Who's idea was this? A tree hugger? Nothing against tree huggers, mind you, but I still think we should eat our corn, not destroy our boat motors with their by-product.
Having been the victim of Ethanol Poisoning, I have come to learn a little about it's killer impact on engines. In general, over a period of time (a lot shorter than you might think), ethanol begins to break down. It becomes, in simplistic terms, gasoline and alcohol. Alcohol, as most know, absorbs moisture, aka "water". Moisture from the air, or empty space inside your gas tank. This gasoline/water mixture, number one, doesn't burn well, to say the least. And, the alcohol acts as a cleaning agent, loosening solid particles in your tanks. Back to that in a moment.
Another problem is that alcohol/ethanol fuel can deteriorate older style fuel hoses from the inside. Where you can't see what's going on. Twenty-some years back, during the BIG SNOW of 1989, I had the brilliant idea to use rubbing alcohol, which freezes at a much lower temperature than water, to removed caked ice from my windshield wiper blades. Worked like a champ, I might add. Except that I had to replace the rubberized wiper blades pretty fast, as the alcohol was devouring them.
Ok, back to my thoughts. The particles from your gas tank, as well as the particles from the insides of your fuel lines, have no place to go other than you engines. Carburetors are made up of all sorts of little holes, called jets. These tiny orifices will not pass solid particles. Once clogged, they're much like your body's arteries when built-up plaque breaks loose. Heart attack or stroke time, ya'll.
Ok. What to do to prevent this. First, install a water-fuel separator near your engine. They're a lot less expensive than having a top-notch mechanic rebuild your carbs when the damage is done. They look a bit like a car's oil filter. Make sure they're easily accessible because you should check them REGULARLY...and that doesn't mean every three years.
How to check them. Remove the filter using a...yep, you guessed it... "filter wrench. Available at any auto parts store. Dump the contents of the filter into a clean, clear glass jar. A quart "moonshine-style" jar is perfect for this (and, if you don't know what that is, ask your neighbor, Bubba). Let it set in a corner for a little while, until any particles have time to sink to the bottom; and any water, which is heavier than gasoline, settles to the bottom. Don't know how to tell the difference between water and gasoline? There's no way of missing it. At the bottom of the jar, water will be a cloudy substance. Once you've seen it, you'll have no doubt what it looks like. Do not be surprised if you find a small amount of water. That just means your filter is working well, and has picked up any condensation that formed in the tank. A lot of water, however, means there could be a problem lurking. Or, it could mean your filter hasn't been changed in a while. If the liquid has no particles and is mostly gasoline, you can re-install it, and feel pretty good about the contents of your gas tank. More on this shortly.
But, don't become complacent. If you don't use your boat much, such as during the winter months, the ethanol can continue to break down, and moisture will be absorbed. All gasoline should be treated with a fuel stabilizer. This will not STOP the degradataion, but it will slow it down. I use a brand called Startron (and, no, I'm not on their payroll...at least, not yet). It has worked well for me since my twin 175's suffered a near fatal Ethanol Attack. Another good brand is Marine Stabil. I just go with what has proven itself over the past two years.
The real experts out there will explain, in more scientific language, the damages that can occur when using untreated ethanol. I don't generally understand too much of that, but I do know that it's bad for boat engines. Of course, ethanol-free gasoline would be great. And, there are places that advertise they have it. I've also talked with gasoline distributors who tell me they fill up the tanks at gas stations and marinas alike, using fuel from the same source. I'm told there are kits available that will allow you to test the gasoline at your friendly gas station or marina, and actually tell you what percentage of the fuel is alcohol. Personally, I find it more convenient to treat my gasoline, and I sleep better.
I told you that you should check your fuel filters regularly. And, you should replace them at least once a year. The more fuel you burn, the more often they should be changed. They're much like swimming pool cartridges...they can become saturated after a while, and will eventually allow water and particles to pass through to your carbs.
A BAD, bad thing.
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