Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
So long as you are using the fuel and not letting it sit for long long periods of time, the 10% ethanol blends will be just fine. I have run both ethanol blends and premium non-ethanol fuel as well. The only difference is a little smoother running engine with the premium due to the higher octane having a more stable burn, and maybe a little boost in economy and power due to the lack of ethanol. Ethanol does not have the same capabilities to generate horsepower as unblended fuel, but it will not hurt your engine as so many have come to believe...if it was that bad, we would not be running it in our vehicles on the road.
The argument many make is that ethanol blended fuel attracts water, which is true (as does regular fuel), but it will not attract water so fast as to cause issue if you are using the fuel on a regular basis. The other argument many make is that it will eat the fuel lines, gaskets, etc. which is true WHEN the fuel is left untreated and sits for long periods of time. But...(and this is where many will disagree with me...and I'll get chastised here probably as well) if the operator is doing their part with preventative maintenance by treating the fuel (and that would be any fuel...not just ethanol blends) with a stabilizer when the boat is going to sit for a while (such as 4 weeks or more), the problems would not occur. I've had a full tank of ethanol blended fuel in my tank many times over winter, and so long as the fuel has been properly stabilized and run through the engine, the motor will be just fine. Some people go a little further and install a fuel/water separator before the fuel reaches the engine to remove any water in the fuel. I have one on my rig as well, and after using ethanol blends through the filter for quite some time, I have found no water in the fuel when I dump the filter...none...absolutely nothing... and that was letting the fuel sit for a few hours after dumping. Another argument some will make is that ethanol blends will phase separate over time, which is true, but it take another liquid agent...it takes water to be present to create phase separation. If you are using your fuel regularly and are purchasing it from a reputable station who regularly has to have fuel delivered, you will be quite safe..
So long as you do your part to stabilize the fuel and run it through the engine when the engine will be sitting for some time, your engine will be just fine...
Steve
Edited by VMS 4/24/2014 9:40 PM
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