While older two-stroke outboards dating back to the mid- 1980s might still experience part failures, more modern outboards and boats are being built with components that can stand up to a 10 percent ethanol blend. To safeguard against other ethanol concerns, the best approach is to try to run new fuel always.
“ The overwhelming majority of [ fuel ] issues that we’ ve seen recently have been related to boats that are left to sit for extended periods of time without being prepped for storage,” says Mark Lundgren, service manager at Toho Marine in St. Cloud, Fla.
In fact, most bass boat dealers in warm climates see relatively few ethanol fuel-related problems throughout the year, as tournament bass fishermen typically fish all season and run through their gas tanks much quicker than recreational boaters. Often, pontoon boats – especially those that see action just a few weeks each summer – are the boats in need of service.
But that’ s not to say that anglers are free and clear of potential problems.
For starters, if you have an older boat, chances are there’ s already some moisture in its fuel tank. Phase separation occurs suddenly when ethanol-blended fuels reach a certain maximum carrying capacity of water, so even though you may not have problems yet, any further introduction of moisture could be a deal-breaker.
Running new fuel from a busy station is best, and keeping gas tanks filled during down periods can help as well. By reducing the amount of open space within your boat’ s gas tank, surface-to-air contact of the tank is reduced, thus trimming down on condensation.
Also – good news for bass anglers – the more an outboard is used, the less likely it is to have problems; so get on the water frequently, even if it’ s just to run your boat around the lake. Another rule of thumb is to avoid running old fuel with new. It’ s best to take whatever steps necessary to completely drain out the old gas and dry the tank if your boat has sat a year or more.
The ultimate safeguard for future problems is the installation of a fuel / water separator on your rig. Most large, offshore boats – those that burn thousands of gallons of fuel each year – have one in place, and it will immediately correct any moisture problems that pop up.
While stabilizers and gas treatments have been linked to potential remedies for ethanol woes, none can restore bad fuel. In addition, several sources, including some manufacturers of the stabilizers themselves, report that there is no practical additive that can fully control ethanol / moisture issues. The primary function of these additives is to reduce gumming and lubricate working parts. Some stabilizers absorb slight amounts of water, keeping it within the fuel solution to reduce binding to ethanol. The benefit is figuratively small, yet every little bit helps.
Finally, the ultimate solution is to run ethanol-free fuel. Once very difficult to find, ethanol-free blends are becoming more available, likely due to pressure from boaters, car buffs, and those of us tired of replacing two-stroke leaf blowers and chain saws that have conked out due to fuel issues. Many lakeside and boating communities have an ethanol-free pump somewhere, and major chains, such as Wawa in Florida, are featuring no-ethanol choices at every pump. You’ ll pay a little more up front, but remain worryfree on the water.
Modern boats are designed to be used with ethanol blends, but there are still issues to be aware of if you burn it in your rig.
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