I suppose like everyone I have been living with the ethanol issue for years but I just came across an article in my sailing magazine that discussed the subject in depth and had a comment that surprised me and thought I could get some feedback from forum members. There was a section on phase separation. Quote " there are additives whose makers claim will prevent this. Don't use them. Testing shows this is not generally true, and on the balance that is a good thing. Do you want to run water, perhaps including sea water through the engine? A few additives are able to accomplish this trick, but it is, in the end, a dirty trick. They can keep the water dissolved only by means of high levels of co-solvents like butyl cellosolve or with high levels of surfactants, These are not harmless and the engine manufacturers have been working on standards that would ban this approach due to problems with intake deposits." This statement got me wondering about our go to additives....Stabil and Startron. Later in the article he states that the real problem with fuel is corrosion especially galvanic corrosion with aluminum and brass [th]. He showed some testing results and in the end listed top performer additives as Biobor EB, Mercuru Quikstor, Sea Foam and ValvTect Ethanol Gasoline Treatment. He then stated " the rest do little and can actually make the problem worse."
So that's it to my surprise. For the last several years, like most on the forum I assume, I have used non ethanol fuel in my 1997 Scout with a Honda 75 4 stroke but the boat is now in Delaware with my Grandson where it may stay and Delaware prohibits the selling of regular gas everywhere in the state including marinas so you can understand I am now paying more attention to the ethanol issues. I have originally advised him to use Stabil [blue] full time but now after the article I am wondering. Would appreciate any comments from the forum members.
So that's it to my surprise. For the last several years, like most on the forum I assume, I have used non ethanol fuel in my 1997 Scout with a Honda 75 4 stroke but the boat is now in Delaware with my Grandson where it may stay and Delaware prohibits the selling of regular gas everywhere in the state including marinas so you can understand I am now paying more attention to the ethanol issues. I have originally advised him to use Stabil [blue] full time but now after the article I am wondering. Would appreciate any comments from the forum members.
