Ethanol blended fuel

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    Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 10:10pm
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ETHANOL BLENDED FUEL, WATCH OUT FOR IT

Gull have the fuel marketed as E10 or G Force 10 and is coloured blue at the pumps, Gull are fantastic and say it is not recommended for use in marine engines at this time. Good work Gull.
 
A friend of mine has always used fuel at BP, boat was stored for 4 weeks then experienced running problems on his next trip, engine hard to start, smoking and rough running, it took me a while to diagnose the problem, the fuel tank and filter had ethanol in the fuel system.
 
Once run on fresh fuel the motor went fine and problems disappeared
 
Have any other of you boat owners had a bad experience with ethanol blended fuels?
 
Its interesting to know that I found out from a reliable source that other fuel companies are starting to use ethanol ( up to 10% ) in their fuels and not telling the public.
 
This is going to cause all sorts of problems in marine outboard/inboard engines.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tagit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2010 at 10:34am
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If you read the US forums you will find what a nightmare ethanol blended fuel is for boats. Water attracted into stored fuel is only part of the issue. Biggest issues seem to be with older engines where the rubber fuel lines etc start to breakdown in the ethanol. There are also problems with the ethanol 'washing' the fuel tanks and liberating years of accumulated crud into the fuel system. If you have a fibreglass tank (more likely in a US import than a local built boat), you do not wnat ethanol blends anywhere near it.
If you have any thought that you might get ethanol fuel in your boat, carry a couple (not one) of spare fuel filter/seperators and check the fitted one at the beginning of every trip (and maybe after an hour or 2 of running if you know you have ethanol on board for the first time).
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rocko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 2010 at 3:56pm
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Well thats just bloody lovely isnt it?

not only they screwing us on fuel prices but pulling a shifty to suit the greenies as well..Thumbs Up Ermmtop stuff.Cheers for the heads up guys
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote graham 99 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2010 at 12:20am
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thank's for the warning
be going to gull until the others get there act together

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote RC1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2010 at 7:53pm
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Only use the 91 at Gull, don't use the high octane G Force 10
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote tropic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2010 at 8:26pm
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Mobil are also doing a trial in Wellington of Ethanol blend, just pulled up at Kilbirnie Mobil the other day to fill tote tank and the attendant on the loudspeaker "this is not good for boat"... check it out http://www.mobil.co.nz/mobilcard/ethanol.html
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote felixx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2010 at 8:51pm
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hmmmmm barstools!
Originally posted by TG

LMAO felixx, you a sick puppy! hehe
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Bruce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 2010 at 9:23pm
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Tagit, can you comment on makeup etc on diesel fuels as well?
This is a genuine ask and no way will you be held accountable.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MR D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 8:16am
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Originally posted by RC1 RC1 wrote:

Only use the 91 at Gull, don't use the high octane G Force 10
Our local gull's 91 is blended ethanol as well
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Work_Smart_Not_Hard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 9:06am
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Its like changing from leaded fuel all over again. Rubbers breaking down etc...
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Bazzman58 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 10:54am
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Ethanol blended fuels - suitability

Petrol blended with ethanol is now available at petrol stations around New Zealand. This availability will increase as oil companies introduce more biofuels to meet the sales targets mandated by Government.

Petrol blended with ethanol, of up to 10% can legally be sold in New Zealand as long as the fuel pump is labeled to show that ethanol has been added to the petrol.

We all have one that got away..
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Murph Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 2:43pm
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Tagit Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 3:13pm
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Originally posted by Bruce Bruce wrote:

Tagit, can you comment on makeup etc on diesel fuels as well?
This is a genuine ask and no way will you be held accountable.
Short answer is no! I have several diesel boats and a diesel car. Most have post 2000 engines in them, but I would still be worried about putting 'biodiesel' through them until there are more 'real world' results available. The E10 petrol has been used extensively in the US for a few years now and the impact on outboards and boats is widely documented and info is easy to find. Biodiesel blends have not been so widely used yet in marine applications as far as I know, so it will take time, and possibly a few horror stories, before we know what all the ramifications are. The good news is that I haven't heard too many horror stories so far, even from one of my staff who makes his own biodiesel and runs it at around 70% ratio to normal diesel in his car. For now I will keep my boats away from bio-fuels for as long as I can, and personaly, if I was running a pre-2000 engine of any sort I would not use them unless it was the only fuel available.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote CEEBEE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2010 at 1:25pm
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Intersting info lads....cheers
I STARTED THE DAY WITH NO FISH AND I STILL HAVE PLENTY LEFT
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote FreshOffTheBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2010 at 8:02pm
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My two local Gull stations have gone to Gull Regular Plus..

Did some hunting.. and it states "Do not use in marine engines"

Guess ill be filling up the totes elsewhere..  what if all fuel companies go ethanol?  is this the start of the end (of 100% mineral gasoline).. or a new beginning (filling up at topcatch)?
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote tobez Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2010 at 8:23pm
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i use normal 91 from gull no issues in 600hrs
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote DeKay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2010 at 9:13pm
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Mobil Kilbirnie attendant also told me not to use their fuel, good to see them alert to the issue.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fissure Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2010 at 9:48pm
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Haydan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2010 at 8:20am
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I'd like to know where you heard BP was putting ethanol into its fuel, I'll look into it but I highly doubt its right. It might be hard to beleave but BP is in my opinion the better of the big 4 in NZ (well big 3 now I guess although Greenstone is still pretty much Shell). If its not the case it might be a case of a shady service station doing it in which case BP might very much like to know about it. 
 
I wouldn't recomend plain Gull 91 fuel for a boat either unless you are going to be using it in short order, definitly stay away from Gull Regular Plus and Gull Force 10. I am not sure that their plain 91 is any worse or better than the others I just know its composition is slightly different to the others and that difference will certainly effect its storability. Have always wanted to get some of it tested that has been sitting in a boats toat tank for a month or so but never wanted to take the risk of having it in my toats.
 
On the Biodiesel (BD) front - Oil companies are starting to look into blending in BD into their fuels. They can legally put up to 5% BD into AGO without telling you (not sure about ethanol) however at this stage this is not occuring, BD is being used by some bus companies etc. but it is not in your service station tanks (outside of a few test stations I beleive in wellington that are sign posted as such.)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2010 at 9:25am
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I used Gull gas a couple of years ago when I had many tote tanks and a 2 stroke. The stink from their gas (using octane boosters/aromatics to get rating I understand) was enough to never ever use it again on my boat. Now I have a 4 stroke, less totes, but the headache from the Gull petrol stink Dead Reminds me of some of the crud they sell in USA.
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