TAKEOFF
BOAT TECH
ANOTHER PRIMER ON ETHANOL
O
HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEMATIC FUEL ADDITIVE
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nce perceived as a remedy for rising fuel costs and
emissions issues, ethanol has seen its reputation
called into question in recent years, especially among
boaters. The controversial biofuel is known to cause a multi-
tude of problems within outboard motors – particularly vin-
tage models – and many bass anglers are trying to avoid
ethanol-mixed fuels altogether. That’s not as simple as it
sounds, as nearly all U.S. gasoline sold at pumps is mixed with
ethanol, with about 10 percent of content being the norm.
Ethanol is grain alcohol produced mainly from corn, mar-
keted as a sustainable source of fuel with other advantages
such as reduced emissions. It’s ethanol’s other traits and
unintended side effects, however, that cause concern among
boaters.
One of the biggest problems with ethanol occurs because
of its tendency to absorb and mix with water more readily
than gasoline. When this occurs within a fuel tank, the result
By Joe Balog
PHOTOS BY MATT PACE
is “phase separation,” where the ethanol/water combination
within the fuel settles to the bottom of the tank.
If this watery material is passed through an outboard, the
result can be anything from sluggish performance to engine
failure. Once phase separation takes place within a fuel sys-
tem, no additive can restore the fuel mixture back to normal,
and the only real fix is to completely drain the tank.
Ethanol presents additional issues to boaters. Its shelf life
is around 90 to 100 days, and old ethanol fuel can readily go
bad due to evaporation of certain hydrocarbons and its abil-
ity to absorb water. This is especially true when stored at a
station or in a boat. In addition, ethanol can cause damage in
a variety of ways in outboards or fuel systems by degrading
tanks, hoses, seals, etc., not designed to run it.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Ethanol has
been phased into our fuel supplies slowly over the last two
decades, and most engine builders have reacted accordingly.
FLWFISHING.COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018