Mobil fuel-ethanol
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39483
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2026 at 4:48am
Topic: Mobil fuel-ethanol
Posted By: Fissure
Subject: Mobil fuel-ethanol
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 8:34am
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There's a large Mobil service station 100 meters from a very popular boat ramp just north of Wellington. Their fuel contains ethanol, (alcohol). According to my outboards manual, this is to be avoided. This is a mighty shame indeed, especially for that Mobil station! How many other boaties actively avoid fuel with ethanol in it? Anyone had problems?
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Replies:
Posted By: JigNut
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 8:49am
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What servy is this Ritchy??
------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fans-Of-Synit-Rods/137662896327800 |
Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2009 at 8:55am
| The one at Paramata roundabout dude. I won;t be going there again myself. never occured to me, but the guy at the counter made a point of comming out to warn me as I was about to fuel up. And yes, there are signs up about not suitable for all engines or something along those lines. |
Posted By: Wide Load
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2009 at 4:09pm
| Stay well away from ethanol blends for your boat. All articles I've read say it's a bad thing! |
Posted By: Lurcher
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2009 at 10:41am
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Whats the guts with this? It seems weird to me that only this mobil
station would have ethanol in the fuel, do all mobil stations have
ethanol in the fuel and should we flag buying fuel from Mobil? I know that ethanol is bad for 2-stroke donks but I haven't heard anything in the media about ethanol in NZ fuel. I hope these robbing *****s are keeping us properly informed............... |
Posted By: Fissure
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2009 at 6:31pm
I picked up a leaflet from the offending Mobil on Ethanol blended fuel.
If you cant read it, it seems this type of fuel is being rolled out to all Mobils as we speak.
I went onto a us Honda website and on the first page it was going on about ethanol blended fuels. The stuff is bad news for 2 and 4 strokes. Stay away. This fuel attracts water and will separate in your tank! and will rot plastic and rubber seals on pistons and all throught the fuel system. It will however remove sludge but will deposit it in the worst of places for your outboard.
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Posted By: scouse
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2009 at 9:20pm
I've just found this on the Mercury web site:-
Are Mercury engines compatible with ethanol fuels?The fuel-system components of Mercury engines will withstand up to 10 percent ethanol in gasoline - the maximum level currently allowed by the EPA in the U.S. There are some efforts to establish E-20 (20 percent ethanol mixed with 80 gasoline) for use in some areas, but that will require agreement from EPA to grant a waiver. Part of the EPA waiver process will require verification from studies that demonstrate that higher levels of ethanol do not create problems with fuel-system materials or operation of hardware. E-20 has not been extensively studied by Mercury and is not acceptable for use in Mercury products. E-85 fuels must not be used in any Mercury engines and could seriously damage current Mercury products. It is not legal in the U.S. to market any ethanol fuel as gasoline if it contains more than 10 percent ethanol. http://www.mercurymarine.com/serviceandwarranty/outboardfaqs/ethanol.php#top - [top]
Will the use of fuels containing ethanol void my engine warranty?Fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol are considered acceptable for use in Mercury engines. Fuels containing higher levels of ethanol are not considered acceptable for use, and the use of fuels containing ethanol higher than 10 percent can void the warranty |
Posted By: paiman
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2009 at 1:58pm
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I have also looked into this fuel for use in my car. The manual states that it is O.K but states that the fuel has a lower energy yield. You will end up using more, and not save a bean. Also a lot of mositure issues if the fuel sits around like it can in a boat.
STAY AWAY FROM IT.
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Posted By: petethemeat
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2009 at 10:47am
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seems like it is limited to the wellington region at the moment. some 3% and some 10%. boo. stay away.
http://www.mobil.co.nz/mobilcard/ethanol.html my manual (etec) also says up to 10% ethanol is acceptable but then goes on to list all the bad things about using ethanol blends in the marine environment. Why use it if you have a choice? |