Ethanol Fuel Issues

[Chuckbear]

The EPA is about to move for an increase in the Ethanol levels for fuel without further testing to determine the affects on marine engines. If you have a concern you can make your voice heard by going to
http://capwiz.com/nmma/issues/alert/?alertid=13199386
Chuck

 

[tommays]

Its really the farmers we are FIGHTING which makes it a PITA becasue they get the PITY vote

 

[Chuckbear]

I agree but the farmers did not have to pay the last repair bill on my outboard because of the ethanol. I don't think anyone is saying it is a bad thing, there just needs to be more testing done to see how it affects marine engines. It is not difficult or unheard of to use mixed blends for land and marine use. Chuck

 

[sailingdog]

Unfortunately, it really isn't even the farmers who are benefitting, but large AGRIBUSINESS... most farms aren't family owned nowadays...the majority are run by a few large agricorps...

The real problem with ethanol-blend gasolines in a marine environment is that the fuel is far more susceptible to water absorption, due to the hygroscopic nature of alcohol. If the water content reaches about 0.5%, the alcohol and water will separate from the gasoline, leaving you with an 82 octane fuel that has a layer of alcohol/water on the bottom of the tank and that can easily damage the engine.

 

[tommays]

One of the things i have learned from trailering a powerboat between Long Island and Lake George Ny a LOT which has REAL gas

Most people dont realize just how big a differance E-10 makes in a BAD way

 

[sailingdog]

Yeah, you do lose a bit of fuel economy with the E10 blended gas...

One of the things i have learned from trailering a powerboat between Long Island and Lake George Ny a LOT which has REAL gas

Most people dont realize just how big a differance E-10 makes in a BAD way

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If it bothers anyone to use E10 gas, just buy avgas if you are not lucky enough to live someplace whenre E-free fuel is available roadside.

 

[Ray T]

Didn't I read somewhere that the demand for corn for ethanol drove up the price of food not only in this country but in the third world? They had a very hard time with this increase in food costs.

 

[sailingdog]

Yes, because any corn that is turned into alcohol is no longer available for food use—making the supply of food-corn smaller.

Didn't I read somewhere that the demand for corn for ethanol drove up the price of food not only in this country but in the third world? They had a very hard time with this increase in food costs.

 

[catsailor]

And the EPA has known this since 1995....

Unfortunately, it really isn't even the farmers who are benefitting, but large AGRIBUSINESS... most farms aren't family owned nowadays...the majority are run by a few large agricorps...

The real problem with ethanol-blend gasolines in a marine environment is that the fuel is far more susceptible to water absorption, due to the hygroscopic nature of alcohol. If the water content reaches about 1.5%, the alcohol and water will separate from the gasoline, leaving you with an 82 octane fuel that has a layer of alcohol/water on the bottom of the tank and that can easily damage the engine.

http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/fuels/rfg/waterphs.pdf
The above article accurately describes the problems with e-10 separation.

E-20 will be twice as bad.

And the EPA, curiously, has little to say about it anyway. It's the issues, not the facts. Ethanol also makes air emissions worse because it increases vapor pressure, but I could start a whole nother thread on that. The EPA doesn't want it. They got stuck with it.

I do wonder, though, since MANY engines, both auto and marine, are not EPA certified for it, if it can LEGALLY be made retroactive. I think there may be some interesting challenges, since they cannot require your car to pass emissions tests if you cannot by the EPA required fuel....

Let the jousting begin.