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Marine/Boaters: Consumer Reports of E10 Contaminated Gas & Engine Damage
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FUEL-TESTERS
Everything you need to know to safely manage ethanol & E10 gasoline...
Marine: Reports of Engine Damage from Contaminated E10 Gasoline
View Introduction/Page One Consumer Reports of E10 Contaminated Gas & Engine Damage
Send Report to Fuel-Testers:
REPORT Contaminated E10 Gas, engine damage due to ethanol blends, abnormal test results (high ethanol or water in gas) and/or problems with ethanol fuels.
BOATING CONSUMER REPORTS:
Engine type: 2002 Yamaha, (marine/outboard) Location: Hixson, TN 37343 Initials: M.R. Date: 06/03/2008
" help, i have had to rebuild the carberators on my yamaha outboard, manufactured in 2002. i have ordered an ethanol tester, is there a safe additive... "
Fuel-Testers Comments: Ethanol is a solvent that will cleanse and remove all accumulated gunk from fuel tank and system. It can also remove paint, varnish and dissolve certain fiberglass and plastic gas tanks. Since most additives also contain alcohol and other cleansing ingredients many gas additives would have only increased the clogging of his/her carburetor. Petroleum-based additives are best with E10.
Before switching to E10 have your marine engine inspected - It's especially important to remove all accumulation and water from the bottom of your gas tank...Also inspect and replace fuel and water seperator filters...
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March 2009 - More reports will be added to website soon...
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Check your owners manual or speak to a certified dealer/mechanic
to determine if it is safe to run E10 fuel in your marine engine.
(Inboard, outboard, fuel-injected, 2-stroke, 4 stroke, etc.).
Bombardier BRP and Evinrude - Honda - Indmar Marine - Yamaha - Mercury Marine - Nissan - Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC Evinrude and Johnson motors) - Pleasurecraft Engine Group - Suzuki
One drop of concentrated Quik Check and a Fuel-Tester quickly checks gasoline for ethanol and/or water contamination -
IMAGE:
Gas that is water contaminated separates into 2 or 3 visible layers - Water (and ethanol) drops to the bottom of tank.
Right: Non-ethanol gas (no alcohol or water) -
Blue Quik-Check drop settles to bottom.
Left: Gas contaminated with alcohol and water.
Quik-Check turns sample bright blue.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
VIEW Manufacturer E10 Fuel Warnings:
Mercury, OMC, Harley, Suzuki, Hyundai, Audi, Briggs & Stratton, Sears...
March 2009 News Update:
Will ACE succeed at convincing the U.S. government to pass laws
that will replace conventional gas with 15% ethanol?
Engine type: 2006? Evinrude E-Tec, (marine/outboard) Location: Pensacola, Florida Initials: J.K. Date: 6/25/2008
" I live in Pensacola, Florida and have boated all my life. I wasn't aware of the problem with ethanol gas and boat motors. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way after getting stranded in the Gulf of Mexico and found my fuel line eat into on a less than two year old Evinrude E-tec motor. Thank God my son and I were not blown up, but were towed to safety. I've done alot of research since this happened on June 14, 2008. I'm very dissappointed that Evinrude didn't notify me since my engine was under a warranty. There should be a recall and a solution to the problem asap. I'm also finding out that gas stations are not labeling their pumps even if I had known. This is a tremendous problem and only going to get worse if some type of information is not broadcast to boat owners. If you know about it, you can find lots of information, but God help you if you are unaware. Thanks for your website and the information you are providing. "
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Engine type: 2006 Evinrude E-Tec 50 hp, (marine/outboard) Location: Port Charlotte, Florida Initials: D.R. Date: 2/19/2009
" ...My motor, E-Tec 50 with 60 hours on it 2006, had a problem with the motors fuel lines.
Like I said, the insides of some turned to jello and then caused problems with the pumps and injectors.
The fuel was treated with a stabilizer, and had no ethanol. I always buy my fuel from the same station that advertize that they use not ethanol. I use the same fuel and stabilizer in my larger boat with twin Yamaha’s without any problems. Actually my big boat sits around longer and hold 200 gallons of fuel and the little boat that I had the problem with only holds 20 gallons.
Only the motor’s fuel hoses had problems, not the hoses from the tank to the filter, filter to blub. Only the hosed supplied by BRP.
I would like to have these hoses tested and the boats hoses to see if the bombardier Es1763 hoses are defective. Any ideas who can do such a test. I thought about sending them to the USCG because if these hoses are defective then they pose a fire hazard... "
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Fuel-Testers Comments: We have received above average reports from boaters in the state of Florida experiencing engine damage from contaminated fuel. Testing gas at pump would help to prevent these types of problems, due to high alcohol and/or water content.
But, since we have received so many reports of cracked/damaged fuel hoses on Evinrude ETecs, we asked BRP directly, J.C. stated,
"Fuel system components on Evinrude and Johnson engines have been resistant to 10% ethanol by volume for over 20 years. Some areas outside of North America are running over 20% with out any problems. From what I have seen, it is not alcohol alone that can damage fuel system components on our engines. We have seen deteriorated stale fuel, contaminated fuel (water) or non recommended fuel additives damage fuel components.
I can not comment on an engine that I have not inspected or talked to an authorized dealer that has inspected. I would suggest the customer call our Customer Service phone number 847-689-7090 or have his authorized dealer call the technical hotline to have any questions answered. "
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Boaters - CONSUMER REPORTS OF ENGINE DAMAGE FROM E10 GASOLINE
Petition Against E15 (15%) Increase - Engine manufacturers only approve up to 10% ethanol... More info.
