U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Public Affairs

Date: May 1, 2010
Contact: Phillip Bailey
Public Affairs Officer
               417-271-9116      
Pwbailey@centurytel.net
http://www.news.auxpa.org/

PRESS RELEASE

E10 Fuel Might Deliver a Knock Out Blow to Boaters

Fuel systems and gas rules have changed – Precautions are necessary when you use E10 and look out when E15 comes onboard.

Ethanol is alcohol and will attract/absorb water into gas resulting in phase separation of fuel. Alcohol will separate from gas and settle to the bottom of the tank bringing all the water with it. The pickup pipe for the engine is in the bottom of the tank and your engine might suck up water into the engine possibly causing severe damage.

Due to the instability of gas containing alcohol, shelf life is less than 3 months. Many boaters leave fuel in their tanks for long periods of time.

E10 loaded gas will not keep in a boats fuel tank. Many boaters leave their boats for extended periods of time. Most marine fuel tanks are vented to the outside. If your fuel tank absorbs moisture from the body of water you keep it on it will most likely phase separate.

Find out what your state fuel labeling laws are by going to:

http://www.fuel-testers.com/state_guide_ethanol_laws.html

Check your owners manual for fuel recommendations

Fuel vents on boat gas tanks allow humidity to enter fuel tanks. You should not block this vent because it is needed. By keeping the tank full you might limit the about of moisture from humidity entering the tank.

Fuel efficiency might drop by 2 – 40% to compensate for this low efficiency

choose an octane level above 90.

Don’t put fuel additives into boat tanks. Most contain alcohol.

Listed are some symptoms of bad gas or high alcohol level:

Stalling, hesitation, smoke from exhaust, clogged fuel filters and carburetors, damage to fuel pumps and pistons, disintegration and dissolving of engine parts especially rubber and plastic, drying out of parts especially hoses, disintegration of fiberglass fuel tanks, corrosion of aluminum fuel tanks. When fuel tanks corrode inside, the fuel mixes with the dissolved tank and enters the fuel system.

Be aware of what type of fuel you put in your boat. Install a water separator of at least 10 microns.

Follow maintenance schedules very carefully. Older engines will have a hard time handling ethanol.

Marinas do not have to follow the same rules in labeling E10 as service stations in their pumps.

Aircraft are exempt from using ethanol blends. (what does that tell you)

Again, a fuel tester might be a good idea..

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniform volunteer component of the US Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary, America's Volunteer Guardians, supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service's missions.

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