Starting about a year earlier, I conducted lab tests of ~ 8 additives, measuring corrosion in e-10. I've had many carb issues over the years, but once I started using the winner (Practical Sailor 2012) I have not had a single issue. 3 outboards and 3 home engines. The winner is not who you think it is, not the brand you tried.
I am reasonably certain the problem is not ethanol specifically, but rather the corrosion that occurs when ethanol draws water. The reason the deposits are hard to remove with solvent cleaners is that they are not entirely gum but also contain aluminum corrosion products, which are inorganic and not soluble in the cleaner. A secondary issue is that the copper and zinc ions (from Zemak and brass corrosion) catalyze polymerization, creating gum many times faster. Thus, an effective corrosion inhibitor solves both problem just as well pure gas, perhaps even better, for a few pennies. Since my main engines are gas, buying Trufuel in a tin can would be quite impractical, so I had to find a better answer.
So although I think the ethanol business is poor policy and wastes tax payer money for negative environmental impact, although I think moving to e15 is even more serious (in addition to all of the above it will increase the enleanment problem) I think calling e10 "crap fuel" is an exaggeration. It doesn't bother me at all anymore, now that I know the tricks.
* Keep vents closed when possible.
* Use an effective additive (Biobor EB or Merc storage).
* A vent filter helps for larger tanks.
I am reasonably certain the problem is not ethanol specifically, but rather the corrosion that occurs when ethanol draws water. The reason the deposits are hard to remove with solvent cleaners is that they are not entirely gum but also contain aluminum corrosion products, which are inorganic and not soluble in the cleaner. A secondary issue is that the copper and zinc ions (from Zemak and brass corrosion) catalyze polymerization, creating gum many times faster. Thus, an effective corrosion inhibitor solves both problem just as well pure gas, perhaps even better, for a few pennies. Since my main engines are gas, buying Trufuel in a tin can would be quite impractical, so I had to find a better answer.
So although I think the ethanol business is poor policy and wastes tax payer money for negative environmental impact, although I think moving to e15 is even more serious (in addition to all of the above it will increase the enleanment problem) I think calling e10 "crap fuel" is an exaggeration. It doesn't bother me at all anymore, now that I know the tricks.
* Keep vents closed when possible.
* Use an effective additive (Biobor EB or Merc storage).
* A vent filter helps for larger tanks.
