Department of Energy: E15 causes “severe damage” to marine engines

[LuckyLady]

October 25, 2011
Filed under News

WASHINGTON – The results from two studies conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on the effects of E15 on marine engines were released on Friday, showing that the gasoline and ethanol blend can cause issues including drivability, materials compatibility, increased emissions, and long-term durability in outboard, stern drive and inboard engines, according to the release.

The High Ethanol Fuel Endurance study tested the effects of E15 and E0 on four-stroke and two-stroke Mercury outboard engines that included the 9.9HP four-stroke, the Verado 300HP Supercharged four-stroke and the 200 EFI two-stroke.

In addition to increase fuel consumption in two of the engines, the study showed that E15 caused damage to two out of three outboards and complete failure in the Verado 300HP engine, as well as “degraded emissions performance outside of engine certification limits,” according to the release.

The results of the study reinforced the industry’s concerns about proper warning labeling at fueling stations. In September, the NMMA, along with the Engine Products Group, filed a suit challenging the rules regarding gas pump misuse controls for gas pumps containing up to 15 percent Ethanol.

According to the NMMA, the new rules would not do enough to prevent possible damage to marine engines from possible misfueling with E15 fuel, and petitioned to require E10 fuel to also be sold at gas stations.

“Current proposals by the ethanol industry to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline should seriously concern all boaters and owners of other small engine equipment,” said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. “Although NMMA strongly supports renewable fuels as a means to reduce America’s dependence on foreign sources of oil and improve the environment, there is growing evidence that ethanol is not the answer to America’s energy challenge.”

Full versions the studies can be downloaded here: Emissions and Durability Test, Fuel Endurance test
fuel endurance test results.pdf


emission tests.pdf

[Questsportfishing]

some of us do nothing but fight the stuff just to make a living .. and all the time knowing the crap they sell us does not even work good ..

They should state also it tears up old cars fuel systems also so collectors are watching their cars fuel systems rot from the inside out..

sorta like our lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, boat engines and fuel tanks.. thanks for posting this !

[Avenger]

There's talk of them wanting to push this stuff for diesel fuel too. Why can't the G-D corn mafia lobby to do something useful with this stuff, like adding it to the drinking water?

[curtarmy]

some of us do nothing but fight the stuff just to make a living .. and all the time knowing the crap they sell us does not even work good ..

They should state also it tears up old cars fuel systems also so collectors are watching their cars fuel systems rot from the inside out..

sorta like our lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, boat engines and fuel tanks.. thanks for posting this !

Are there any additive products that we can add to our small motors gas tanks which will neutralize the effects of the E 15?

Curt

[Questsportfishing]

we loose.. basically 'we' as a nation spend millions in diesel to grow and harvest the corn.. corn is something you can eat.. people in other countries use sugar cane and the stuff works great and the ethanol that comes from it does not hurt outboards or lawn mowers.

our Government fuel is subsidized and so add in your tax dollars going for b.s. again.. the octane level is way below what real gas is so we end up burning more of it just to get the job done.

starbright , startron, seafoam .. the list goes on on additives but in the long run most eat gaskets and it still is not fuel.. just wish we had real fuel still..

merc makes quick clean BRP has 2plus 4 stuff .. everyone makes something to throw at the problem and the cost of doing this down to making the labels and plastic alone screw our world up more than solving the problem.

[Absolute]

E15 is for highway driven vehicles only.

Boats, lawn mowers, motorcycles are not to use this.