Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

[bulkleycorp]

Last year, in Connecticut, gas was reformulated from using MTBE to ethanol. <br /><br />It seemed at the time that my new 5HP Honda was rough running from the start. People have told me that the ethanol based gas has a tendancy to "gel up" if left in the carb for long period of time - and they haven't found a good solution for this.<br /><br />Has anyone heard of this problem or a solution? At a minimum, i'll drain the carb float via the release valve.<br /><br />Thx<br /><br />Rick

 

[bbutturff]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

We have reformulated gasoline here in Minnesota and I’ve had very good luck using Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer for the past 20 years. I haven’t had to rebuild or clean a single carb.<br /><br /> http://www.goldeagle.com/sta-bil/ <br /><br />Good luck,<br />Bruce

 

[lewkster]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

So then does sea foam also stabilize the fuel as effectively? I am from minneasota as well and wonder about fuels as the boat sits in between trips and winter storage. Comepletely different from an auto as fuel is only there a few days and time is the enemy with these new fuels? Would this be on the right track?

 

[rontbeamer]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

I have never heard of ethanol gelling up. There are two problems with running it in marine engines. First, the alcohol can dry out gaskets and rubber parts like o rings which can cause fuel control problems. Second ethanol contains an extra oxygen molecule. This causes your fuel mixture to be wrong so the engine will run lean when burning ethanol. It's going to run rough if it is burning too lean. I would check with your dealer to see if running ethanol is ok in that motor. Some can handle it, a lot can't.

 

[rontbeamer]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

Oh one more thing, ethanol will dilute two stroke oil if your engine is a two stroke. You have to run heavier oil, per my dealer when I lived in ND / MN. I had an Evinrude that allowed for a 100 to 1 ratio. Dealership told me to never run that if I was burning ethanol. They said 50-1. I ran 75-1 and never had a problem. Sold the motor when it was 15 years old and it still ran great.

 

[pwiseman]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

Originally posted by B Butturff:<br /> We have reformulated gasoline here in Minnesota and I’ve had very good luck using Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer for the past 20 years. I haven’t had to rebuild or clean a single carb.<br /><br /> http://www.goldeagle.com/sta-bil/ <br /><br />Good luck,<br />Bruce

You might look for Non-oxyginated fuel on the pump. They sell it in MN and it is all I run. You can't get it in metro stations, but you can get it in any small town as it is generally allowed for agriculture and off road use vehicles. Just say no to the green gas. Not sure how other states deal with this. It is a somewhat of a dirty secret here. I still use additive to keep it fresh and try not to get more than I will use in a month. Two strokes seem more fussy than the 4s on this topic. Honda does say it is ok to run 10% ethanol or 5% methanol in the 2005 manual. Just bought a 2005 DF25 - pick it up next week. The best thing you can do is run out your fuel when you take your boat out of the water. Not neccesry if you use the boat often. Make sure there is no fuel in the carbs for winter. This is what get most people in trouble.

 

[pwiseman]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

Originally posted by bulkleycorp:<br /> Last year, in Connecticut, gas was reformulated from using MTBE to ethanol. <br /><br />It seemed at the time that my new 5HP Honda was rough running from the start. People have told me that the ethanol based gas has a tendancy to "gel up" if left in the carb for long period of time - and they haven't found a good solution for this.<br /><br />Has anyone heard of this problem or a solution? At a minimum, i'll drain the carb float via the release valve.<br /><br />Thx<br /><br />Rick

I have heard many comments that the single popper 4 strokes run rough. May not be the gas at all.

 

[FishyFun]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

Boyz, I have been running "corn gas" in my 1982 Honda B100 for the last 6 years and it does NOT gel up. As far fuel stabilizer goes I use Seafoam it works great. You DO NOT need to drain the carb after you use it, except to keep the fuel line from over pressurizing in the sun. Here in Iowa we have been using it for years and it is the only thing my auto's have been raised on. Never had any problems with it. It is not the "corn gas" but rather the politictions who drum up this nonsense. It does not dry up anything in the motor nymore thatn "regular" gas does.<br /> "Help our oil fields, Buy corn gas!!!"<br /><br />lee

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

Plastic, rubber, some gasket material, and some metals and metal coatings in older engines were affected by fuel containing "corn squeezins". In most older engines, the new fuel became a cleaning agent and loosened all the gunk in fuel systems which plugged up carbs and fuel filters. This problem was not limited to outboards. It affected cars, trucks, chainsaws, etc. I've seen float bowls with as much as a thimble full of white powdery residue. The fuel definitely does not gel up. If an engine acts up after using the fuel, rebuild the carbs and replace filters and the problem will not occur again unless the fuel tank is also gunked up. My trusty 95 Evinrude workhorse has run on ethanol since new and has had only one "preventive" carb rebuild. They were shiny clean inside when disassembled. Newer engines contain components that can handle up to 15% of the squeezins. Whether or not you use ethanol blended fuel, fuel treatment like Seafoam should still be used, especially if the engine is unused for extended periods.

 

[gss036]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

I think the problem w/the little single cylinder 4 strokes is the fact that they only fire every other revoulation if I understand the mechanics correctly. The twin cylinders run much smoother.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Reformulated gas (ethanol) and Carb problems

Each cylinder on a four stroke engine, regardless of the number of cylinders, delivers a power stroke on every other revolution. Its the number of cylinders that helps with engine smoothness. A three cylinder will be smoother than a two, four smoother than three, etc.