What fuel are you running?

[Marvin willis]

I just got my monthly tow boat magazine and they are talking about in 2017 making the standard e15 instead of 10. I still put standard 87 in my boat but most ppl here go ethanol free. They also said in the magazine this will cause all the boaters to be forced to use ethanol free fuels and they will run dry. What are you running? So far I've had no problems but maybe I've been lucky.

 

[Bruce]

At home I have ethanol free available so that is what I use. When I am traveling I use E10 when that is what is available. I would try to avoid any higher concentrations of ethanol. The initial concern is that it could harm non metal parts that were not designed for so much ethanol. The longer term concern is that the ethanol is more likely to gum things up if you leave it sitting so you will want to use more or a stronger fuel conditioner.

 

[Marvin willis]

I've always used e10 87 but also put some additive either seafoam, Lucas, or stabl religiously. Do you notice any performance difference using ethanol free?

 

[Bruce]

I've always used e10 87 but also put some additive either seafoam, Lucas, or stabl religiously. Do you notice any performance difference using ethanol free?

I do not notice any difference in the way she runs. It is simply a preference to avoid the complication. My biggest concern with ethanol is that I would not want to leave a tank full of ethanol sitting over the winter.

 

[yamahaar230honewb]

We've always filled up using E10 87, However if there were another option close by that were 100 gas, I would choose that one.

 

[Marvin willis]

I asked my neighbor where he fills up and he goes to the fuel docks. No way am I paying an extra 1.50 a gallon when I live a mile from a gas station on my way to the ramp

 

[DonR.]

In Utah, regular unleaded is 85 octane. I use 87, but wonder if it would be OK to use 85.

 

[mraz72]

On the water its all 91 octane ethanol free, so that is all I use. If I fill up on the trailer, I look for 91 ethanol free gas.

 

[DonR.]

The owners manual lists 87 octane fuel. I had a friend who had an older outboard motor and had to rebuild the motor. The mechanic told him that it was due to running too high of octane fuel. Since then, I have used 87 octane fuel on my AR230 and my PWC's.

 

[Julian]

I created a poll in the polls forum for this question:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/what-type-of-gas-are-you-running-in-your-boat.11661/

 

[Chillypilot]

I use 87 octane with Ethanol throughout the boating season. I store the boat with 91 octane Ethanol free for the winter. No issues to date. Knock on wood.

 

[DonR.]

That makes sense, as the octane level would drop over the winter.

 

[arew~SX230]

10% ethanol is about a 3% Btu pergallon loss. 15 would = 4.5, that would start to become noticable to the calibrated butt dynno.

Ethanol 76k btu/gal
Gasoline 114k btu/gal

 

[Big Shasta]

That makes sense, as the octane level would drop over the winter.

I don't understand...It's the E10 that drops in octane due to water absorption and phase separation. With E0 that shouldn't be an issue.