[Rhodes22-list] Ethanol problems

[Susan Crane]

Mary Lou,

Thanks for the advice.  I did find Jim's Marine last year and talked with
him.  They were more than happy to work on the motor if I could get it
there.  Not the easiest thing for me.  I found a gas station online in
Conowingo, MD that carries ethanol free gas.  I just called them and they do
have it. They are Crouch Automotive 410-378-5555.

Susan

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of
Mary Lou Troy
Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2017 3:56 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Ethanol problems

Hi Susan,
While Rick is right that ethanol does not build up, ethanol gas degrades
quickly, phase separates and attracts water. (the additives are supposed to
slow this) and the residue can indeed foul your carburetor.  The gas in your
can could also be bad. Did you start with fresh gas at the beginning of the
season? The fact that your motor ran perfectly for a few outings last summer
does seem to indicate a fuel problem. You might want to try a fresh can of
ethanol-free gas an see what happens.

When we had problems years ago with our Yamaha we took it to Jim's Marine in
Galena, MD. He cleaned the carb and tuned it up. He suggested that if we
wanted to keep it running that way to use ethanol free gas.  
He also said that we should NOT run the motor out of fuel (which we had been
doing) because even when you run it out, some fuel remains in the carb and
can varnish the surfaces. We started using ethanol free gas (which we could
find in Easton) and never had a bit of trouble for the 3 or 4 years after
that that we owned the boat. You might want to talk to Jim as I see on his
website, he is also a Mercury dealer and services those motors.

BTW, according to several articles I've read, E15 gas will void the warranty
on most marine engines. A better solution seems to be isobutanol which was
recently approved for marine use in Maryland and is now evidently available
at least at one place in Annapolis. 
http://www.boatingmag.com/ethanol-versus-isobutanol
Also
https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/talkofthebay/2017/4/6/bay-bulletin

Where did you find ethanol free gas? We have a much bigger outboard on Tara
but have managed so far to keep it ethanol free by bringing fuel up from
Easton or going south for filling the tank.

The best list I've found for finding ethanol free gas is
https://www.pure-gas.org/

Good luck,
Mary Lou

ex Rhodes 22
now Rosborough RF-246 Tara




On 6/18/2017 2:14 PM, Susan Crane wrote:
> I posted a query last fall about the problems I was having with my 
> Mercury outboard and received several very helpful replies that 
> basically indicated that my problems with stalling and erratic idling 
> were due to buildup of ethanol residue in the carburetor.  So I have 
> tried unplugging the gas line and letting the motor run till it stalls,
but I am still having problems.
> This is probably a silly question, but when one does that with the gas 
> line, do you leave it unplugged until the next time you use it or do 
> you reattach it after the motor stops, or does it matter?  Just in 
> case anyone wonders, I have been adding fuel treatment to the gas.  
> Next question:  I have found a local gas station which sells ethanol 
> free gas and am going to switch to that.  Will using it help clean out 
> the carburetor or do I need to have it cleaned or replaced?  I had a 
> new carburetor put in last summer and the motor ran perfectly for a few
outings before the problems recurred.
> Obviously, I know nothing about outboard motor functioning and the 
> mechanic at my marina has been less than helpful.  He doesn't seem to 
> believe that it is an ethanol issue.  I am trying to avoid buying a 
> new outboard, but am at my wits end with this.  Just the stress of the 
> motor stalling while docking takes some of the fun out of sailing.  Any
help will be greatly appreciated.
>
>   
>
> Susan Crane
>
> s/v Whimsy
>
> Bohemia River
>
> Chesapeake Bay
>
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