Lawsuit over Ethanol Fuel

                    The effects of ethanol on your boat motor  

                                         Simply put, ethanol is an excellent SOLVENT (dissolves plastic, rubber, fiberglass and more), and unlike MTBE (the current gas additive), ethanol will ABSORB WATER, which can cause serious problems to many marine gas engines (inboards and outboards).This most interesting topic is about the ethanol that is in all the gasoline and fuel that all boaters use and the potential damaging effects that ethanol can have on boat engines as ethanol attracts water and moisture. Add that problem with the humidity that we all live in here on the Gulf coast and we have double trouble. The ethanol draws in the humidity and can foul the fuel which equals engine problems and certainly effects top end   performance.  The 10 micron fuel filter needs to be changed every 100 gallons and some type of marine stabilizer added with every fill-up. The following information is shared from an unknown internet source.

Read what the National Marine Manufacturers Association recommends in this article on the current Lawsuit over Ethanol Fuel and its effects on your motor.  “The characteristics of ethanol, even when blended in ratios of as little as 10 percent, are: Attracts and absorbs moisture from the air. Boaters will likely face more fuel contamination issues from water absorbed through their fuel tank vents. Dissolves some solid materials (and can loosen any corrosion), varnish or cause oxidation in steel and aluminum tanks - commonly found in fuel tanks, thereby contaminating the fuel. Ethanol has been known to dissolve components of the fuel system itself. Modern fuel hoses are made to withstand the effects of ethanol exposure. Can react chemically with MTBE fuel blends, causing additional contamination. Fuel blends using as much as 10 percent ethanol are appropriate for use in all of Yamaha's current outboard models. Yamaha does not recommend the use of fuels with higher concentrations of ethanol (E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol) or any other fuel blend that contains more than 10 percent ethanol.”

	10-Micron Fuel Filter The 10-Micron Fuel/Water Separating Filter is for EFI four-stroke, HPDI two-stroke outboards and carbureted engines.
	mini-10™ Fuel Filter The mini-10™ Fuel/Water Separating Filter is designed for smaller motors 115 horsepower and under.

Yamaha recommends boaters take the following steps to mitigate the potential impact of ethanol in motor fuel: Use fuel system components that are compatible with ethanol blends or replace those in use that are not compatible (fiberglass fuel tanks). Avoid co-mingling MTBE and ethanol-blended fuels. Boaters should be advised to use only one supplier for fuel purchases in the months ahead to ensure constancy during the industry changeover period from MTBE to ethanol blends. Install a Yamaha 10-Micron Fuel/Water Separating Filter or a Yamaha mini-10™ Filter (the smaller mini-10™ is designed for smaller boats with engines 115hp and under). Both Yamaha products filter out contaminants and separate water from fuel. Carry spare filter cartridges in the event the filter element becomes clogged with contaminants while the outboard is in use.

All Yamaha products, accessories and parts, including Yamalube lubricants and fuel stabilizers are compatible with fuel blends using up to 10 percent ethanol. So no matter what type of engine you are running on, check your manufacturer’s recommendations to mitigate the potential bad effects of ethanol in motor fuel that will find its way into your engine and possible cause engine harm. Many of our customers are reporting problems from suspected bad gas and we see it every day. Remember also, that when you have found contaminants in your fuel that the entire tank needs to be drained completely taking special care not to miss the few cc’s of fuel under the pick-up. HTM recommends that you have a professional drain your bad fuel for you  to make sure no contaminants remain in what you now believe to be “new and clean” fuel.  Hope you find this as helpful as I did. For more come join us at www.hightechmarine.blogspot.com and chim on in.