FISHING
DAVE BROWN
Tips on getting there Ethanol and your boat
A considerable amount of information
has already appeared in Bounder about the negative impact of using ethanol gas mixtures in your small engines. But now that it’s Spring, this is a reminder that you should be purchasing ethanol-free gas for use in your outboard motor, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or motorcycle. Most gas stations in the Ottawa area
offer ethanol-free gas in their high octane mixtures (91+). But remember, not all high octane fuel mixtures are created equally. So check with your local gas station to ensure they offer an ethanol-free solution before filling up. Distilled corn bi-products used for the
14 BOUNDER MAGAZINE
production of ethanol alcohol, when mixed at an ethanol-to-gas ratio of 10 per cent (E10), may be compatible with your car’s fuel system, but that combination is not good for most outboard motors, ATVs, generators, lawn mowers, motorcycles, or other small engine fuel components. And even though gas prices have recently
stopped escalating, corn growers in North America continue to promote the creation and use of higher ethanol gas blends such as E15. This combination will increase the damage caused to older outboard motors and those that are not conditioned for ethanol use greater than the E10 specification. Ever since the E10 ethanol gas mixture
was introduced to the market, boaters have often experienced problems with their engines and fuel systems. The long-term dangers of ethanol use are varied, including the deterioration of engine components, rusting and fuel contamination. For some scientific reason, ethanol seems to attract water. This condition will eventually cause
severe engine damage if you do not take remedial action to prevent the situation. Or you will experience performance issues such as increased stalling, misfiring, hesitation, or difficulty maintaining a consistent boat speed. And, since ethanol is a good cleaning agent, it will clean the oil right off the internal components of a two-stroke engine,
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