading the water/ethanol mixture to separate from the gasoline and fall to the bottom of the tank (where the engine's fuel pickup is located). However, since ethanol absorbs water more readily than gasoline and it burns harmlessly through the engine, adding more ethanol to gas will decrease the chance for phase separation. You'd think that would be a good thing, right?

However, as you increase the amount of water in ethanol, this mixture also becomes more acidic, increasing the potential to corrode metal, including aluminum fuel tanks.

Also keep in mind that once gas has phase separated, the only remedy is to completely empty the tank. While BoatUS believes fuel additives in general are a good thing, it has not seen evidence of any additive being able to restore phase-separated gas back to its original state.


Your warrantee won't help you: Marine engines are only warranted for use with up to 10% (E10) ethanol.
For more information on ethanol, go to BoatUS.com/seaworthy/ethanol.asp. Or, to ask a question or see a discussion on where to find ethanol-free gas at marinas, go the BoatUS ethanol message board at http://my.BoatUS.com/forum.

[Chaps]

thanks Dave, important stuff

[JETTYWOLF]

Yep, I seem to be on every E-mailing list out there.

So what I get out that is we have to look for a sticker on the pump before fueling the boat at a gas station?
Hmm...if there is a gas station that's not just a 100% bull shet fuel?

Glad I use three six gallon jerry cans and never pull the boat into a station. Property cost big bucks these days and gas stations are getting smaller and smaller. As if anyone with a trailer was not in the original plans.

[goatram]

Thanks Dave for posting. Out in the PNW The Marinas are going away from Straight to the 10% Mix. I now use Marine Stabil every time a fill up. My Fuel in my Boat now is 5 months old. Need to start burning throu it.

[JETTYWOLF]

I knew a grasshopper fisherman years ago, that fished in his backyard and ran thru 175 gallons of fuel in a 26' CC Shamrock "keel-drive" inboard.....in his backyard!

We all named his boat "the planter" cause after about 4 years it was growing 2 foot tall Oak trees out the cracks in the cheap plastic deck. The tires sunk into the sand up to the hubs and his guard dog Doberman's used it as a dawg house, and spotting tower to look over the high stockade wooden fence, and bark at everyone passing by.

Yeah, about that time I said, "I think it's time to get new fishing friends."

[goatram]

That hurt Dave I do fish alot just not in the fall and early winter

[JETTYWOLF]

I have more stories where that one came from...... "name yer illness" and I probably have a tale or two.