CORN POWER ONBOARD: Boat owners should be careful when using ethanol
Heads up, boat owners. Prices aren't the only things changing at the gasoline pumps these days. That liquid gold we're dumping into our fuel cells is not what it used to be.
While whispers of $4 per gallon of gas have everyone's ear these days, the thing that concerns me the most when I take my boat to the gas station is ethanol.
Ethanol, a grain alcohol made from corn, is being used as an additive in unleaded gasoline to substitute for methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a chemical compound used by refineries for nearly three decades. MTBE, which oxygenates fuel, has been banned in many states since the late 1990s and is slowly being phased out in others. Experts have labeled MTBE a potential carcinogenic. It could pose serious health risks to humans should it leak from underground holding tanks into drinking water supplies.
If ethanol blended fuels haven't made it to gas stations in your home town, there's a good chance they will soon. And many of you may already have fed some alcohol to your outboard motor without even knowing it. It probably didn't hurt a thing, either.
While ethanol fuel has caused problems for some boaters, modern outboard engines seem to perform just fine on the alcohol-blend fuels, so long as they do not exceed certain levels recommended by manufacturers.
Therein lies the gremlin that can bite you if you aren't careful.
Outboard manufacturers say it is a bad idea to use fuels with an alcohol content of more than 10 percent. Failure to follow that guideline could result in serious damage to the guts of an outboard engine. Worse, it potentially could void a valuable engine warranty and leave you holding an expensive bag of repair bills.
"Fuel blends using as much as 10 percent ethanol are appropriate for use in all of our current outboard models," said Martin Peters, manager of communications for Yamaha Outboards. "Yamaha does not recommend the use of fuels with higher concentrations of ethanol, such as E85, which contains 85 percent ethanol, or any other fuel blend that contains more than 10 percent ethanol."
Peters' recommendation mirrors those from other leading outboard manufacturers like Mercury and Evinrude.
Mercury's Web site (www.mercurymarine.com) contains an informative link under "Service and Warranty" that can tell you almost anything you want to know about ethanol, its compatibility with outboards and how to cope with alcohol-blend fuels.
Naturally, the first order of business is to steer clear of those E85 pumps with the 85 percent alcohol-blend gas.
Ethanol is safe to use only in flex fuel automobiles that are capable of running on different types of fuel. There are millions of them on the roads today.
It is easy to identify an E85 pump when you see one -- that is, it should be easy to identify. By law, the pump should be clearly labeled as containing 85 percent ethanol.
Standard motor fuel may not contain more than 10 percent ethanol, according to rules set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency.
E10 pump-labeling requirements can vary from state-to-state, because individual state governments set the rules. Some states require that pumps containing ethanol blended fuel be labeled as such. Others do not.
In Texas, gasoline vendors are required by law to label any pump that is dispensing alcohol-blended fuel. That's the word from Chris Drews, coordinator for weights and measures with the Texas Department Agriculture. Drews said failure to comply with pump labeling requirements could result in fines of up to $500 per day, per incident. Any suspected violations can be reported to the TDA at 1-800-835-5832.
Perhaps the best way to reduce the likelihood of encountering ethanol-related problems with your outboard is to avoid introducing it to your boat's fuel tank altogether.
Whenever possible, stick with straight unleaded fuel that contains an octane level recommended by the engine manufacturer. Some engines do just fine on 87 octane fuel, while others require 91 or 93 octane.
If an ethanol-blend fuel is the only alternative, make sure the alcohol content is 10 percent or less. There are several testing kits available over the Internet for consumers who want to be especially careful before filling up. I found one at www.fuel-testers.com. The kit costs $24.95, plus shipping and handling.
It is worth noting that due to the properties of ethanol-blend fuels, there is always the potential for problems to develop, even when utilizing fuels with an alcohol content of 10 percent or less.
One of the most aggravating problems is water. Ethanol fuel is hygroscopic -- it absorbs water. The problem is compounded by the fact that it leeches moisture from the air at a much faster rate than regular gasoline. This naturally increases the risk of fuel contamination that could lead to outboard performance issues, particularly among boats that sit idle for extended periods.
To help combat this problem, some outboard manufacturers are now building engines that come pre-installed with fuel/water separator filtration systems that sift out contaminants.
If your engine is not equipped with such a filter, you should look seriously into installing an in-line, 10-micron filter system. Yamaha is building one for use with its engines. The filter is about the size of the oil filter on a standard tow vehicle.
It is a good idea to replace the fuel/water separator filter on your outboard at least once a year. Replacements should be made more often if a boat is used regularly or if you live in an area with high humidity. Always carry a couple of spare cartridges, just in case.
Another way to reduce the possibility of water contamination is to keep fuel tanks full of fresh fuel when the boat is not in use. Adding a quality fuel stabilizer is a good idea if a boat will sit idle for extended periods.
Unfortunately, the list of potential ethanol-related problems facing boaters does not end there.
Alcohol is a great solvent. It removes oxidation, varnish and other gunk like a charm. Problems can arise if an ethanol-blended fuel is introduced into a gas tank or underground storage tank where such deposits have accumulated over time. All sorts of junk is likely to break loose. This could make fuel contamination a serious threat and lead to clogged injectors, carburetors, jets, etc.
Ethanol has even been known to dissolve fiberglass fuel tanks and other components of the fuel system in older boats and engines. However, this is typically not a problem with newer boats and outboards.
If you run an older rig manufactured before 1990, it might be wise to check with the manufacturer to see if all components of your fuel system are compatible with ethanol-blended fuels. Inferior components should be replaced.
Also, try to avoid mixing a fuel known to contain MTBE with ethanol-blend fuel. This will cause a chemical reaction resulting in a milky, gel-like substance. Should the gunk find its way into the fuel line, it could clog injectors and other integral components of your engine.
Try to use one source for fuel whenever possible. If there is a question about the blend of gas available at an unfamiliar pump, it might be a good idea to test the goods before dispensing it into your fuel cell or to look for an alternative source.
Times are changing, and so are the fuels we feed our ponies to make them run. Keep that in mind next time your take your boat out for a drink. It could save you a costly trip to the outboard doctor.
• Matt Williams' e-mail address is mattwilliams@netdot.com.
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