Ethanol in the firing line

[GoredHusker]

The reason boaters are against ethanol is quite simple.  Most boats have fiberglass or plastic tanks.  Ethanol breaks down both of those causing the fiberglass or plastic to flake.  Once flakes hit the engines on outboard boat engines, it's game over for the motor.  A friend of mine brought over his 4 wheeler a couple of weeks ago wanting help to get it running again.  His wife dumped it over in a pasture nearly four years ago and locked up the brakes.  Instead of fixing it then, he bought another one.  Now, his grandkids are around and he wanted two 4 wheelers going.  After getting the brakes fixed, I told him we needed to drain the gas tank and clean the carb.  The entire fuel line to the carb from the petcock was clogged with this black grit.  Upon further investigation, we noticed that the black grit wasn't dirt but was rather black flakes of plastic.  I asked him if he'd been running ethanol in this before it went down and he replied yes.  The ethanol had degraded the tank enough over four years to clog up the five inch 3/8" fuel line and the petcock.  After quite a hassle, we finally got it running again. 

Most guys around here don't buy ethanol for on farm storage anymore because of the problems that arise from storing E-10 fuel for prolonged periods of time.  Ethanol absorbs water whether it be in the form of humidity or liquid.  Once ethanol has become saturated ethanol will separate from gasoline.  E-10 bought at filling stations is fine because they go through mass quantities, but on farm tanks where it takes six months or longer to use it up has caused a lot of problems for guys around here.   

[aaron4020]

Ethanol is everyone's favorite whipping boy when it comes to engine problems. Just as likely the gunk in that 4 wheeler was junk that settled out of the low grade gas mixed with the ethanol. All my friends use regular gas in their small engines becasue of ethanol phobia and I use ethanol. They all complain about getting them to run after winter, mine start on the second pull. I'm sure ethanol is involved with some problems but using it as a blanket excuse is ridiculous. As far as the blender credit, I'm all for getting rid of it and the other farm subsidies. The weaning process will be a little painful but we'd be better off in the long run.

[GoredHusker]

Ethanol is not a terrible fuel.  However, it does have some drawbacks.  Most newer equipment whether it be boats, small engines, etc. have few problems running E-10.  Most of the problems with ethanol occur by storing E-10 longer than the recommended time which is 90 days, and in older equipment. 

Google phase separation:

"Phase Separation describes what happens to gasoline containing Ethanol when water is present. When gasoline containing even small amounts of Ethanol comes in contact with water, either liquid or in the form of humidity; the Ethanol will pick-up and absorb some or all of that water. When it reaches a saturation point the Ethanol and water will Phase Separate, actually coming out of solution and forming two or three distinct layers in the tank."

Here's a quote with regards to ethanol in boats by Evinrude Johnson E-Tec who has no dog in the fight with regard to ethanol:

Boaters, often store gas in tanks longer than recommended for E10 (90 days).

Cars, unlike boats, usually replace fuel every week or two, which will successfully prevent the possibility of water-contamination/phase separation.

Boat engines live in a water environment - Alcohol gas loves to absorb water.

Ethanol E10 gas can absorb large amounts of water into the fuel tank, MTBE in conventional gasoline did not. 

Plus, boat engines usually last longer than cars. Still owning and using a marine engine from the 1970's or 1980's is not uncommon. * These older engine parts and tanks were not usually designed or tested to withstand the damaging effects of alcohol gas.

* Several older marine engines (made prior to 1992) have plastic and rubber parts, and fiberglass tanks that are NOT compatible with E10 alcohol fuel.

[Pat in CMO]

 Gored, I left E-10 in both of my lawnmowers and my 4-wheeler over the winter (mowers were not used for almost 6 months). Everything started without any trouble at all this spring. Anytime I ever did that with regular gasoline the carbs were always gummed up badly. I personally have better luck with E-10 in small engines than with regular unleaded. I don't believe all the horror stories. Everybody just wants a convenient whipping child.  Patrick

[dapper7]

no e10 problems here from 1981 fordp/u(maybe once a month use) on down to chain saw.

[DW11]

Most small engines on our farm have plastic fuel tanks, ranging from a 1997 polaris four-wheeler to a 2008 Yamaha four-wheeler to string trimmers, chainsaws and water pumps.  We have not had any problems with running E10 in all of them for 20+ years.   

[Mark, ncIA]

Same here DW, we've been running e10 in everything, including a couple of outboards, without trouble. 

Fex-fuel vehicles are a different story (e85), 2 Chevys, about 5 years apart, same motor, the older on takes a very small hit (<10%)on the e85 the newer one nearly -25%.  e30 does well in both, with little difference in milage from e10 or e0.

[DW11]

Mark,  your experience backs up the research that I have seen with regard to E30 being the "sweet spot" for ethanol gas mileage.  Your experience also shows why ethanol detractors that like to use BTU's as the measuring stick for ethanol compared to gas are so wrong.  Last time I checked, it is miles per gallon that matter, not BTU content.  But why should detractors stop beating that dead horse when it sounds simplistically true.