HANK DEWALD /HERALD STAFF WRITER

hank dewald | daily herald This fuel sample was taken from a boat being serviced at Davis Marine in Roanoke Rapids. It shows fuel that has absorbed so much water that “phase separation” has taken place, with the alcohol, water and impurities settling to the bottom. Using this fuel could cause serious engine damage. Advertisement

LAKE GASTON - Ethanol blend gasoline, or E-10 as it is called, is being sold almost everywhere these days, but in North Carolina you may be filling up with it without even knowing it, which might cause major problems for boat owners.

Gasoline suppliers receive federal credits for selling it and local retailers, who are financially strapped even as the large oil companies report record high earnings, need it to feature competitive pricing at local stations.

According to Jeff Stallings, of Stalling Brothers in Wendell and owner of the new Pit Stop gas station on the north side of Lake Gaston, ethanol is a good and well proven product. His company delivers it all over the area, but because of problems in the marine environment he does not sell it at The Pit Stop.

The problem for boaters is that retailers in North Carolina are not required to post signs on the gas pumps that tell buyers whether or not they are purchasing E-10 gasoline.

For most automobiles, ethanol poses no problems other than a slight reduction in engine performance and fuel mileage. Some boats, on the other hand, can have major problems using ethanol.

Most of the problems come from the fact that many boats are not used on a regular basis. They may sit for weeks at a time. The ethanol, which is actually alcohol, attracts water, almost like a magnet. It will draw moisture from the air in a fuel tank and fuel delivery system.

Alcohol is also a very good solvent, which attacks any impurities that have built up in an older fuel system, freeing them to enter the carburetor or fuel injection systems of marine engines. Once enough impurities and water builds up, engines will not start.

Even worse for some boaters is the fact that ethanol is very corrosive and can actually destroy a fiberglass fuel tank, which are also found on many older boats.

The marine industry knows the E-10 blend is here to stay and has been working hard to overcome the fuel related issues. Most newer boats come equipped with a special 10-micron water separating fuel filter that separates water from the fuel lines and only compatible fuel tanks are being used. Unfortunately, very few outboard motor-driven boats built before 2006 have the new filter system.

Several local marine repair shops report a large increase in fuel related service issues. Steve Evans, of Davis Marine and Fred Coates of Fred's Boats, both in Roanoke Rapids, pointed out ever-increasing service requests related to the problem. Both showed fuel samples taken from local boats that showed obvious signs of fuel separation and a build up of impurities.

“In addition to the fuel delivery system problems, we've actually seen engine intake valves with rust on them, which is a definite indicator of water in the engine,” said Evans.

Coates pointed out that most larger inboard/outboard propulsion systems are required to have a check valve installed in the fuel system and that is a point where impurities build up and cause problems for those boats.

According to Charles Glen, a mechanic at Fred's, “It's a ‘sitting issue.' Boats are sitting for a long time and many are sitting in a boat lift over water. The ethanol just attracts all that moisture and attacks rubber fuel lines and tanks.”

Coates provided a service bulletin issued by Honda Marine that states, “Fuel deterioration is a significant issue affecting carbureted engines. Current gasoline formulations have a limited shelf life when exposed to heat and air, and can deteriorate in just 3 to 4 weeks. You cannot avoid the problem, but you can prevent it easily and inexpensively” by using a fuel stabilizer in the fuel.

Glen said Honda and Yamaha originally claimed fuel injection systems (used on all newer boats) were not affected by the fuel problem, but have now seen problems with those systems as well.

Another marine industry heavyweight, Mercury Marine, noted significant problems caused by the use of ethanol. “If significant amounts of water are present in a fuel tank with gasoline that contains ethanol, the water will be drawn into the fuel until the saturation point is reached for the three-component mixture of water plus gasoline plus ethanol.

Beyond this level of water, phase separation could cause most of the ethanol and water to separate from the bulk fuel and drop to the bottom of the tank, leaving gasoline with a significantly reduced level of ethanol in the upper phase.

If the lower phase of water and ethanol is large enough to reach the fuel inlet, it could be pumped directly to the engine and cause significant problems.

Even if the ethanol water phase at the bottom of the tank is not drawn into the fuel inlet, the reduced ethanol level of the fuel reduces the octane rating by as much as 3 octane numbers, which could result in engine problems,” according to the frequently asked questions section on Mercury's Web site.

Mercury says all new Mercury marine products are compatible with the new fuel blends.

What can consumers do?

Number one, if a consumer's boat is newer than a 2006 model, they probably have to do nothing. Otherwise, Coates and several other local dealer/repair shop owners recommend using a fuel stabilizer in every tankful of gas to help prevent phase separation in the fuel system.

John Stefura Jr., of Lake Gaston Sales and Service, said most of the perceived ethanol problems are just hype. “We haven't seen any increase in fuel related problems. They have always been there and a good fuel stabilizer will prevent most of the problems before they start.”

Coates and Glen of Fred's and Evans of Davis all insist there are problems and say they can be very serious for owners of older boats. Fiberglass fuel tanks must be changed, fuel lines must be checked regularly and a good 10-micron water separating filter system should be retro-fitted and checked for water regularly.

The water separating fuel filter kits are available at both Fred's and Davis Marine, and can be installed at either shop or by the customer.

Until North Carolina begins requiring signs on gas pumps saying whether or not ethanol is in the gasoline being sold, all boaters should assume that it is an ethanol blend they are buying, Coats said.

He goes on to recommend boaters purchase the best fuel they can buy. “By saving a few cents at the pump, you may be costing yourself dearly. I recommend using only “upper tier fuels” and have seen the difference they can make in my own vehicles, both in increased performance and fuel mileage.”

“Whenever we see fuel related problems, we make a habit of asking the owners where they buy their gas. What we have seen is a definite trend for cheaper fuels causing the most problems,” Coates added.