Corn in Your Tank?

[sjogren]

I was sent the below message from the US Power Squadron about increases the % of alcohol in our gas from E10 to E15.

As most of you know all our gas engines already have problems with 10% alcohol & the problems will increase as the % is increased, not to mention the lower gas mileage & decreased power.

http://capwiz.com/nmma/home/

The above link will, if you pick “Take Action”, will take you to a very simple canned email to the EPA informing them that increases the % of alcohol in gas is a bad idea.

[chumtini]

Message sent Shog

Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211
I am writing to strongly urge EPA to deny the petition submitted on March 6, 2009 by Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers requesting a waiver under Clean Air Act Sec. 211(f)(4) to allow ethanol-gasoline blends containing up to 15 percent ethanol by volume (E15).

The E10 in use today and required in MA has cost me thousands of dollars in repairs to a pair of Yamaha HPDI outboards due to materials precipitating from the fuels and clogging filters. Increasing the ethynol content for marine engines will undoubtly cause severe and permanent damage to these engines. In fact, Yamaha states that these engines were designed for E10, but no higher. I have taken filter samples to a materials lab and have undisputable evidence that the material clogging filters is from the E10 fuel.

It's my understanding that E10 is mixed during delivery at the station. It's not difficult nor cost prohibitive to maintain the E10 blend for marine fuel docks while delivering E15 for automotive use.

I'm sure this isn't the first time you've heard the story and hope you will make the right choice.

[Mackey]

Message sent.

[sjogren]

Thanks guys.
We should be subsidized before the corn growers.
They want to drive the price of corn higher. They are starting to sound like United Auto Workers...

Who is running this country any way.

[unleashed fishing]

sent mine

[Storm]

I didn't know what to believe in regards to the claims of adverse effects from ethanol in fuel.

Then, the fuel supply line in my weedwhacker collapsed, the filter clogged, and the rubber stopper on the fuel tank which holds the fuel lines in place became spongy. Easy and cheap repair but I expect the same problem down the road.

My Honda pushmower had carburetor float issues which I suspect were ethanol related - float was sticking. I replaced the carburetor. Same thing happened the following year with the new carburetor. My guess is that ethanol is gumming up the float.

It's apparent to me from the aforementioned that rubber/petroleum based products don't like ethanol. I have to wonder what the affect is of introducing alcohol into an engine cylinder that ideally, needs to be well lubricated. Somehow I don't see it as a brilliant idea.

Storm

[Palawanbound]

Not knowing that Ma. had ethanol in there gas I towed my boat from Maine to Scituate Ma.,fished with my cousins for a week & then came home leaving the boat for close to 3 weeks,when I got back we decided to head out the harbor one morning & didn't even make it to the jetty.My racor was solid white & when I took it apart it was just like the paste we used as kids in school.Luckily my uncle was heading out lobster fishing & he towed me to the dock.I towed the boat home & it cost $500 to fix & now every time I fill up I put a can of stabilizer in the tank.I have been thinking of putting on a kicker motor but if that isn't used the same thing will happen,the tech told me it was to do with the water molecules & ethanol molecules combining to become a solid,all I know I was broke down!

[ncfish]

I'll be damned- I've had the same rubber part on my weedeater start leaking two years in a row- nover thought of it being the gas. Also just took my generator in for service- wouldnt' run. $150 carb rebuild and I'm back in action. Mechanic said welcome to ethanol. I'm running Stabil (name?) in both boat outboards, guess I need to start using it in gas cans too. Is that the best product out there?

[Storm]

Just another example of ethanol related issues -


I had a similar problem with my Cub Cadet riding mower. It wouldn't start after being stored for the winter. I was advised that I might need to remove and clean the carburetor, which looked like it would be real pain in the butt on this particular engine. I managed to drain the float bowl and eventually got the engine primed and running. Mechanics suggested that ethanol was the culprit and advised using gas stabilizer in the future.

This was the third piece of equipment I've owned that has failed from what appears to be ethanol related issues. No major harm yet. Can't wait until the feds start messing with diesel fuel.