Posted on 09/02/2006 12:24:22 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Not true. Many owner of Classics-boats such as the older Bertram mentioned in the article are looking at large bills-to replace gas tanks, fuel delivery systems and in some cases engines.
Not really-many owners of older Bertrams and other classics are facing HUGE repair bills. Ethanol has damaged fiberglass fuel tanks and ruining fuel delivery systems and engines. They are not doing this to get out from under financial jams. The problem is real, and the fix expensive.
Thanks. I wont buy Yamaha.
You should. Yamaha engines are good motors, and mine has been bulletproof. I could find you similar articles on Mercury/Mercruiser; I only recalled this one because I happen to own a Yamaha.
I thank you for your information.
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You are right in that Methanol is much worse. But I have never heard/read/seen any indicator that ethanol based or blended fuels are a problem for aluminum automotive (or boat) components. Some rubber components (hoses, gaskets, diaphragms, etc.) are attacked by ethanol - thus the primary difference between a standard gas engine automobile and an E85-ready FFV is these particular components.
If gasoline does not damage fiberglass, then what causes that fiberglass damage where fuel comes in contact with such surfaces - particularly with repeated contact? Air? Water?
A buddy of mine still has the hull of an old (Early 70's) that has shown signs of damage from gasoline exposure where there apparently was a minor gasoline leak from the fuel line to the engine. Just where the fuel dripped, there is an area where the fiberglass has delaminated (or whatever it is called when it gets eaten). The surrounding area is relatively intact, even where the paint was worn/damaged.
If fiberglass is coated with some special sealants - then yes, they are more gasoline-resitant. This may be what you were referring to. But fiberglass itself is damaged by gasoline. And any such coating that gets damaged then allows the gasoline to react with the fiberglass.
I would have agreed with you until Yamaha introduced their first 4-stroke a few years back. It was actually a re-branded Mercurty 4-stroke and was a major piece of junk. Constant carberator needle valve troubles (not gunk-in-fuel related - had defective parts manufactured that didn't quite fit propertly and replacement parts were just as bad) and some quality control problems with the lower unit and prop-shaft that Yamaha resisted fixing under warranty.
Most outboard manufacturerers have had both great and bad motors - much like the auto industry.
I bet some here don't realize that many of the fuel additives in a bottle that we can buy are ethanol based (and some use to be methanol based----not good).
The same effect can be had from using too much fuel cleaner/carb cleaner/fuel injector cleaner. hoses and other rubber products get attacked, and some of the sludge that is in EVERY gas tank with-or-without the existance of ethanol in fuel) gets moved around - and can be taken in to the fuel system and eventually to the injectors/carbs.
So ethanol basically is causing a bright light to be shined on an existing problem - trash in the fuel delivery system.
I've replaced three gas tanks so far in pre '70s cars, it's sort of an added step in just keeping them and nearly automatic in a restoration.
Carbs require rebuild way more frequently than in past.
Most newly manufactured hoses will deal with ethanol and the host of other additives we are being treated to.
Biggest headache here in So Cal is lawn mowers, 2 or 4 stroke, I got tired of rebuilding a honda carb, tossed it, and found a Sears floor sample for about what the honda parts cost.
Clue is that any 'long term' storage, meaning 30 days, requires that you run the thing empty before putting it away...and you only have to forget one time.
The problem, apart from scouring rust etc from your tank, is that all the miracle bunk they add evaporates really fast and leaves sludge behind. Apparently most of us drive our cars frequently enough to make it a minor issue but anyone with a week ends only vehicle, a hand me down stashed at the summer cottage, or who thought they were going to store away some emergency fuel is in for some unhappies.
There are a bunch of fuel storage additives also available, I don't know which, if any, work and at a guess I'd say they off set any benefits from the original cocktail.
(Greetings from California, the epicenter of the MTBF fiasco)
Just catching up on the ethanol issues after last summer my marina switched to this crap blend. Yes it gunked up my gas, yes it gunked up my motor. Ethanol sucks and continues to suck. I’m not happy about this, but I got to do a major overhaul on my old boat to get it running again this spring. grrrr.
I didn’t realize that only ethanol blend is sold in Idaho. It is in Oregon, at least in western Oregon. I am mostly concerned about my older two strokes, motorcycles and boat.
I see it’s an old thread now.
So were your boat’s problems attributed to a fiberglass tank OR rubber deterioration OR general gunk migration OR ?
I haven’t figured it out. It may well be the tank or the lines. I’ll know this weekend.
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