Posted: 29 July 2008 at 9:38am | IP Logged

Keep changing filters, Keep several on board.  Do not bother with the startron as it is not doing anything.  The ethanol is disolving varnish in the bottom of your tank and passing it through to your filter.  After all the crap has been cleaned from the tank you will not have this problem any longer.  People who repower to diesel experience the same problem, diesel also disolves the varnish the same as the ethanol does. 

Also I have found other boaters having trouble with the antisyphon valve  that is located in the fuel line near the tank.  May want to disasselmbel it and clean it out, may find deposits in it. 

Also it will not hurt to mix regular non ethanol gas with the ethanol. It will not change the Octane, just dilutes the ethanol.  When gas stations changed over they did not drain the storage tanks, all they did was start adding then new mix.  It was not true e-10 until they had re filled the tanks several times.

Also note:  make sure you keep new O rings on the gas fill cap and also lube with a good waterproof silicone grease,  Scuba shops have this grease.  You want to prevent water from getting into your tanks.  Ambient moisture is not as big of a problem as water entering from the gas fill cap. 

Posted: 29 July 2008 at 10:29am | IP Logged

OK, and thanks for the information. I believe this ethenol stuff is for the birds. So it is OK to mix regular gasoline with this foolishness? Thanks again, Mike

Posted: 29 July 2008 at 2:11pm | IP Logged

Mix away, all it does is dilute the ethanol, Octane remains the same.  Your problems will resolve with regular fuel filter changes.  Clean fuel tank is the only good the ethanol does.

Thus far in Florida marina gas is exempt, FL law signed just this month exempts marinas and general aviation from ethanol. (FAA forbids Ethanol)  So I can breath easy as I own a vintage Hatteras with fiberglass tanks and ethanol would put and end to my boating until new tanks could be installed.  I was able to fill up over the weekend for 3.82/gallon and took on 145 gallons,  yes that is what I typicaly burn for a day of fishing.

Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:47pm | IP Logged

Pop Pop, no problem mixing them.  Fuel storage tanks were not drained dry before filling stations took on E/10  that is why the pumps sat 10% or Less Ethanol.   

Only problem you could have is mixing gasoline with MTBE  with E-10.  That causes sludge problems.  I do not believe there is any gas with MTBE out there anymore but you should check with your supplier.

Posted: 01 August 2008 at 7:50am | IP Logged

pop-pop wrote: I read on here somewere it is not good to mix the two.

I read the same thing. You should runn out the old gas as low as possible and then fill with E-10. I believe the Startron does help,but keep plenty of fuel filters on board.

Maryland has switched to E-10 all around the state. Last Year the eastern shore had the old gas. I was filling up there because I have fiberglass tanks. As of January 2008, the eastern shore switched to E-10. I am now screwed!!!

Maryland boaters need to write thier congressmen to make an exception for marina fuel!!!! You will see a 10-15% drop in economy with E-10. I had E-10 in my wife's mini-van and filled up with the old gas on the eastern shore in January (my last fuel run). The digital fuel economy raised up 3MPG as I drove 2 blocks out of St. Michaels Maryland. I've seen it with my own eyes!

Posted: 01 August 2008 at 4:21pm | IP Logged

The owner of the St. Michael's marina sold me some of the last MTBE gasoline this February. His fuel supplier told him the next delivery would be E-10. There is no supplier in Maryland selling the old MTBE gas to highway or marinas. ONLY airports can get the MTBE because they are exempt from E-10. It would be bad "PR" for the state if airplanes started dropping out of the sky!

The NMMA has a paper posted on the web that talks about the effects of E-10 and absolute opposition to E-20 (all bets are off then-engine warranties will be void). GUESS WHAT THE STATE WANTS TO DO.......YOU GUESSED IT....E-20. Fortunately they are getting some push back from Mercury and the likes on that. The paper mentions that the E-10 corrodes aluminum fuel tanks much faster and also sets up galvanic corrosion in the tank. A friend of mine has a 5yr old Cruisers Inc. and his aluminium auxillary tank is leaking like a sive (just out of warranty)

Posted: 01 August 2008 at 4:37pm | IP Logged

http://www.senate.gov/

You can find your senator here.

Posted: 06 August 2008 at 10:15am | IP Logged

E-20 is pretty harsh stuff.  Aluminum tanks would be in trouble and not sure about plastic tanks. 

Posted: 01 October 2008 at 6:19am | IP Logged

The cause of problems resulting from switching from non-E fuel, to E-10, is that etahnol is a fantastic solvent.

It breaks loose any crud in the fuel tank & system, and removes it - you guessed it, in to your system.

However, it will work itself out when clean.  Likely, the older the boat/tanks, the more crud to break loose.  There is not any chemical reaction occuring from the mixing of these fuels, just the ethanol working as a fantastic solvent.