Ethanol in the gas

[Nate Surveyor]

I have a local buddy at the chain saw shop. He says he bought a number of ethanol test kits for 3 buks each. And, drove around town, and tested most of the local gas stations. He found MOST of them contained 20% ethanol.

Now, Ethanol is hygroscopic. That means, it SUCKS water out of the air, or whatever environment it is in. As in a partially filled fuel tank, or gas can, left sitting, with humid air in it, will eventually have all the water that the air caries, in the gas.

Now, according the the STIHL chain saw company, you can use the new synthetic saw oil with UP TO, but NOT exceeding 10% ethanol. But the OLDER non synthetic stihl oil can be used with much more ethanol, (But I don't know the limit.)

Now, I sold a 1989 Ford Pickup to a friend several months back. He has had NOTHING but trouble with the fuel system. Replaced all the fuel pumps, and many of the fuel system parts. It turns out that the problem has been (apparently) ethanol, and probably was all along. Water in the gas fouls up the older fuel systems, quite badly. So, we (apparently) have "Fixed" his fuel system for the last time this morning. By adding fuel injector/carburetor cleaner to EVERY tank of gas. The basis of this statement is that the REAR tank would NEVER work properly. Well, the front tank finally quit yesterday, and we went to work on it. We added EFI cleaner to the front tank, and topped it off with a 5 gallon can. Then, while pouring fuel into the intake plenum, (to force it to run) for about 2 minutes, she once again began to RUN on the front tank. So, we added EFI cleaner to the REAR tank, and switched to it, (while driving, to mix it up good) and she now runs on the rear tank, and she runs well.

I know this is sort of a detailed story, but there is more.
I was following a newish looking NISSAN car the other day. Every time he accelerated hard, WATER poured out of the RIGHT side, (twin exhaust).
Also, my 1999 Ford 1 ton van, seems to spew alot more steam from the exhaust, than it used to.

My sawmill (with a HONDA 24 hp motor) will not run right, without adding EFI cleaner to the fuel. It seems that adding about 1/2 ounce per 2.5 gallons does the trick.
It does not seem to matter if I use the expensive EFI cleaner, or the cheap stuff. I just has to have it.

So, the conclusion that I have come to is that the pump gas that we have become accustomed to, is no longer the same stuff, as it used to be. And, we have to stay on top of it more. One way to keep a watch on it, is to watch for how much steam or vapor comes from the exhaust. I mean, even AFTER it is well warmed up!

And, what is working for me is the EFI cleaner. I do not know if there are any brands to stay away from, (For Sea Doos) or what effects it has on 2 stroke motors in general, or if Sea Doo has any bulletins on this subject, but I'd like to know if there is any official info available.

But, that's my story, to the best of my knowledge,

Faithfully,

Nate

 

[scooper77515]

Interesting...I would call the state on any station giving me more than 10%. It is bad enough that I don't save 10% when I get 90% gas, now you are only getting 80% gas.

I wonder how that percentage will change in the summer formula...

Where do you get these test kits? I wouldn't mind getting a couple just to start some trouble :reddevil:

 

[dieselman]

Ethanol

Well it is a knowen fact that Ethanol is mostly put in to the lower octane grades and not put in high test so what I do is use high test for my sea-doo and every thing I own. Now this is true in Canada I am not sure if it is the same in USA. But my thought is why don't thay put it in high test if it is SO good for your car and the environment.

 

[scooper77515]

So, supreme has no (or less) ethanol?

 

[popasodatastie]

i've found a gas station where i live that doesnt use any ethanol in the gas i mean its about 10cents more a gallon but i tried the ethanol in my car and it seemed to wanna run like crap. the bad part about ethanol is if you use it long enough it will plug the injectors in the car or jets in the carb of a ski. i say if you can find a station that doesn't use have ethanol in gas use it even if it is 10 cents more.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Ethanol....

I was trying to do some research on this topic but can't seem to find what I"m looking for.

In our state, Alabama, they are required to put a sticker on the pump that says what percent, if any, ethanol is in our fuel.

I currently use a station that uses no ethanol. But, from this website I was just reading from, http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ethanol.html in the near future, I may not have any choice.

Like Nate says, there is this thing with the ethanol loving to suck up water. I think, until we can make some good research available for the Seadoo owners, we should stick with gas that has no ethanol as much as possible.

Check out the link I pasted. It's a short read but pretty informative. IT's based on the laws governing the implementation of ethanol use by 2012 (that's if we're all still here after the Mayan calandar runs out :rofl

 

[jwick86]

We had this problem with alot of snowmobile motors around me (MA) and up in Maine blowing up. Stabil has their Marine formula which supposedly takes care of the ethanol problems. Reading their site says that the marine formula has twice the amount of water diluting chemicals in it than the regular and they recommend using it with every fill up. I know people who run 2 strokes with this gas and Stabil with no problems. I run Seafoam with just about every tank on my seadoo. It supposedly cleans the carbs out, breaks up carbon, and helps with water diluting in the tank.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Going Green!

So, for the government setting standards on us becoming less reliant on foreign oil, we have to add additional products to our fossil fuels to ensure we have clean running two stroke engines. Seems this is going to drive up our costs.....

Although, what your saying is common in what I'm hearing, I'm still hoping to get a good amount of infor posted on this subject, since it seems we'll have no alternative.

I got about 6, 55 gallon plastic drums at home. I think I'll have to fill them up with pure gas before we go "ethanol" too! Oh, wait. I'll still have to put Stabil in them...........LOL