Ethanol?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
I had enjoyed YEARS of trouble free service on the two boat engines I own....that came to an end with ethanol. I will keep it short. I have an external fuel filter on the larger boat that uses a spin on filter not unlike an oil filter. I changed it yearly and the fuel in it ALWAYS looked clean, usually with NO water in the filter at all period. After I started using ethanol my engine started running poorly less than half a year in. I limped back home to trouble shoot. When I pulled the fuel filter off it was full of the foulest crap I have ever seen in a fuel system. I have run fuel cleaner through but on of the carbs is screwed so I have to pull it off and clean it up. Ethanol draws water out of the air it breaks down and seperates WAY quicker that regular fuel. My truck runs fine on the crap other than loosing 3 MPG but that fuel gets used pretty quickly. My bikes are ok but I stabilized the fuel if the fuel will not be burned quickly.
If you burn it quickly than you only have to deal with loss of power and mileage. Having to add stuff just to keep the fuel from breaking down and clogging the works up if you might let it set for more than a couple weeks is NOT acceptable. When you factor in the FALSE economy and that MORE energy is actually used to perform the work, much more when you factor in the prodution methods, it makes even less sense.
RAL
If you burn it quickly than you only have to deal with loss of power and mileage. Having to add stuff just to keep the fuel from breaking down and clogging the works up if you might let it set for more than a couple weeks is NOT acceptable. When you factor in the FALSE economy and that MORE energy is actually used to perform the work, much more when you factor in the prodution methods, it makes even less sense.
RAL
My father's boat has run on ethanol gas for years without a hitch, and by your own admission, your truck did not suffer from the same issues as your boat.
Is it possible that you have an older fuel line in place in your boat that was broken down by the ethanol and that is what clogged your fuel filter?
It could also have been a tank of bad gas.....
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Sounds like you had another problem with your boat, and falsely attributed it to the ethanol?
My father's boat has run on ethanol gas for years without a hitch, and by your own admission, your truck did not suffer from the same issues as your boat.
Is it possible that you have an older fuel line in place in your boat that was broken down by the ethanol and that is what clogged your fuel filter?
It could also have been a tank of bad gas.....
My father's boat has run on ethanol gas for years without a hitch, and by your own admission, your truck did not suffer from the same issues as your boat.
Is it possible that you have an older fuel line in place in your boat that was broken down by the ethanol and that is what clogged your fuel filter?
It could also have been a tank of bad gas.....
I was not looking for trouble with ethanol, I was not concerned in the least when the switch came. My experiance with the fuel is were my opinion on it use come from. I am not alone...you think all these people with simular experiance are causing their engines to act up with negative vibs?
If we are to use this fuel why is it not stabilized from the start so it can be stored for reasonble time periods. Why are we using corn when others are having better results with other souces? Brazil has been using ethanol for close to 30 years. If you look beyond all the hype you will find that ethanol provides less than 18% of the energy that powers their cars and light trucks.
Ethanol is not a panacea far from it......follow the money.
RAL
Last edited by RAL; Aug 31, 2011 at 10:51 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
Both boats......the other small 10 horse was a great motor. She would always start second pull even after sitting for months. Her carb is on the work bench getting cleaned up. The local M/C small engine repair shop has stuff back up, way up, for repair..mostly fuel related.
I was not looking for trouble with ethanol, I was not concerned in the least when the switch came. My experiance with the fuel is were my opinion on it use come from. I am not alone...you think all these people with simular experiance are causing their engines to act up with negative vibs?
If we are to use this fuel why is it not stabilized from the start so it can be stored for reasonble time periods. Why are we using corn when others are having better results with suger cane? Brazil has been using ethanol for close to 30 years. If you look beyond all the hype you will find that ethanol provides less than 18% of the energy that powers their cars and light trucks.
Ethanol is not a panacea far from it......follow the money.
RAL
I was not looking for trouble with ethanol, I was not concerned in the least when the switch came. My experiance with the fuel is were my opinion on it use come from. I am not alone...you think all these people with simular experiance are causing their engines to act up with negative vibs?
If we are to use this fuel why is it not stabilized from the start so it can be stored for reasonble time periods. Why are we using corn when others are having better results with suger cane? Brazil has been using ethanol for close to 30 years. If you look beyond all the hype you will find that ethanol provides less than 18% of the energy that powers their cars and light trucks.
Ethanol is not a panacea far from it......follow the money.
RAL
As for sugar beets, we can't grow them here in the US the way that they can in Brazil, or we would be growing them instead of corn to produce the ethanol we need.
I agree that a large force is behind the ethanol lobby and that its definitely not actually better for the gas, but I disagree with claims that its going to clog or foul modern engines any faster than regular gas. Small engines such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, etc...are the exception due to their rubber parts, but even the new models come with ethanol rated hoses.
As for stabilization, gasoline is really hard to stabilize. Without stabilization, it loses about one octane rating per month stored in fluctuating temps, and even at the longest, stabilized gas is only good for about 3 years TOPS.
Diesel will stabilize for a decade, its a much better choice for long term storage.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
That is true on the crop rotation & there is a demand for corn year around. We receive corn from other elevators that store it year around and we can store 2.6 million bushels at our plant.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 2
From: Saint Johns, FL
That clogging thing is a myth.
I just broke a fuel injected Yamaha out of storage, sitting idle for a YEAR and it fired right up and ran like it was brand new.
I know many people here who have stored vehicles for a long time with tanks full of ethanol gas (stabilized, stored for up to two years) with no clogging issue.
I just broke a fuel injected Yamaha out of storage, sitting idle for a YEAR and it fired right up and ran like it was brand new.
I know many people here who have stored vehicles for a long time with tanks full of ethanol gas (stabilized, stored for up to two years) with no clogging issue.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 275
Likes: 1
From:
Both my '06 Dyna and '03 Chevy lost about 10% in fuel economy at the exact time the local stations started carrying gas that "contains 10% ethanol." That's not up for debate - it's a fact! And it takes into account gas stations locally (northeast US) and within a 200-400 mile radius.
My 4.3L S10 up until 2009: highway 20-21mpg. After 2009: 18mpg (even w/cruise)
My 88ci Dyna up until 2009: highway 52-53mpg. After 2009: 48mpg
Even www.fueleconomy.gov indicates a "3-4%" reduction in fuel economy using 10% ethanol. And their "results" are meant to encourage and promote the use of 10% ethanol. You can't hide the hit in fuel economy even if you're biased in favor of ethanol. And that is my only gripe with ethanol - I otherwise support running 10% ethanol in my tanks. Just don't try to push it off as something it's not.
Now that I'm reviewing this before posting I'm starting to wonder if the only benefit to 10% ethanol is helping farmers (a worthy benefit IMO). Otherwise - a 10% ethanol blend yields a 10% reduction in fuel economy. Making the ethanol nothing more than filler that takes up space in your tank. So you're still going to buy the fuel you need to drive the miles you travel. But you're going to be refueling 10% more often and paying more for the privilege.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 583
Likes: 7
Yep overthinking.
I use enthanol gas in all my bikes, 78 ,91 ,and 03.
also use it in my 200 hp outboard.
you do lose a little power,milage, and it doesn like sitting in the tank a long time.
Just make sure your fuel lines are good(alcohol resistant).
the "corn/fuel" is the biggest scam ever pullled on the american people,
however It is usable ,and if your like me it is all I can get where I live.
I use enthanol gas in all my bikes, 78 ,91 ,and 03.
also use it in my 200 hp outboard.
you do lose a little power,milage, and it doesn like sitting in the tank a long time.
Just make sure your fuel lines are good(alcohol resistant).
the "corn/fuel" is the biggest scam ever pullled on the american people,
however It is usable ,and if your like me it is all I can get where I live.
This is what you get when we allow lobbist to buy (perks and promised jobs) congressional votes.
Last edited by 1potter1; Sep 2, 2011 at 04:38 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 281
Likes: 1
From: Cleveland,TN USA
I have been saying this ever since they came up with the stuff.
If you have to buy more of it to go the same distance, what is the point?
It is actually costing our economy more and since you have to buy more, probably not saving any foreign or domestic oil either.
We have to pay average of 25 cents more a gallon for "real" gasoline in my area.
Make me buy health insurance that I have not needed in 15 years?
What is next for the commie congress?
Sorry for the Eastwood moment!
If you have to buy more of it to go the same distance, what is the point?
It is actually costing our economy more and since you have to buy more, probably not saving any foreign or domestic oil either.
We have to pay average of 25 cents more a gallon for "real" gasoline in my area.
Make me buy health insurance that I have not needed in 15 years?
What is next for the commie congress?
Sorry for the Eastwood moment!