getting around ethanol

[3CJABAYLINER]

okay I have a yamaha 1998 50hp jet drive outboard, just rebuilt the carbs and they were nasty inside!! white caked, water in them. likely caused by ethanol, but were runnin good now, put the yamaha 10micron filter in & am now using the stabil ethanol treatment in every tank. Hopefully there are no more carb issues. but if there is:

Heres my idea 99.9% of gas stations here in WA st. contain up to 10% ehanol not good for the boating man! however quite a few stations around here say their 92 octane does not contain ethanol, thats good but it's expensive & most outboards like mine call for 87 octane. Now if you were to have a machine shop mill your head down a little to bump compression then you would need to run 92 octane. My question to those who really know outboard engines, can you do this without hurting the engine?

Pros: Availability of Ethanol free 100% gas, increased horsepower.

Cons: Possibility of major powerhead failure. Increased Cost of gas.

 

[QC]

Re: getting around ethanol

If your goal is to run the 92, why not run the 92 as is?

 

[chconger]

Re: getting around ethanol

I don't understand how running a higher octane can hurt anything at all.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: getting around ethanol

Still wondering how Stabil fuel treatment is suppose to combat ethanol problems. If you look at the ingredients, it's mostly alcohol. How does alcohol combat alcohol? Can't stop the fuel from phasing or reverse phasing.

 

[99yam40]

Re: getting around ethanol

I have not looked at the label on the blue marine stabil, but the red was made up of ethanol and not good for the newer fuel.
The blue is labeled for marine, but not the red.

Higher the octane the slower the fuel burns, you will loose some power as you are not getting all of the BTUs out of fuel as it does not all burn in cylinders. If it is still burning as it leaves cylinders it can overheat the exhaust ports and harm pistons skirts from what I have heard

 

[3CJABAYLINER]

Re: getting around ethanol

I have not looked at the label on the blue marine stabil, but the red was made up of ethanol and not good for the newer fuel.
The blue is labeled for marine, but not the red.

Higher the octane the slower the fuel burns, you will loose some power as you are not getting all of the BTUs out of fuel as it does not all burn in cylinders. If it is still burning as it leaves cylinders it can overheat the exhaust ports and harm pistons skirts from what I have heard

Yes I have been told this too, but if you were to bump compression & maybe advance the timing you could or would have to run 92 octane. I think? Still looking for more input here.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: getting around ethanol

If you run your boat often, the 90/10 is okay without an additive. If you just ran it every 3-4 weeks, go with the 92 octane/100% gasoline and an additive.

We run our boat a couple of times per week during the Summer.

I'm going to put an additive and 100% gasoline in the 2012 Yamaha 150 hp 4 stroke for the winter, however.