boating
in the kawarthas
by Heather Jackson Fenelon Falls Marina
What Every Boater Needs to Know about the Effects of Ethanol (E10) The largest source of trouble with marine engines these days lies with the fuel and fuel system. By being aware and proactive, boaters can eliminate the need for costly repairs and headaches. WHAT IS ETHANOL?
Ethanol has been added to most of the today’s fuel supply as an oxygenate to help reduce emissions into our atmosphere. Ethanol is alcohol, and alcohol is “hygroscopic” which means it attracts water molecules.
Why is Ethanol so bad for marine engines? REASON #1 Ethanol is not a big problem in the sealed fuel system of a modern car, but most boats have an open-vented fuel tank that breaths and introduces humid air to the fuel tank. This can create the formation of strong organic acids as water combines with Ethanol and other elements in the fuel, forming sludge and corrosive compounds. This process is known as fuel phase separation. Marine fuel intakes are located at the bottom of the tank, so the result is this separated sludge will be pushed through your engine causing running issues to occur. Beyond this level of water, phase separation could cause most of the Ethanol to separate from the fuel and drop to the bottom of the tank, leaving gasoline with a significantly reduced level of Ethanol in the upper phase. REASON #2 Ethanol, being alcohol, is a powerful solvent that can loosen debris in your fuel tank and all the components and lines it runs through. While on the topic of tanks, this is where your fuel system Page 30
begins and the first point where Ethanol has a chance to deteriorate your equipment. Most boat manufacturers don’t use fibreglass tanks anymore, however, there are still several in use today. Ethanol will break down certain resins that hold the glass fibres together, allowing debris to potentially reach your motor. Fibreglass is just one of the materials that Ethanol will deteriorate. What about rubber, plastic, even some types of metal? It is true, it can deteriorate all these materials, all of which are a part of your fuel system. As the Ethanol cleans, it leaves behind the debris which will travel through your fuel, creating more headaches for all boat owners.
What can Boaters do to protect their engines from the potentially damaging effects of Ethanol? 1. ADD FUEL STABILIZER AND CONDITIONER TO EVERY TANK OF FUEL Make sure to add a quality, marine-specific nonalcohol-based formula. Read the ingredients of
