SearayEd1
New Member
- Jul 4, 2013
- 9
- Boat Info
- 87 27Sundancer twin 4.3mercs
- Engines
- 4.3mercs, alpha1
Had a marine mech tell me e10 gas will be fine in my 87 as long as I have proper fuel stabilizer in it. Stabil/star tron. Opinions?
E10 gas
- Thread starter SearayEd1
- Start date
KC_Sundancer
Active Member
- Sep 8, 2009
- 1,341
- Boat Info
- 1985 270DA Sundancer,Simrad 4G Radar,Lowrance Gen2 GPS/Sonar/Structure Scan,F350 7.3l Diesel, tri-ax
- Engines
- twin Mercruiser 185R's (v6's) w/SE106 drives, "High Five" stainless props, Mercury 280 RIB w/9.9 Mer
If you burn through most of it every time out, re-fill afterwards and don't let it sit more than week you are probably fine. I ran it in our 22 Pachanga that way but the boat never sat still and we used a full tank every time out.
Now, I personally won't burn anything but Non-Ethanol Premium in our 270DA. It costs more but I know I am not going to have any fuel separation issues if it should happen to sit a week or two. I had that experience once and it is not a fun issue to resolve. The additives help extend the separation time but to not stop it. Yes the premium costs more but look at what your additives cost and how much you need. For us a Premium fuel fill-up with 1 can of seafoam costs about the same as the cheaper ethanol fuel with the recommended 4 to 5 cans of additive needed. Even if the premium costs us a bit more we know the engines are going to start and perform better every time I turn the key. That goes for all the toys, snowmobiles, atvs, outboard.
Another note, if you are purchasing fuel from automotive gas stations, they do NOT have to tell you if the fuel (premium or any other grade) contains up to 10% ethanol. If trying to purchase Non-ethanol premium fuel that way be sure to look for a station that specifically says "non-ethanol premium".
Just my take and theories on the ethanol subject. :huh:
moparlvr4406
Active Member
- Jun 29, 2011
- 4,462
- Boat Info
- 1985 340DA
1966 SRV180
(2)1960 Sea Ray 600
(2) 1963 808 Cruise-a-bouts
- Engines
- twin 350hp Crusaders 4.0 Onan /
Merc 950 SS
Merc 650
Merc 1100
twin Johnson 40
I had it in the 240 with the startron over the winter...this spring had to pump it out
my lawnmower wouldn't even start on it...70 gallon wasted over 4 months
also you may need to change any rubber fuel lines as the 1987 version is not resistant to the ethanol.
my lawnmower wouldn't even start on it...70 gallon wasted over 4 months
also you may need to change any rubber fuel lines as the 1987 version is not resistant to the ethanol.
moparlvr4406
Active Member
- Jun 29, 2011
- 4,462
- Boat Info
- 1985 340DA
1966 SRV180
(2)1960 Sea Ray 600
(2) 1963 808 Cruise-a-bouts
- Engines
- twin 350hp Crusaders 4.0 Onan /
Merc 950 SS
Merc 650
Merc 1100
twin Johnson 40
I run an auto shop so I have people
but...there are disposal companies and oil recyclers that will take it off your hands for a moderate charge.
or it makes a great fencerow weedkiller.
Bob & Sue
Active Member
JimFromMD
Well-Known Member
- Aug 9, 2010
- 1,777
- Boat Info
- 2005 300DA, Garmin 740s w/Vision Charts and GMR18HD RADAR
- Engines
- 5.0MPI w/BIIs, Kohler 5E Generator.
I use startron at every fill up and have had no issues, during the season, or over the winter with full tanks.
There is a service that will come out and pump/filter the fuel in your tanks, then polish it and you are good to go. I investigated it earlier when I thought I had water in my gas because of some generator issues. Turns out it was a bad carb on the generator. I have had an occasional small bead of water in the bottom of the jar when I have dumped my water separating fuel filter, but nothing alarming.
There is a service that will come out and pump/filter the fuel in your tanks, then polish it and you are good to go. I investigated it earlier when I thought I had water in my gas because of some generator issues. Turns out it was a bad carb on the generator. I have had an occasional small bead of water in the bottom of the jar when I have dumped my water separating fuel filter, but nothing alarming.
MonacoMike
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2009
- 14,721
- Boat Info
- 2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
- Engines
- 85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
E-10 gas has a storage life of 90 days. I have a friend in the gas blending and wholesale business, he says 87 octane E-10 is made of 84 octane gasoline and high octane ethanol to get to the 87 octane final blend. The 93 octane is made the same way starting with 90 octane gas and so on. My carbed 7.4 runs and starts WAY better on 90 octane gas over the 93 octane E-10.
This means that a significant portion of your octane is literally rotting in your tank if you use E-10 and do not consume it in 90 days. (Quality straight gas has a stable life of 1 year.) I run E-10 in my truck all the time with no issues and no additive for over 100k but fill it once a week, it always has fresh gas and was built for E-10. Most boaters do not fill their boat every week or so year-round. Some try to stretch a tank or two over the entire season, so what do you do if E-10 is the only gas available? Treat it.
So the next issue is with what? I use the Startron, it was suggested to me at purchase and in 2 seasons on a 13 year old boat I have had NO fuel issues and I have had to run some E-10. I have spent $75 on a couple of seasons worth and feel it is good insurance. As for your original question, Lucas Oil is a reputable company. I know several people that use their products including the "Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Conditioner with Stabilizers" for their snowmobiles etc. but no one in their boats.
Another big issue for you is your older vessel, alcohol (ethanol) is a great cleaner, and a first blush that sounds good, let it clean the fuel system, but this can have disastrous effects on older systems. The reason is the alcohol cleans the tank and sends what it dissolves straight to your filter and some WILL get through to you carb. Ethanol makes more money for marina repair shops than any other issue for shops the repair older boats. You must also be sure the fuel hoses are rated for alcohol, as older hoses will dissolve just like 20 years of varnish.
You can look for non-ethanol gas in your area here: http://www.pure-gas.org/ (http://www.pure-gas.org/)
MM
This means that a significant portion of your octane is literally rotting in your tank if you use E-10 and do not consume it in 90 days. (Quality straight gas has a stable life of 1 year.) I run E-10 in my truck all the time with no issues and no additive for over 100k but fill it once a week, it always has fresh gas and was built for E-10. Most boaters do not fill their boat every week or so year-round. Some try to stretch a tank or two over the entire season, so what do you do if E-10 is the only gas available? Treat it.
So the next issue is with what? I use the Startron, it was suggested to me at purchase and in 2 seasons on a 13 year old boat I have had NO fuel issues and I have had to run some E-10. I have spent $75 on a couple of seasons worth and feel it is good insurance. As for your original question, Lucas Oil is a reputable company. I know several people that use their products including the "Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Conditioner with Stabilizers" for their snowmobiles etc. but no one in their boats.
Another big issue for you is your older vessel, alcohol (ethanol) is a great cleaner, and a first blush that sounds good, let it clean the fuel system, but this can have disastrous effects on older systems. The reason is the alcohol cleans the tank and sends what it dissolves straight to your filter and some WILL get through to you carb. Ethanol makes more money for marina repair shops than any other issue for shops the repair older boats. You must also be sure the fuel hoses are rated for alcohol, as older hoses will dissolve just like 20 years of varnish.
You can look for non-ethanol gas in your area here: http://www.pure-gas.org/ (http://www.pure-gas.org/)
MM
JimFromMD
Well-Known Member
- Aug 9, 2010
- 1,777
- Boat Info
- 2005 300DA, Garmin 740s w/Vision Charts and GMR18HD RADAR
- Engines
- 5.0MPI w/BIIs, Kohler 5E Generator.
Looks like its Ethanol and startron for most of us Chesapeake Bay boaters. There are no non-E10 stations on the entire western shore of the bay according to this site.
MonacoMike
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2009
- 14,721
- Boat Info
- 2000 Cruisers 3870
8.2 Mercs
- Engines
- 85 Sea Ray Monaco 197
260hp Alpha 1
That sucks. We can still get it at some marinas, farm stations, or recreational pumps.
MM
Getaway
Well-Known Member
- Oct 13, 2010
- 1,077
- Boat Info
- 1998 290DA Sundancer
Lowrance electronics, Fishhawk, Scotty Downriggers
BoatWheels Tri-Axle Trailer
- Engines
- Single big block 454 MPI Mercruiser engine and Bravo III outdrive.
I just went through a rough couple of weekends due to E10 pump gas in my '88 268DA.
The E10 started dissolving my hoses from the inside out. They were brand new hoses 3 years ago when I did the structural rebuild.
What happened was, the idle jets in the carb clogged and would not allow the boat to idle. At 1000 r's and above, no problem. I pulled the carb, had it hot tanked and rebuilt. She ran perfect for 2 days. Then, guess what, junk worked it's way past the filters and started clogging the idle jets again. What a PITA!!
I pulled the brand new filter out of the carb and it was full of little black chunks after 2 days of running. The new water/fuel separator was full too.
I changed all the filters, hoses, etc and she seems to be running ok. It's not "perfect" like it was, but she will troll and run fine.
The plan is to pull the carb back off over the winter and have it hot tanked and cleaned again. Then, I will NEVER EVER, NEVER EVER EVER, run that freaking E10 in my boat again.
It almost shut down a long fishing weekend and that is unacceptable. Bite the bullet and run the $4.65/gallon good gas and be done with it!
The E10 started dissolving my hoses from the inside out. They were brand new hoses 3 years ago when I did the structural rebuild.
What happened was, the idle jets in the carb clogged and would not allow the boat to idle. At 1000 r's and above, no problem. I pulled the carb, had it hot tanked and rebuilt. She ran perfect for 2 days. Then, guess what, junk worked it's way past the filters and started clogging the idle jets again. What a PITA!!
I pulled the brand new filter out of the carb and it was full of little black chunks after 2 days of running. The new water/fuel separator was full too.
I changed all the filters, hoses, etc and she seems to be running ok. It's not "perfect" like it was, but she will troll and run fine.
The plan is to pull the carb back off over the winter and have it hot tanked and cleaned again. Then, I will NEVER EVER, NEVER EVER EVER, run that freaking E10 in my boat again.
It almost shut down a long fishing weekend and that is unacceptable. Bite the bullet and run the $4.65/gallon good gas and be done with it!
Last edited:
KC_Sundancer
Active Member
- Sep 8, 2009
- 1,341
- Boat Info
- 1985 270DA Sundancer,Simrad 4G Radar,Lowrance Gen2 GPS/Sonar/Structure Scan,F350 7.3l Diesel, tri-ax
- Engines
- twin Mercruiser 185R's (v6's) w/SE106 drives, "High Five" stainless props, Mercury 280 RIB w/9.9 Mer
Could not agree more - it's not worth the possible problems or worse yet getting stranded.
Rixram
New Member
- May 28, 2013
- 96
- Boat Info
- '93 Monterey SEL 286
- Engines
- 2x 205 HP 4.3L V-6, Alpha-1 G-2
My state isn't even listed... Neither is CT, and there are only 3 e10 free stations in all of MA.
Rick K
Member
Some marinas in my area have their gas already treated with Valvtect and I've run it for the last 4 seasons with no issues. I leave about 3/4 tank over the winter and have never had any issues. The first season I had the boat, I filled up with gas station gas and even treated it. I subsequently blew a piston and had to rebuild my engine. I KNOW that crap gas had something to do with it!