Fuel Degradation Ethanol vs Non Ethanol vs Stabilizer

[Craig_B]

Project Farm is a great You Tube channel I have been subscribed to his channel for quite some time.
Always very interesting.

[km1125]

Qr Bbpost What is the consensus on Diesel? I know there is no ethanol however is it as sensitive to time as gasoline? I do add diesel stabilizer however after watching this on gas I wonder how effective it really is.

Diesel is much more stable than gasoline, as it doesn't contain nearly as much of the lighter elements. The issue with diesel can be algae growth. If properly treated for that, then it can last years.

[Viper]

The 30 day rule also applies to diesel. Again, it starts to degrade as soon as it leaves the refinery. Like engine oils, oxidization is the enemy and good stabilizers are a means to slow that process down and extend the fuel's longevity. Will an engine run on old diesel? sure, but not as efficiently and is likely to contain water which in a high pressure system will start blowing injector tips off, contain. Oil companies will say that quality additives in their diesel allow for storage from 6 months to a year but that is in ideal conditions and is dependent on the supplier's practices as well. There are diesel blends now that you may not know you're getting. These biodiesel formulations contain a percentage of water to begin with so you could be fighting the water problem right from the beginning. The best defense is use the fuel up quickly and check your water separators often. And don't forget to use a biocide a couple of times a year to prevent microbial growth.

[RGrew176]

I have pretty much been in the school of filling the tank(s) prior to winter. This is my preference with inboard or I/O boats. The only exception to that for me is with an outboard powered boat. I generally run the motor till it stalls out from lack of fuel then any gas in the tanks I will run through other engines.

Since i have full or almost full tanks come spring I feel that with the full tanks you pull in less moisture. I could be wrong. But this has worked for me for over 50 years of boating. As far as fuel sitting in the marina gas tanks all winter I agree that is a possibility. I never top off in the spring until I have seen at least one delivery of new fuel, preferably two deliveries.

Again, most of the marinas in my area carry non ethanol fuel so purchasing fuel without ethanol is easy here. My boat is an 81 and the owners manual clearly states not to use a blended fuel in my boat. Of course back in 81 they used the term gasohol.

I think if it gets to the point where ethanol free gasoline is no longer available my boating days would probably end. I know that the newer boats can burn blended fuel but I would prefer to keep to the non=blended fuels.

[Midnightsun]

A little off topic but I do buy my small engine gas (snowblower, lawn mower, weed eater) at Petro Canada. Why, because their 91 octane states "no ehanol". Other wise they all say "may contain ethanol" I prefer to know it has none as opposed to maybe as this gas usually hangs around for a while, I doo always add stabill when I fill up my jug as a precaution.

[bud37]

Well, considering all this the Admiral and I are going to sell our boat to get a Voyager.



Canoe that is..... ..

[RGrew176]

I forgot in my post above that I add more than enough stabilizer when I put the boat up for the winter. I have twin 86 gallon tanks and I put in enough stabilizer for 100 gallons. Not sure if it helps the fuel at all but it seems to have worked for me for many years.

[Laserbait]

Qr Bbpost What is the consensus on Diesel? I know there is no ethanol however is it as sensitive to time as gasoline? I do add diesel stabilizer however after watching this on gas I wonder how effective it really is.

I know BioDiesel has it's own problems with organisms growing in it and clogging filters, tanks and pumps. There is a polishing process that I have heard people having to go through to clean the fuel and get the crap (literally) out of the tanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjr4xobqOx0

[Petemait]

I just paid $1100 to have my fuel tanks emptied out because of bad fuel and some water in the fuel.

The guy that did the work, told me that i should not use fuel stabilizer and that i should only fill up a little bit at a time.

So if i put about 25 gallons of fuel in each tank, and run each tank low and then go add 25 to each tank again, maybe this will work?

We only have time to use the boat about once a week. I am know unsure of whether i should take this guys advice and not add any fuel stabilizer, or if i should add a little with each fill up.

What is your opinion on fuel stabilizer during the season, or not?
Thanks,

[bud37]

Qr Bbpost What is your opinion on fuel stabilizer during the season, or not?

Do you have in your area someone ( mobile fuel truck ), that would deliver fuel to your boat at some location......maybe that way you could get the premium fuel with no alcohol/ethanol if it is still available and that would help in this case.

Did the fresh fuel help ??