Who has had water/fuel problems.

[Dan]

A buddy of mine has been plagued with water in his fuel, and I have had issues with that as well, despite having a fuel/water separator. The new alchohol additives E10 (ethanol) has created issues. They say that ethanol attracts moisture.
Here are a couple of links to an ethanol test and an additive. Some of these additives, fuel conditioners, are mainly alchohol. I'm wondering just what the best fuel additive is? I know these fuel additives are engine brand specific, but what are the best ones?. What does everyone use?

http://www.fueltestkit.com/review_gas_treatment_products.html
http://www.e10gasadditives.com/

[fiker]

I haven't had my boat that long, but I've been using the Stabil ethanol treatment religeously and (knock on wood) have had not problems.

[VinceR]

I use Starbrite Startron ethanol treatment. It's available at Gander Mountain and West Marine. Some marinas carry it, also.

You are absolutely correct about ethanol (which is a form of alcohol) attracting moisture.

If you use your boat regularly, ethanol does not pose as much of a problem (attracting moisture) as a boat that spends much of it's time sitting.

I try not to store my boat with more than a couple of gallons of gas, opting to gas it up when I use it. For most modern outboards, the burning of gas with 10% ethanol is not as problematic as storing it.

The addition of a fuel/water separation filter (if you boat/motor is not already equipped with one) is also advised.

Here are a couple of very helpful articles that explain how ethanol can affect your motor:

http://www.evinrude-parts.com/boat_ethanol_danger_precaution.html

http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/wb/201400

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/faq/faqanswer/14/19/1/answers.aspx

http://www.mercurymarine.com/service-and-support/storage-and-maintenance/faqs/outboards/?category=fuelsystems#OctaneRating

Also, be advised, there is a push to increase the maximum allowable ethanol percentage to be raised to 15%. While our cars/trucks may be able to handle it, our outboards WILL NOT. Be prepared to let your voices be heard!

[Dan]

Thanks Vince good info.

[Bender]

I use StarTron also. I couldn't find any pure gas last year in New York so I stored all winter with E10. No problem at all starting up and running through the fuel left in the boat all winter long. I don't think that this will ever go away so we need to be prepared for it. An ounce (per 8 gallons) of prevention goes a long way.

[Dan]

After reading a few things on the net, I have been trying to find out what's in these so called fuel additives. I haven't really been able to find what Star Tron is really. I did find this. I can't say that I believe anything I read on the net 100%. Pays to check around.  Here is a post though on Star Tron. I'll have to say, that  I have added it to my stored gas the last two years thinking what the heck, it's suppose to help.

http://www.myboatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=63758&PN=1

Here's the post that makes me wonder:
"I can tell you very quickly how you can save yourself some money on this Startron test.  Go down to Home Depot and buy a gallon of Petroleum Naptha for about $10.  Then add some blue food coloring for Startron, (or red food coloring for Stabil).  Mix it into your gas at whatever amount- according to the bottle of Startron you already have (or red Stabil).  Then you will have saved approximately $7+ per bottle.  As for the enzymes, has it been established that they can actually live in petroleum naptha, or is it a marketing ploy Startron developed with the $7+ per bottle that Starbrite (the parent company of Startron) makes off the suckers that believe the hype.

How can I make such an audacious reply?  I read the MSDS sheet for Startron and can fax or email it to anyone who wants it.

Ingredients:

<.5% Proprietary Organic Compounds

>95% Solvent Naptha (Petroleum), Heavy Aliphatic

translated- 99.6% Naptha and .4% organic compounds.

I find it strange that it is so very difficult to obtain their MSDS sheet.  Stabil posts theirs on MSDS.com "

[Crookedneck]

Very interesting Dan.  I never thought about pulling an MSDS to compare the differnt products.

Mike