Ethanol.... a tip from Boat US

[LvrWurst 21 SR Skip]

Tip of the Month:

Avoiding the Ethanol Blues

If your boat's engine runs on gasoline, then you need to be careful how you put your fuel to bed for the winter. These days, most gasoline you buy at a gas station or fuel dock comes with 10 percent ethanol, which can cause problems if stored for months, especially if the temperature is changing. Ethanol is hydrophilic - it attracts and holds water. Small amounts of water will be burned in the combustion cycle, but ethanol can only absorb so much water. When it becomes completely saturated, phase separation occurs, and the corrosive ethanol-water mixture sinks to the bottom of the tank. If the engine is run, this mixture can damage seals, O-rings, injec tors, and other delicate engine parts. The upper "gasoline" layer will be depleted of ethanol and have a reduced octane level, which can also cause engine problems. Leaving your tank half full for the winter can greatly increase the problems. First, there is more room in the tank and less fuel, which means more surface area for condensation formation and less ethanol to absorb the resulting water. Second, cycling temperatures from warm to cold also increases the amount of condensation. Finally, ethanol cannot absorb as much water at low temperatures as it can when it's warmer, so the gasoline will phase separate more quickly in colder temperatures. So what to do? If you can empty your tank completely, you should do so. If not, add stabilizer and fill it most of the way, leaving room for expansion and contraction of the gasoline. Click here for more advice.< /font>

http://smtp.boatus.net/t?r=3&c=26891&l=852&ctl=22460D:3C55CD38431F6DF1A74A7BA9794977B6&

[Hydro-Therapy]

Filling the tank may be great for some with the smaller tanks. For me leaving $150 worth of fuel to sit over the winter to deteriorate does not make sense. So I drain it out and the wife gets a full tank in her car until it is gone. Makes for a happy wife !!!!

H-T

[fishorcrab]

HT,

1. How do you effect the transfer?  Syphon, pump, pull tank?
2. How do you check the stuff remaining for problems?
3. How much remains in tank after draining?

Inquiring minds, etc.   

Paul

[Hydro-Therapy]

Fish

1 siphon most of it then use the primer ball off the kicker to get the rest.

  2. I don't check it every year but when I did I pulled the tank and looked. No Junk in the bottom.

   3 maybe a pint at the most.

  In the spring I will put a gallon in and pump it out though the lines and then change my filter. So I know there is no old gas in the system.

  H-T

[fishorcrab]

Sounds like a thorough method.  I've got some work to do.

Thanks,
Paul

[Vancouvertechie]

I love corn fuel!!!

Let's hope they don't get the 15 percent they are trying to push.

VT

[croaker stroker]

I have had the best luck with condensation by keeping my tanks full.  I think it may depend on where you live. Down here, we have hot days and cool foggy nights. The heat of the day expands air in the tank. Then the cold of the night contracts and sucks the fog into the tank where it condenses and becomes water.  This doesn't happen when the tank is full.

[LvrWurst 21 SR Skip]

How to drain.....Whenever I acquire a used boat for projects, I use a 4-5ft fuel line with bulb attached and sipon off into 5 gallon jugs. Replace water fuel separator and in line filter in motor...then refill with Chevron 89. Use up the old fuel in car or give away to some needy person.  If a 50-1 mix...I leave the jugs at the marina for someone else to use. There are always takers for it..........Works for me.  JW