Just a little reminder for all of you who either rehab or purchase a boat that has gone unused for an extended period of time.  Since I fish with a good friend most of the time, my boat has sat outside undercover for approximately 1 year.  It is a 2005 Z21 with a 250 HPDI 2 stroke Yamaha.  For the purposes of this post, I’m just going to cover the fuel system and what we did (and have yet to do) to get it ready for the water.  First things first, all of the fuel in my dual tanks had to come out.  The best way to get the most fuel out, is to pull the seats, remove the dual sending units and use a battery powered transfer pump into a portable tank for proper disposal.  I have a 14 gallon portable that we use on fishing trips to places where fuel is not as accessible.  Next, it is time to replace all of the fuel related filters.  First is the oil filter size water separator in the bilge, next is the engine mounted clear viewing filter on the side of the motor and finally the high pressure filter in the VST, behind the aluminum cover on the side of the motor.  Depending on your motor manufacturer, you need to locate all of the filters and change them out.  Once all of the filters have been changed, we put 5 gallons of non-ethanol fuel mixed with 1 can of Seafoam in one of my tanks and let the motor run to temperature.  Next on the list and what we have to do to finish up is to pull the injectors and take them to a shop where they can be flow tested and cleaned.  If you do not feel comfortable pulling the injectors and ordering all of the associated gaskets, washers and O-rings to put them back on after they are cleaned, for sure take the entire boat to the shop.  This is only a small portion of bringing my boat back up to operating status and if you want, I’ll continue to chronicle the process.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  

Bought my boat in 2003.  Blew 2 powerheads in 5 years due to ethanol.  I switched to ethanol-free fuel at that point and have never had a problem since. 

 

 

I was very, very disappointed with the condition of the fuel after just 1 year.  I knew it would be degraded but I did not think it would be as rancid as it was. What the picture doesn’t show is the water at the bottom of that container.  

Just Say No To ETHANOL. 

From my chainsaw to truck, it's only E - free for my engines. 

Yup ~ Ethanol & I parted ways a few years ago.

Never looked back and that's a good thing IMO.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/221442-ethanol-fuel-treatment-~-no-longer-a-believer/

A-Jay

Boat has been run on ethanol since I’ve owned it but this is the first time it has sat idle for any length of time.  Ethanol may not be bad if constantly cycled but it’s definitely not good sitting idle.  

I only run ethanol free in boats, dirt bikes, lawn mowers, etc. I still use stabil ethnaol treatment as well. Just because there is not ethanol in it doesn’t mean you can’t get some water in it from the pump itself. 

Ethanol free only. End of year transfer all into containers for side by side, and lawn equipment with proper treatment. Then fill up with fresh ethanol free with yamalube fuel treatment with never a problem. Heated garage over the winter.

Yep - learned the hard way. Injectors & fuel rails are currently in TX waiting to be inspected & tested sometime next month. 🤮

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

Boat has been run on ethanol since I’ve owned it but this is the first time it has sat idle for any length of time.  Ethanol may not be bad if constantly cycled but it’s definitely not good sitting idle.  

That’s what happened to mine as well. Doesn’t take long to cause a whole bunch of damage. 

Non-ethanol for me too.

All my 2-cycles run ethanol free. End of season, tanks are drained into a spouted can, and that gets put in the truck tank. Always start the spring with a fresh tank in the boat/mower/chainsaw.

You guys all running ethanol free premium in your daily vehicles too? That seems unnecessary for an engine that gets used regularly.

 

I use ethanol free premium in all my seasonal engines. Snow blower, lawn mower, and outboard motor. These are all modern 4 stroke motors but they can sit for 6 months at a time without use.

I fish year round and run "regular" up to 10% ethanol in my boat.  Ethanol is BAD for something that sits unused for long periods.  Ethanol is also bad for most 2 strokes and pretty much anything with a carburetor.   

 

 

What I'm saying is, in some applications ethanol won't hurt anything.  If you have any doubts, or have something that sits quite a bit use ethanol free.   

 

FWIW the "E10" around here usually has only 2% to 4% ethanol.   

 

I'm an automotive technician.   (but not a boat technician)

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

You guys all running ethanol free premium in your daily vehicles too? That seems unnecessary for an engine that gets used regularly.

 

I use ethanol free premium in all my seasonal engines. Snow blower, lawn mower, and outboard motor. These are all modern 4 stroke motors but they can sit for 6 months at a time without use.

Running E-Free in everything except the truck.

It's all 89 octane here. (rec gas)

GMC 6.2L calls for Super and the only 93 I can get is not ethanol free.

A-Jay

59 minutes ago, gimruis said:

You guys all running ethanol free premium in your daily vehicles too? That seems unnecessary for an engine that gets used regularly.

 

I use ethanol free premium in all my seasonal engines. Snow blower, lawn mower, and outboard motor. These are all modern 4 stroke motors but they can sit for 6 months at a time without use.

Yes. My truck calls for 93 and I only use ethanol free gas. I want the mileage and 420 hp I paid for. I've noticed a difference in both mileage & hp power while filling up on an out of town trip with ethanol gas.

I was told by one of the premier Yamaha builders that since my particular motor does not have a knock sensor, so regardless of the ethanol, non ethanol debate, I should run mid grade.  He also said there was absolutely no need for premium.  I accidentally put E85 in my old Mercury 225 efi once.  It ran like crap but it ran.  

8 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Boat has been run on ethanol since I’ve owned it but this is the first time it has sat idle for any length of time.  Ethanol may not be bad if constantly cycled but it’s definitely not good sitting idle.  

Unless it is properly treated when stored as mentioned by fuel mfgrs. !!!  Have had the same exact issues with my fuel long before E fuels ever came out.  The name " gumout" should come to mind to those of us around before E fuels came out.   More recent studies have shown that the E fuels are not being stored properly at the stations, filters are not changed as they should be.  In my county we have inspections and those findings are made public so we now where or wherenot to buy our fuels.   Due to health issues, my Islander sat for three years with 10 gallons of E fuel..but it was treated before storage. Pumped out the old gas rather than taking a chance, added new fuel to the tank and the engine fired right up and still runs well to this day....on E fuel....

Sorry for your hassles and fuel issues, but E gas needs to be handled properly over long term just like non E fuels....look more carefully where you purchase your fuel as that might be a bigger cause to your problem. 

I've been down that road before @TOXIC, great write up. 

 

I have a handful of pro model chainsaws that I regularly run on ethanol free-as well as my boats, etc. The one thing I do before I fill my cans is put the first 2 gallons in my truck. That gives me reassurance that the 10% ethanol fuel won't get into my saws.

Says it right there on the boat. I can’t control how the gas station stores their gas, they don’t tell me any details 

Whether this is true or not I don’t know but it does make sense. You want to go to gas stations that are busy. Not Jim bobs garage where the gas will sit a lot longer. 

I put ethanol and non-ethanol in separate jars, set it outside my shop, in just a few hours the ethanol fuel started clouding up. The humidity here in Florida was too much. I run non-ethanol in everything but my vehicles.

I agree with Susky's post above.  If you have a diesel it's even more important to buy from a busy location.   

 

For automotive and light truck use I recommend using top tier gas.   https://www.toptiergas.com/

 

Many automotive manufacturers recommend using top tier gas.   It has additives to combat most automotive problems.  

 

Don Weed, a well respected Mercury Engine Master Tech who's shop is an hour or so from here recommends using Top Tier gas for marine applications.  He also has a list of additives he recommends.  He says up to 10% ethanol is OK.  He recommends stabilizing fuel that isn't going to be consumed and replaced with fresh within 15 days.   I'll reach out to Don for permission to repost his fuel information word for word here.  

 

Added @GRiver mentioned humidity.  That's a good point.   I ran my race car on methanol.  (way more caustic that ethanol, and still hygroscopic)  When I traveled to Florida or other areas to race with very high humidity I had to take additional steps to protect my fuel system.   

The past 2 years finding ethanol free gasoline in California is very difficult. Chevron offered 93 octane that’s as E-Free no longer. Aviation gas at a few smaller airports that sell to the public is E-Free.

76 stations offer 101 unleaded octane racing gasoline @$10 gallon.

Tom

6 hours ago, GRiver said:

I put ethanol and non-ethanol in separate jars, set it outside my shop, in just a few hours the ethanol fuel started clouding up. The humidity here in Florida was too much. I run non-ethanol in everything but my vehicles.

In my area, non E fuel is one dollar a gallon more, I can buy fuel stabilizer for much less that does the same thing.  But to each his own, all how you want to spend your money.