repower

[Fr. Frank]

nobody except Yami and their fuel systems are having issues.

Everybody is having fuel issues. My local Merc dealer is right next to the Suzi dealer and while we were having coffee the other morning both agreed that 75% OR MORE of their service work nowadays is due to ethanol in the fuel, resulting in all kinds of havoc, both with 2 and 4 stroke motors.

Here's a real kicker: both agree that TCW3 2-stroke oil, when used with gasoline that is 8-10% ethanol, will NOT protect the engine in any oil injection system that does not inject the oil directly into the cylinders. It absolutely does not workk well when pre-mixed with gasahol and stored in a fuel tank.

Mercury is now recommending synthetic oil only for the Optimax motors when used with gasoline containing ethanol, and also strongly recommending using two additives at all times, Quickleen (similar to Powertune and RingFree) and Quicksilver Fuel Conditioner and Stabilizer designed for ethanol-containing fuels. Mercury is also considering adding an exclusion to it's extended warranty for alcohol-caused fuel-system damage.

Remember, ethanol (or any alcohol) is hydrophilic, meaning it attracts and collects water. There was a test done at the Southwest Research Institute that showed a well-vented 100 gallon container containing 50 gallons of unleaded gasoline composed of 10% ethanol, when allowed to sit in 80% - 90% humidity at a temperature ranging from 65*F to 98*F for 180 days, accumulated over 6 GALLONS of water in the bottom of the tank during that period, while losing 4 gallons in overall volume from evaporation.

After 180 days, having started with 50 gallons of gasoline, they ended up with 40 gallons of gas and 6 gallons of water. This is purely from condensation and the hydrophilic properties of ethanol in the gasoline. That's not good for ANY marine engine.

The sad thing is, around here, no one sells ethanol-free gas anymore.

[76Red18]

Here's a real kicker: both agree that TCW3 2-stroke oil, when used with gasoline that is 8-10% ethanol, will NOT protect the engine in any oil injection system that does not inject the oil directly into the cylinders. It absolutely does not workk well when pre-mixed with gasahol and stored in a fuel tank.

If thats not working, what should we pre-mixers be doing?? I use an inline water separator and have noticed more water when inspecting the bowl; probably a cup every 2 months.

[Fr. Frank]

Jerry Schiaccitano of AAA outboard in Crystal River says you need to have a fuel stabilizer designed to work with ethanol, and add it every time you add gas. Mercury (Quicksilver) makes one, and StaBil has just introduced a new formula for using with ethanol fuels. Both work to inhibit the hydrophilic properties of the ethanol, as well as inhibit fuel additive separation.

[1bayouboy]

Yikes.....all the stations in SC are ethanol this year. Ifeel like I'm sitting on a time bomb......in both my premix yammie and my merc I/O. What's next....a big silica gel filled filter can on the vent hose...

[Bigshrimpin]

There was a test done at the Southwest Research Institute that showed a well-vented 100 gallon container containing 50 gallons of unleaded gasoline composed of 10% ethanol, when allowed to sit in 80% - 90% humidity at a temperature ranging from 65*F to 98*F for 180 days, accumulated over 6 GALLONS of water in the bottom of the tank during that period, while losing 4 gallons in overall volume from evaporation.

After 180 days, having started with 50 gallons of gasoline, they ended up with 40 gallons of gas and 6 gallons of water. This is purely from condensation and the hydrophilic properties of ethanol in the gasoline. That's not good for ANY marine engine.

The sad thing is, around here, no one sells ethanol-free gas anymore.

Frank - I'm curious about this study . . . do you happen to have a link to it or a copy? I cannot find any reference to it online. I'm curious about the tank material and testing conditions.

[76Red18]

I was looking into the new Stabil product. "Stabil Marine" blue formula.

[Fr. Frank]

Tim, I read about it in an 2nd hand online report on the effects of ethanol on two-stroke motors. I was researching and surfing on the issue of the effects of ethanol on TCW3 oil in premix fuel after a friend lost compression on 5 out of 6 cylinders on his '88 Johnson 225 while running premix. The mechanic blamed it on ethanol in the gas.

I don't remember the web address where I read it, though. I had just clicked through on a link from HotBot, (which is my search engine of choice). I just now spent 20 minutes trying to find it again. I am quite sure about the name of the testing organization, though. The report named the Southwest Research Institute, which is the largest independent research body dealing with oil, and petroleum products in the world. I will keep trying to relocate the report, which was in .pdf format, and I believe was dated in February. (Yes, I already checked my temp files)

As I recall, it also said the amount of accumulated condensate was more than 3 times the amount that could be expected with just regular gasoline in a half-full tank.

[htillman]

I will check with my friends at SWR and see if they can help. They do alot of failure analysis for the company I work for and I may be able to get the info. They are in TX if it is the same company.

[Fr. Frank]

I will check with my friends at SWR and see if they can help.

That would be great.

[nos3665]

One Option, and its not cheap, AVGAS 100LL at your local Airport. Find a County Airfield they will be happy to fuel the boat. Decarb would come sooner also.
BTW I was at out local Airfield sunday and price had dropped to 5.29 a gal.