Posts: 3479
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I'm not doubting we can get some form of water within our fuel systems...it is the primary reason many run a fuel-water separator on their rigs for just this case. I have not ever experienced any in my systems over the some 35 years I've been running outboards. Each year, I do empty my separator and let it sit and it has been completely clean. The Ethanol bonds with whatever minute amounts of water that may get in, and is taken care of through the system without issue.
I do feel there will be a limit of some sort to ethanol blended fuels as things stand today. I base this primarily on the fact that ethyl alcohol does not have as much energy output as gasoline itself and on top of that, it does take some sort of fuel to make ethyl alcohol products currently. This is using fossil fuels to do so to some extent (tongue firmly in cheek here as I have not explored this to any great level), but I could see a day where everything is gasoline/fossil fuel free... It's coming...just may not be in our lifetimes.
Used to own a Ford Ranger a while back that could run E85...ran that for a while to see how it fared. Truck ran well, but did consume more fuel, although at a lesser cost per fill...but in the end for my driving, the cost savings was more or less a wash at that time. For every 2 tanks of E10, I had to purchase 3 tanks of E85 for the same distances in driving. For me at that time, I saw that as not cost effective nor cost prohibitive. I could have gone either way and financially would not be saving or spending any more with one over the other.
That was some 15 years ago....with technology of today, my experience of past may not be the same today with newer engine technology and that curve may very well be vastly different.
I think we will eventually see E15 and higher concentrations of ethyl in our fuels with our marine engines as well over time. I don't feel anyone would argue having exhaust that is less harmful to the environment overall is a bad thing. Being able to produce a fuel that is renewable and cleaner than fossil fuels is a good thing for now and future generations. It will happen and the manufacturing industry as a whole will adjust and modify as they need or are required to. I have confidence that efficiency will be kept as high as possible through this. I've seen this first hand with outboards now running on propane rather than e10. Was pretty neat to see to be honest.
Boat US did an article on it...
http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2013/december/alternative-outboards....
Steve
Edited by VMS 10/30/2019 8:40 AM
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