Sta-Bil ethanol treatment

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:37 pm Post subject:

I don't think Seafoam has any properties that would help with Ethonal water absorbsion, but we don't have a lot of experience with the product in our neck of the woods.

Why should you use a stabalizer product? Well, we figure that our customers have spent far in excess of $50,000 this year in ethonal related repairs and engine failures. We will not be surprised if that number reaches $100,000 by year's end. Mad

So you can spend an extra $10 a tank, just in case, or take your chances. I guess you just have to ask youself this one thing- do I feel lucky. Well, do you? Wink

Ethonal is evil stuff Evil or Very Mad

, and has no business being in gasoline.

thataway · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:53 pm Post subject:

Sea foam only for cleaning injectors (and similar other passages which may be plugged by ethanol loosened debris. I do add sea foam several times a year.

hardee · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject:

McDory · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:57 am Post subject:

I saw this product on a segment of the TV show "Ship Shape TV". I have not tried it yet, but plan to when I run out of my supply of Blue Stabil.

Here is the segment:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkalEYeoJKE

Here is their website:
www.formulax2.com

I did see the host of the show, John Greviskis, use it on some of his other boats after this segment was shot.

localboy · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:17 pm Post subject:

Pricey stuff. Shocked

Miafun1 · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject: ethanol

Ethonal is evil stuff Evil or Very Mad

, and has no business being in gasoline.[/quote]

hmmm. Why doesn't Ethanol cause trouble with automobiles???

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject:

It does on classic cars and cars that don't get used as often. It also destroys small engines like lawn mowers and chain saws and weed eaters.

Cars are using their gas much faster than the average boat, as they are driven every day. Boats can sit for 6 months with fuel in the tank going stae. Plus the automotive fuel system of today is sealed, and not open to the air. Boat tanks are vented and this allows moisture to be drawn in.

The next generation of boat fuel tanks will be sealed like the automotive system, with charcoal cannisters. Coupled with the catalytic converters on inboard engines (and probably future four stroke outboards), the marine engine is becoming more complex.

Portable fuel tanks have undergone a change as well, and fuel hoses have been updated. Remember when a 6 gallon fuel tanks was $30? Try doubling that for generic brands because of the new low permeable and sealed vents. Today's fuel tanks are now pressurized up to 5 PSI when they get war, and the air inside expands. Yamaha fuel hoses are now $100 each because of the low permeable material used to make them.

I fear that prices going up (on boats and accesories), and the high cost of repairs when ethanol damage occurs will drive the average boater out of the industry.

Miafun1 · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject: Ethanol

Ethanol probably accounts for most of the gasoline purchased and yet users keep on buying it. If it was a problem, I don't think we would see repeat customers.

If it truly causes trouble in the marine industry, then the marine industry will need to adapt.

I've used Ethanol since it was invented and have had absolutely no problems with it in all my marine engines and everything else.

If anyone really feels they have experienced trouble with it then, of course, they should make their own adjustments.

Ethanol seems to be the 'catch all' for blame for many maladies including purchasing bad gas in general.

Will-C · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject: Sta-Bil ethanol treatment

I use the Blue Stabil, on every fill up with my boat just an ounce per every 10 gallons. I have a six gallon can in my garage for the snow blower, lawn tractor, leaf blower, weed whacker,chain saw, the Mokai,the 2.5 Yamaha dink motor and our two Honda generators.. I add blue stabil to that when it's purchased so any gas including two stroke mix I make using what's in the six gallon can has already been treated. I have had no trouble since using the blue stabil. I have had issues that required me to pull apart carbs and do clean outs etc. This is much easier. I also add Yamaha ring free to the boats fuel on every fill up to avoid any issues with carbon build up. I used the same stuff on Yamaha two strokes. Outside of pulling my tanks just to be sure they were clean after I loaded a fuel filter up once coming across Block Island Sound with some sort of pink slime. I pulled both of my tanks and found a bunch more of the pink slime. Since cleaning them and using the Blue Stabil religiously I have had no issues. I think my issues with my fuel tanks happened before I owned the boat. It was an 08 and I did not purchase it until 09. It's pretty reassuring after the boat sitting for 4months to hit the ignition and get an almost instant start. I have no intention of changing until I see issues with what works for me.
D.D.

stevej · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject:

Tyboo - less than $40 a fish dang I can't even come close to that with Salmon. I did bring home 450lbs of Albacore and only burnt $250 in gas once...

Back to stabilizers

I have always filled my tank at the end of the season then add the red stabil (non ethanol) and the gas is good as new after 6 months.
The new owner of the fuel docks is saying that the existing blend will not need additional stabilizers so I save 20 bucks this year. Been lucky so far and have not had to use any laced fuel in Shearwater yet.

stevej

thataway · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:33 pm Post subject:

With products like Formula X2 the water is emulsified and is still present. At some point it will probably de-emulsify. One of the main products in the MSDS is 2-Butoxyethanol which is a powerful surfactant--and will make the water and ethanol suspended for a time. This is used in a number of solvents and cleaning products--and is fairly in-expensive.

No magic here.

The point is true about "crud" in the fuel tank. I doubt that the Formula X2 alone will prevent that. Theoretically it might make it worse, as "crud" in the tank is loosened up and gets into the fuel lines/injectors....

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Ethanol

Miafun1 · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject:

Matt, you are making my point. If it was as bad as some say, wouldn't the repair garages be full of ruined vehicles? I'd have to say that most vehicles are out there on the road running fine and most marine engines are out there being used.

thataway · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject:

Actually there have been a number of marine engine/fuel tank issues, and damaged engines/tanks. The car is a bit of a different issue, since most of us burn thru fuel fairly rapidly. My car runs much better on non ethanol fuel. There are several non ethanol pumps in town, but they cost more, and are not convenient.

For the boat it is worth using the non ethanol gas--I can get it on the water at most marinas, or I go take the 5 gallon cans and buy the more expensive non ethanol fuel. In the boat the fuel is far more likely to stay for 6 months unused. There is also more of a chance of condensation in the tank.

Why don't we don something about it?--because it has been mandated, and we have no choice often. We are also like sheep, and follow the instructions we are given. I have friends who will only use the non ethanol fuel, especially in their collector type of cars.