Just a heads up. BEWARE OF GAS WITH ALCOHOL!!!

[jackelope]

ethanol is ethanol, a form of alcohol...alcohol is just a general term. There's lots of different kinds of alcohol.

[fishcrazy]

So are you saying that if the additive manufacture use other types of alcohol it might be ok to use? I was kinda thinking that myself but am not sure. Is it just ethanol that would be the problem?


Kris

[jackelope]

I'd guess I'd wanna do a little more research but all the problems relating to your problem look to be caused by ethanol specifically.
Drygas is a form of alcohol, that stuff eliminates moisture. I'm sure there's some good and some bad.
Are you a member of the gamefishin.com or piscatorialpursuits.com forums? you might want to explore this over there with a lot more boat owners who are probably experiencing the same type issues.
If I remember correctly gamefishin.com has a whole forum just for boat issues and advice.

[jackelope]

Kris-
I work with a guy who has a boat and does a ton of fishing...I'll ask him what he uses.

[jackelope]

He uses a product called Ring-Free that he gets at 3 rivers marine here in woodinville.
Also he recommends the Sta-bil stuff.
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/apparel/apscitemdetail/3/122/all/1/346/detail.aspx

[fishcrazy]

I am a PP member. That is where I got the links I posted. They have a really good topic going right now and is where I got my concern for putting more alcohol in the tank.

Everybody I talked to just says to do a fuel treatment. They are based on claims on the bottle or somebody says to use it. From what I have read so money of these claims are BS and not possible.

One thing I have not talked to anybody that use a fuel treatment that has had problems. Is it because they have got lucky or they use allot of gas and it stays fresh or is it really the stuff they add that is working. My boat is 5 years old now and this is the first time I have had this problem. But I never let it sit until this year.


tell him thanks and I will look into that stuff.
Kris

[jackelope]

Chris said he puts a 1/4 of that bottle in every time he fills up his tank. It's $25 for a 12 ounce bottle  .
He says the ethanol is a huge problem with the moisture and it causes pre-detonation or spark knock I think is another term sometimes used.

[yelp]

fishcrazy..I use the manufacturers recommended products because of the warranty on my motor..I don't want to do anything that they don't recommend.  

From Mercury website...

Are Mercury engines compatible with ethanol fuels?

The fuel-system components of Mercury engines will withstand up to 10 percent ethanol in gasoline - the maximum level currently allowed by the EPA in the U.S. There are some efforts to establish E-20 (20 percent ethanol mixed with 80 gasoline) for use in some areas, but that will require agreement from EPA to grant a waiver. Part of the EPA waiver process will require verification from studies that demonstrate that higher levels of ethanol do not create problems with fuel-system materials or operation of hardware. E-20 has not been extensively studied by Mercury and is not acceptable for use in Mercury products. E-85 fuels must not be used in any Mercury engines and could seriously damage current Mercury products. It is not legal in the U.S. to market any ethanol fuel as gasoline if it contains more than 10 percent ethanol.

Will the use of fuels containing ethanol void my engine warranty?

Fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol are considered acceptable for use in Mercury engines. Fuels containing higher levels of ethanol are not considered acceptable for use, and the use of fuels containing ethanol higher than 10 percent can void the warranty.


What should be done when storing boats with ethanol-blended fuels for extended periods?

Follow the instructions for normal storage preparation found in the owner’s manual or operations guide. When preparing to store a boat for extended periods of two months or more, it is best to completely remove all fuel from the tank. If it is difficult or not possible to remove the fuel, maintaining a full tank of fuel with a fuel stabilizer added to provide fuel stability and corrosion protection is recommended. It is best to add the stabilizer and fuel treatment to the tank at the recommended dosage, running the engine for 10 minutes to allow the system to be cleaned, shutting off the fuel valve to interrupt the fuel supply and allow the engine to run until it stops, topping off the tank until it’s full to reduce the amount of exchange with the air that might bring in condensation. Do not cap the tank vent and do not fill with fuel to the point of overflowing. Some extra space should be maintained in the tank to allow for expansion and contraction of the fuel with temperature changes. A partially full tank is not recommended because the void space above the fuel allows air movement that can bring in water through condensation as the air temperature moves up and down. This condensation could potentially become a problem.
Mercury Marine Fuel System Treatment & Stabilizer can help maintain fuel systems in storage. It contains oxidation inhibitors to reduce oxidation and gum formation, metal chelating agents to protect metal components from corrosion, water absorbing agents to reduce the presence of free water, and dispersants to help suspend and disperse debris. When placing the boat back in service, be sure to reopen the fuel valve to the engine.



More info here...

http://www.mercurymarine.com/serviceandwarranty/outboardfaqs/ethanol.php#6

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[luvtohnt]

Is your boat motor 2 stroke or 4? The actual culprit causing this reaction could be the oil that is injected into the fuel for the 2-stroke. This would be why cars can run on ethanol and boats have trouble with it. As far as gas stations with ethanol, they have to legally disclose on the pump if there is ethanol in the gas or not. So you may have to do some driving to see which stations in your area don't have the stickers. I will see if I can find any sort of reaction between ethanol and oil.

Brandon

[jackelope]

Pretty sure Kris is running a sled with a big V8 engine...
not a 2 stroke.

[fishcrazy]

Pretty sure Kris is running a sled with a big V8 engine...
not a 2 stroke.

Nope, I run a Mercury Sport Jet. It's an intresting package. check them out. yes it's inboard but it is 2 stroke. Power head from an outboard.


Kris

[jackelope]

I'm familiar with it...my bud had an alumaweld striker with the 200 sportjet.
screamer for sure.
my bad..

[cohoho]

Kris-  fish more and thus you'll burn all the crappy gas up...lol...  Thanks for the heads up on this got me looking to ensure similar thing doesn't occur...

[klickriverchromer]

I hate ethanol... I deal with the side effects from that crap daily in small engines.. I.E. motorcycles, atvs, lawnmowers, weedwackers, and the Snowmobiles(they really hate that guy).. Crap causes havoc on the fuel systems and runability...

[fishcrazy]

Kris-  fish more and thus you'll burn all the crappy gas up...lol...  Thanks for the heads up on this got me looking to ensure similar thing doesn't occur...

I'm trying!!!


Kris