Friends,
I realize that the issue of ethanol additives in boat fuel don't appear to hit most of the folks on this site. But for us owners of many older Berts, Hatts, Vikes, Cabos and other 1970's and early 1980's boats, it's a very serious situation.
These boats had wonderful, brick-____house fiberglass tanks factory-installed. They were designed for the life of the boats. And, until ethanol was added to the fuel supply, most of these tanks were in great shape.
Like many of my Bert 28' co-owners, we've spent a lot of time this winter and spring trying to separate truth from fiction about ethanol's effect on fiberglass tanks and other marine fuel system components. I don't claim to be a chemist or any kind of expert, but from what I've read (a LOT of stuff), this is a problem that can kill one's enjoyment of a quality older boat...
Therefore, I'm going to pay through the nose for a fuel tank replacement (IF I can find the tank and/or a mold for the tank, which is another subject entirely)....and miss the Chesapeake trophy striper season, etc. The ethanol situation is that serious.
If anybody on this site cares about this problem, I've added below an email from a chemist at StarBrite, who make StarTron, a fuel additive I've used for a couple of years. They've been very responsive to my inquiries about their fuel-additive products. Disclaimer: I have no personal stake in StarBrite products.
It's worth a look. I'm going to post this message on a couple of other boating forums as well, just to see if we can get a real discussion going on this subject.
Oz
Dear Bob:
Even though your area is just now "going" to ethanol fuel, that does not mean that it wasn't already in the system, unofficially. There are now so few US refineries, that there often isn't enough capacity to meet the US demand. Fuel, including diesel, gasoline, ethanol, and ethanol additized fuel, is imported, from around the world, and enters the US fuel stream in several places. During the fuel crunch from Hurricane Katrina, we had such severe fuel shortages, that the EPA was forced to lift restrictions on levels of ethanol that are allowed in the fuel, and extend the times of the year when seasonal ethanol formulas could be sold, to meet demand.
It was actually was a monumental effort by the EPA and the oil companies to avoid a complete transportation infrastructure meltdown. However, as fuel was being co-mingled in bulk plants, and moved around the country in desperation, ethanol, at some level, has probably been in your fuel at least at some time. You need to check not only the tank, but any rubber fuel hoses. If they feel soft, replaced them with new, alcohol resistant lines immediately. Check all gaskets as well.
It is a tough blow to the boating industry, as the older resins can't handle even the slightest amount of ethanol. Ethanol is here to stay.
There really is no cure. At least not chemically. The best you can do is keep water out of your fuel. Ethanol attracts, then attaches itself to water. The mix becomes heavier than fuel, and settles to the bottom, concentrating the ethanol on the tank bottoms. This not only attacks the glass resin, but it will dissolve old gum and varnish from years of gasoline sitting, and put that into your filters as well. Startron can mitigate water and help dissolve the gum and varnish, but unfortunately, the glass resin is going to melt down eventually. Startron can help buy you some time, but the tank has got to go before you have a fuel leak.
Good luck.
I realize that the issue of ethanol additives in boat fuel don't appear to hit most of the folks on this site. But for us owners of many older Berts, Hatts, Vikes, Cabos and other 1970's and early 1980's boats, it's a very serious situation.
These boats had wonderful, brick-____house fiberglass tanks factory-installed. They were designed for the life of the boats. And, until ethanol was added to the fuel supply, most of these tanks were in great shape.
Like many of my Bert 28' co-owners, we've spent a lot of time this winter and spring trying to separate truth from fiction about ethanol's effect on fiberglass tanks and other marine fuel system components. I don't claim to be a chemist or any kind of expert, but from what I've read (a LOT of stuff), this is a problem that can kill one's enjoyment of a quality older boat...
Therefore, I'm going to pay through the nose for a fuel tank replacement (IF I can find the tank and/or a mold for the tank, which is another subject entirely)....and miss the Chesapeake trophy striper season, etc. The ethanol situation is that serious.
If anybody on this site cares about this problem, I've added below an email from a chemist at StarBrite, who make StarTron, a fuel additive I've used for a couple of years. They've been very responsive to my inquiries about their fuel-additive products. Disclaimer: I have no personal stake in StarBrite products.
It's worth a look. I'm going to post this message on a couple of other boating forums as well, just to see if we can get a real discussion going on this subject.
Oz
Dear Bob:
Even though your area is just now "going" to ethanol fuel, that does not mean that it wasn't already in the system, unofficially. There are now so few US refineries, that there often isn't enough capacity to meet the US demand. Fuel, including diesel, gasoline, ethanol, and ethanol additized fuel, is imported, from around the world, and enters the US fuel stream in several places. During the fuel crunch from Hurricane Katrina, we had such severe fuel shortages, that the EPA was forced to lift restrictions on levels of ethanol that are allowed in the fuel, and extend the times of the year when seasonal ethanol formulas could be sold, to meet demand.
It was actually was a monumental effort by the EPA and the oil companies to avoid a complete transportation infrastructure meltdown. However, as fuel was being co-mingled in bulk plants, and moved around the country in desperation, ethanol, at some level, has probably been in your fuel at least at some time. You need to check not only the tank, but any rubber fuel hoses. If they feel soft, replaced them with new, alcohol resistant lines immediately. Check all gaskets as well.
It is a tough blow to the boating industry, as the older resins can't handle even the slightest amount of ethanol. Ethanol is here to stay.
There really is no cure. At least not chemically. The best you can do is keep water out of your fuel. Ethanol attracts, then attaches itself to water. The mix becomes heavier than fuel, and settles to the bottom, concentrating the ethanol on the tank bottoms. This not only attacks the glass resin, but it will dissolve old gum and varnish from years of gasoline sitting, and put that into your filters as well. Startron can mitigate water and help dissolve the gum and varnish, but unfortunately, the glass resin is going to melt down eventually. Startron can help buy you some time, but the tank has got to go before you have a fuel leak.
Good luck.