Ethanol vs non ethanol gas

[Ralph vaughn]

I’m sure there is a thread that beats this subject to death but I can’t find it.

I have a 2008 Sea ray 290 on a trailer with 5.0 dual sea core engines (cooled internally). My owners manual recommends that I use 87 octane 10% ethanol gas. I would like to fill up (125 gallons) with 10% ethanol pump gas at a gas station for $1.39 a gallon. A lot of the people I talk with say I should use non-ethanol gas at $2.87 a gallon. Could someone explain why the sea ray owners manual recommends 10% ethanol but a lot of people tell me to use the non-ethanol. Also is it ok to use a fuel stabilizer with my gas to reduce gas water separation.

Thanks in advance for your comments. You guys have a lot of experience and thanks for taking the time to explain things for me

Ralph

 

[boatman37]

I use Star Tron when using ethanol fuel but not when using non-ethanol. I had always ran non ethanol but we bought this boat in August 2018 after it sat for 3 years. Had to be towed in a few times and ended up draining all fuel and rebuilding the carb. It's even worse with fuel injection. With everything going on this year I think I'll stick with the ethanol free in case I fill it up and don't get a chance to run it out and it has to sit till next year. I drained my tank and about 20 gallons was separated fuel. You could easily see the separated fuel. My o-ring was missing from the fuel cap too so some may have got in there too though

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

I do not believe the manual is calling for 10%, but rather stating that the system is designed for up to 10% ethanol.

With a bit of preventative maintenance, you should not experience any issues using up to 10% ethanol, but if you can get the non-E and willing to pay the price, go for it, its better all the way around.

 

[scoflaw]

I burn that cheap eth everyday. That be the trick, fill it and burn it.

 

[El Capitan]

That gas tank is 12 years old. Fuel lines and hoses 12 years old.
Ethanol attracts water. Much of the problems w marine engines are due to fuel related issues.

Your manual would not place the requirement of only non ethanol fuel simply because of its scarcity.

The manual does not say “ Do not use non ethanol”.

Using ethanol fuel in marine applications ie vented gas tanks will attract moisture.

 

[Golfman25]

So by 2008 your engine should be ok running on 10% ethanol. The phase separation issue can be solved by running the boat and having fun. Otherwise use a good fuel stabilizer if it’s going to sit for a while.

 

[Wanderer 290]

Ethanol Will not only separate from fuel after time it will absorb water present in the ambient air. Once saturated with moisture it may thicken. Additionally, the added moisture may accelerate internal corrosion.

So a boat in a humid environment is very susceptible to this.

But if you burn a tank of gas frequently like in a car the chance of separation and/or moisture absorption is reduced.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.be...u-need-to-know-about-ethanol-fuel?hs_amp=true

 

[susanandlance]

Don't use ethanol fuel, it's just that simple guys.....

 

[Gary B]

Don’t do it! Ethanol is a solvent and it can absorb its weight in water. It causes havoc in multiple ways for your engines and fuel system. If you have the option to purchase ethanol free fuel even though its more you should do it

 

[bbwhitejr]

I burned the cheapest gas I could find for 3 years in our 06 260DA always using Startron. Filled up in November and it sat until April every winter. Never an issue.

Burn it...

Bennett

 

[boatman37]

I never had an issue with it sitting over winter with the cheap ethanol fuel and Star Tron but this season may be different. I don't want to pump 75 gallons of ethanol fuel in then find we aren't allowed to use it all this summer and it has to sit 12 months with it in there.

 

[El Capitan]

I drive 40 miles round trip and pay $3.65/gal for non ethanol fuel ...for my truck.

I won’t use ethanol on anything I own that runs.

 

[my3sons]

I never had an issue with it sitting over winter with the cheap ethanol fuel and Star Tron but this season may be different. I don't want to pump 75 gallons of ethanol fuel in then find we aren't allowed to use it all this summer and it has to sit 12 months with it in there.

I wouldn't worry about it. Just treat it. We used to let our rarely used equipment sit for a long time with no problems. I use Stabil, Startron is great stuff too, it's all the same. Never any problems with boats that sat October to May and Both our vehicles sat for over a year while we looped, no problems.

 

[Thornton69]

I think most are forgetting that a full fuel tank will not breath very much. A tank with a low fuel level will. If you think it may be sitting for a while, add a stabilizer. Up to 6 mos would not be a concern for me.

 

[susanandlance]

I burned the cheapest gas I could find for 3 years in our 06 260DA always using Startron. Filled up in November and it sat until April every winter. Never an issue.

Burn it...

Bennett

I used startron in smaller boats as well, but for the 36 NON ethanol. I saw first hand what it does to small engines, although startron does help.

 

[Wanderer 290]

If I bought a gallon of 90/10 blend of gas/alcohol I would want my purchase in separate containers.
9/10th gas in the boat and 1/10th ethanol in a bottle for disinfect.