ethanol

[Big Kahunaz]

What are the best fuel stabilizers out there ...how often do you use and just how bad is ethanol for an outboard? Is there a difference in 2 stroke vs 4 stroke w/ ethanol concerns? Is Stabil a ring/gunk cleaner? Running Opti-Max now. Any optimax maintenece tips? Thx

[Dink]

Use stabill ethenol treatment everytime you put gas in......keeps it from separating and helps with the water problems associated with the ethenol

[Sea-Trac Offshore]

The stabil marine is good and so is the starbrite startron.

[Montauk17]

They have alot of treatments on the market. I stick to the stabil because they have been around a long time. Use it everytime you fill up.

[adamsfence]

it hadn't bothered mine yet i got a 4 stroke suzuki......but mine don't sit up very long the fuel don't have time to seperate....i use 1/2 a tank at least once a week

[Sea-Trac Offshore]

This is where people are mistaken about the sitting up part. Does not matter if it sits up or not, ethanol still eats up the fuel lines

[Dink]

Also, it separates when you drive...........hitting bumps and stirring it up actually causes the separation

[Sea-Trac Offshore]

Next time you get gas put some in a glass jar and let it sit for a day. yuck

[Montauk17]

I have seen phase separated gas straight out of the pump before. Some gas stations do not change there filters in the pumps like they should. If you dont want problems,put it in every tank and use a water separator filter.Keeping your talk full also helps with water related problems caused by the ethenal. Trust me its alot cheaper to do this then pay the bill at the mechanic shop later.

[justwant2fish]

Now I wouldnt fill up my tank and let it sit. If you have to use ethanol fuel only put in your tank what you will burn that day and yes run a water seperator. In marine engines it does more damage than automotive . We see ethanol issues with vehicles but its just water in fuel causing random misfires. Ethanol attracts moisture thats what the big problem with it is. If you run what you put in and add stabile you are doing everything you can as well as having a water seperating filter inline.

[Dink]

BTW.....for you Lafayette folks. Ethenol free gas can be found at the pumps in front of super 1 at willow and the thruway, also corner of verrot and hay 92

[speck-chaser]

I been using startron, seems to work pretty well.

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by justwant2fish

Now I wouldnt fill up my tank and let it sit. If you have to use ethanol fuel only put in your tank what you will burn that day and yes run a water seperator. In marine engines it does more damage than automotive . We see ethanol issues with vehicles but its just water in fuel causing random misfires. Ethanol attracts moisture thats what the big problem with it is. If you run what you put in and add stabile you are doing everything you can as well as having a water seperating filter inline.

Not to open a can of worms,but if your going to let it set up it is better to fill it up and add stabil. If the tank is full it has less area for the water to build up.

[Big Kahunaz]

how long is considered "set up"....??????

[Montauk17]

To be honest bro,with the gas we have now days it starts going bad almost right away. That is why it is so important to use a treatment.

[Big Kahunaz]

k...thx

[adamsfence]

U know i only fill up at cormies and i noticed this morning it is ethonol free anyway so guess my earlier statement was not correct

[Ray]

If you keep your tank full, you have less chance of phase separation. The ethanol absorbs moisture out of the air and separates itself from the gas once it absorbs it.
If you keep the tank full, there is less moisture in the tank.
If you use your boat a lot, and keep it full, you have less chance of the gas setting up, and you always add fresh gas to the tank.
The newer fuel lines are ethanol resistant. Older ones are not. There is an A-1 designation on the lines that are ethanol resistant. If you don't have this marked on your lines on an older motor or boat, I would think about getting them changed out.
The older boats also have build up in the tanks, lines, carbs and motors. Ethanol will clean these deposits out, causing filters to stop up, carb jets to plug up, foul plugs and cause motors to start burning oil or having less compression.
I have an old 30 years old Chris Craft with twin 305's. I used a tank and carb cleaner, rebuilt my carbs and changed out all my fuel and vent lines, hoping to prevent this. I have had it a while before E-10 came out. I try to keep up on this and hope it dont' cause any major problems.
I only use Stabil in the big boat during the winter when I don't use it as much. The Cobia gets used and refilled monthly. I just use Ring Free to prevent engine deposits.

In my opinion, from what I have read and from the advertisment I have seen about Startron, it is snake oil. They say it has enzymes in it that keep ethanol in suspension, gives you 15% more fuel economy, it can reverse phase separation(impossible). When I looked at the MSDS, it has over 99% Naptha, which is the same as Coleman stove fuel. How can you put less than 1% of a propiatary enzyme in a pint bottle that treats 125 gallons and do all this with it.

I use Stabil cause it has worked for me for years on my mower gas and tractor diesel in the winter. I have never had any issues when using it. But I have when I didn't use anything.

[QUACKHEAD]

I use SEA FOAM. It was recommended to me by a mechanic. On the can it does advertise for marine use.

[wtretrievers]

Originally Posted by QUACKHEAD

I use SEA FOAM. It was recommended to me by a mechanic. On the can it does advertise for marine use.

Me too, Good stuff