New Gasoline - Too many problems

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Mar 26, 2011
3,968
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Automotive systems are not so much sealed from the air as they are vented through carbon; the carbon removes most of the moiture from the air. The explaination is longer, but that is the effect. And of course, with the exception of collectors, cars don't sit idle.

Begining this year there is a phase-in of carbon canisters for boats with built-in tanks. Do they work? I've been doing a bunch of testing, and the answer is not so much. But there are products that do, for those of use that would consider a refit.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/03/carburetor-vent-canister.html
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/03/gasoline-tank-vent-filters-better-boat.html
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/02/gasoline-filtration-complete-overkill.html
 
Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
Thinwater...Thanks

Much clearer after reading your links. What was puzzling me was after the winter my 20HP yamaha I have on a small skiff had what looked like pure water when I drained the carb. Since belief in alchemy went away many years ago I couldn't understand the mechanism that the residual fuel in the bowl would change in this way. Your discussion of evaporation of the volatiles makes a lot of sense, As the fuel evaporates leaving behind the bad stuff and if the system is still pressurized (didn't remove the fuel line) so new fuel enters to fill the void from evaporation, and the cycle continues until just water is in the bowl. So it seems the best bet for storage is remove fuel line run it until it stalls, then drain the carb and internal fuel filter (empty the fuel system completely on the motor). Pour remaining gas in tank into truck. In spring fill with fresh fuel, pressurize system, maybe use the carb drain to drain off any residue or fuel remnants from storage to get good fresh fuel in the system, then start and run it. I've added a water separating fuel filter to the system to help with any crud in the tank, will keep an eye on that to see what develops in the water collection bowl.
Thanks again.
 
Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
we must have better E-10 on long island because i just do not have any significant problems even keeping it over the winter
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
we must have better E-10 on long island because i just do not have any significant problems even keeping it over the winter
I dido that, here in Elkton MD, never had any problems. I'm even still running last years fuel in my outboard, starts right up, runs fine.
I do not leave the external fuel tank in the sun, after use.
 

JVB

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Jan 26, 2006
270
Schock Wavelength 24 Lake Murray, SC
Aviation gas clogs catalytic converters

Just a word of caution about 100LL (low tetra-ethyl lead 100 octane aviation gas), don't put any in your car or truck. If the vehicle has a catalytic converter the lead will accumulate in the catalyst and restrict exhaust flow.
 
May 4, 2005
4,062
Macgregor 26d Ft Lauderdale, Fl
I have a 1971 2 carb car, that is rarely driven... even with stabil, its a problem after 90days.

-MaineSail: does he need leaded gas? (AV110)

or will straight gas work?
http://pure-gas.org/

in fla, there are a few gas stations selling AV gas to airboaters...
(for typically not air worthy engines, but fine for frogging.)


the other option is race tracks. circle or whatever... most sell GAS on site... (for a price)
 
Jan 26, 2008
50
Hunter 31- Deale
Ethanol Issues/Cure

Not true you can buy LL100AV fuel. There is no ethanol. The ethanol absorbs water that reacts with the aluminum in the bowl of the carb. It is that aluminum oxide that plugs up the idle jets. Not the jet that you can see when you look down the venturi but the one that is internal.
Things that you can do to help with regular ethanol gas is to keep your tank topped off to prevent water in the air from being absorbed into the gas. Another thing you can do is drain the carb after use. Don't use the carb drain but simply run the gas out of the carb by disconnecting your fuel and run the engine while flushing it out at the wash station. Its amazing how long it takes to run the fuel out.
Anyway thats my 2 cents worth.

I have a Honda 1000 generator, a snow blower, a new lawn mower. I agree using a fuel stabilizer; run engine to flameout when it will not be used for a long period of time or for sure end of season. If you have a rough runner or hard to start I recommend a product called "Mechanic in a Bottle". I got it at Home Depot. You add some to the tank - run it for five minutes - shut it down wait for it do do its stuff (a hour), restart and run the engine. It cleans the "jets". I learned about this at our marina - from those with small outboards, and generators.
 

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
yesterday I was playing with our generator - a 900w inverter unit that is a clone of a Honda. I got it for an insanely low price; it sits at home as a mostly unnecessary standby. I generally pull it out and run it every couple of months. Despite using 0% ethanol and stabilant, I guess gas just gets old period. it wouldn't idle nicely and stalled frequently.

So today I bought new gas and some Seafoam. After a brief warm-up... it's fine again. Gonna try it on the next tank of boat gas. My thanks to the forum for telling us about this stuff.
 

Zaphro

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Mar 20, 2008
101
Catalina 34 Mayport
Alcohol is water soluble, not a problem in fuel systems that are sealed or where there is a frequent turn over. If it sits and there is condensation., there will be problems.
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
yesterday I was playing with our generator - a 900w inverter unit that is a clone of a Honda. I got it for an insanely low price; it sits at home as a mostly unnecessary standby. I generally pull it out and run it every couple of months. Despite using 0% ethanol and stabilant, I guess gas just gets old period. it wouldn't idle nicely and stalled frequently.

So today I bought new gas and some Seafoam. After a brief warm-up... it's fine again. Gonna try it on the next tank of boat gas. My thanks to the forum for telling us about this stuff.
SeaFoam is the only product I've actually had do ANYTHING in terms of a noticeable improvement...... I just used it in my Honda EU2000 which gets used very infrequently. It was running like crap, dumped in some SeaFoam and in 4-5 minutes it was purring like a kitten. Not the first time I have seen this happen either. The generator had been running for over an hour but very poorly. SeaFoam added and smooth....... Nothing, and I mean nothing I have tried has done anything similar. Techron, Gumout, Stabil, Startron, etc. etc. the only one I have actually seen do anything is SeaFoam... Don't think it helps stabilize but it does seem to have some cleaning properties...
 
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