10% Ethanol - To Fill or Drain??? 4 Winter...

[safetynut]

I just bought my 2000 Checkmate Persuader and I was really concerned about the 10% ethanol fuel in my area. I called Mercury direct and I also spoke to all of the major marina's that have mercury certified technicians and all gave me the same advice - FILL YOUR TANK FULL BEFORE WINTERIZATION USE A FUEL STABILIZER... AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. In my boat (as with most) it's impossible to get ALL of the fuel out - not to mention dry tanks and sumps are not very good for the engine and components.

I am crossing my fingers for Spring start up and hoping I don't have the problems with phase seperation and gelled fuel in the tank. Mercury seems to think I'll be fine as does some of the largest boat maintenance shops/marinas in my area - but I still worry. So here I sit with 50+ gallons of 93 octane Amoco fuel in my boat with the best fuel stabilizer I could find and a professional winterization complete - still crossing my fingers and hoping for a happy Spring.

 

[safetynut]

Question on Ethanol

Are any 454 checkmate owners doing anything different? Anyone had a bad experience with full tanks over winter?

 

[JW]

I avoid gas stations with alcohol added for both my cars and my boats. In fact, just tonight I was disappointed to see the closest station to me had switched from straight gas to blended. I don't usually use them anyway, I dont like to support Hugo. The alcohol gas gives worse gas mileage and less power. Up here in Michigan, I have the luxury of many stations without blended fuels.

If I had to use 10% though, I'd do just what you did. Top her off with a known good Stabilizer blended in and hope for the best.

 

[vinny p.]

In my humble opinion... the amount of fuel you leave in your tank for 1 winters worth of storage, wont make a difference. Of course, adding stabilizer to the fuel will only help. Even that, is not all that important for a 5-6 month lay up. I know there are guys who will disagree but here are my reasons for saying so. I supervise 2 major auto and light truck repair facilities for the NYPD. Between the 2 shops, I am responsible for 2300 vehicles. Along with that, I am responsible for getting a percentage of vehicles started and running that have been impounded for various reasons. Many of these vehicles are layed up in impound yards for years. I cant recall any incidence where a vehicle that was layed up for only a year or 2, exibited any fuel related issues at all. No fuel stabilzer was ever added to them. They simply fire right up. I have seen fuel go bad in vehicles that have been layed up for several years. Another thing to add.. many of these vehicles are stored in a yard parrallel to the east river, just feet from salt water. That is what worries me more than fuel spoiling. The natural attraction of water to ethanol. Even so, if you think about it, our fuel is made with 10% ethanol. A 50 gallon tank only has 5 gallons of ethanol. How much water will it attract in a few months? I really dont know for sure, but my guess is not that much.
For my personal use, I always add Stabil Fuel stabilzer in everything from my lawn equipment, to my snow blower, to my boat. You can never be to careful with our expensive toys.

 

[PayCheck]

I have to agree with the big V - the 1974 Checkmate in the pic has never had fuel stabilizer added and I'm still running the original, metal-seamed tank. It's been treated well since '90 when we built the heated garage, but stood out in the cold all winters before that, and I just added some fresh stuff to the existing - always started.

 

[sawcat]

Here's a link to PRI.It's a whole lot more than just a stabilizer.Check it out

http://www.priproducts.com/

 

[safetynut]

Safetynut's Checkmate "Off-Meds" Yorktown, VA

Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. I hope more members will read and share their tips for dealing with Ethanol blended fuel. Here are a couple of points to remember about Ethanol Blended fuels:

1) Boats are far different than vehicles when it comes to Ethanol because boats are vented to "air" through the gas cap. Ethanol attracts water and can pull from the humidity in air or from condensate. Over time the fuel can become "saturated". Which leads to #2 - -

2) Once Ethanol blended fuel becomes "saturated" it forms a gel. This is referred to as "phase seperation" and Mercury has a technical bulletin on the subject. Phase seperation is not reversible you can't mix it back up and hope for the best. Ethanol also acts as a solvent and will remove varnish from fuel lines, the gas tank, and fittings - all of this ends up sucked into you filters and your engine.

3) Older boats (older than 2000) should be retrofitted with newer filters (I think it's 10 micron filters vs. the 28 micron filters. It is also adviseable to consider a fuel water seperator if you aren't already running one.

Finally, I'll say this... I'm running a fuel injected 454 and I've done all of the above and I'm still really worried about the Spring start up. Mercury and the local shops seem to be "learning on the fly" about this new fuel and the potential detrimental effects on marine engines. Forums like this are the best way to spread info and best practices. Thanks again to all who took the time to add to this forum.

 

[BUKKAKIBLASTER]

Hello,I have stored 1997 280ZT 502MPI Every year with full & 1/2 tanks & added Stabile stabilizer every year when put away & have never experienced any fuel issues & always runs great when put in the spring.I do always try to use non blended gas,but when I do need fuel away from home I get what I can.

 

[smallblockford]

fuel tank has a seperate vent and i have seen it get warm in the mid of the year and gas comes out of vent then when it gets cold you still will have room for water to get in.

i have been winterizing boats for yrs and yes the gas just keeps geting worse.

i say use up as much of it as you can run stabil

change the water seperater after the first run of the yr

and get fresh gas at the begining of the yr.

 

[smallblockford]

be careful of winter blend fuels towards winter they have more alcohol