Ethanol vs premium

[flathead]

maybe this will help http://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=MN

[chris-p]

Jerry, what the heck is that stuff!? 🙂
Not from Seafoam or ethanol fuel in my opinion. Likely junk in the fuel line, which the ethanol fuel and seafoam cleaned out and pushed into the carb perhaps? Like I believe, ethanol gas and seafoam are both great cleaners. I don’t think they should be blamed though for doing their job, if the fuel system is dirty. Just my thoughts, you were there, and are far more experienced than myself. I have seen junk like that come off the inside of the cheap grey fuel lines before however?

A friend of mine spoke about e fuel like it was satans brew. I did a mechanical rebuild on a motor, rebuilt carb, changed fuel lines, etc… then pumped the fuel system up with mix, and let it sit for six months with stabilizer in his shed. After winter, she Fired right up, it took that much of an experiment to change his mind set on it.

I think this type of discussion will never be solved, same as the great oil debate. I think if you find a system that works for you, go with it, and keep on boating.

[jerry-ahrens]

I don’t see how any of that came from the fuel line. If you look at the lower right corner of the fuel bowl, you can see the small fuel screen [filter] I was speaking of. There is no way that stuff could have made it through there. I don’t know for sure what that stuff is, I only know that the owner uses ethanol along with Sea Foam. This motor is a sail boat kicker, and runs off a portable tank. I’m surprised to hear that ethanol works good for some, but not for me. I can tell you several stories like this one.
I have one of those 1 gallon gas jugs for my weed eater. I fill it once a month or so, and add oil to it so it’s ready to use. When I used to use ethanol, I noticed after a week the gas smelled bad like it was already stale. I don’t notice this at all now that I switched over.
I guess I’ve just seen to much damage to fuel systems, so I avoid the stuff. I work on this stuff 5 days a week, and have seen some weird stuff! Or, maybe ethanol in Missouri is worse than in other areas?

[beerman57]

Kind of looks like water in the gas and allowed to dry and sit for a long time. Is that a steel bowl?

[chris-p]

Yeah bad gas maybe?

[jerry-ahrens]

I’m gonna go back and reinstall the carb, later this week. I’ll check the fuel line and tank to see if I can find a problem. I’ll report back my findings so stay tuned.

[vintin]

I had at one time an old fuel tank that seems to be dissolving and plugging up an inline fuel filter. The tank was meant to be installed below deck and I’m guessing it was from the seventies. The filter was designed to protect a fuel injected motor. I believe ethanol may have been the culprit. Maybe something like that is being deposited in the carb.

[fisherman6]

The bad part of the ethanol blend is when the ethanol starts to pick up water. If it gets used up before that happens you probably won’t notice any issues as long as the rubber is compatible and you don’t have an original cork float. The water and ethanol seem to combine and become corrosive. When it sits the problems seem.to start. I have had a number of 4 stroke carbs look just like that one. They are very difficult or impossible to clean. I’m no expert but I avoid ethanol in my small engines that sit any length of time. I use Sta-Bill but have not tried the ethanol treatments out there yet. They might be great but I can’t say.
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[beerman57]

Before you connect the fuel line to the carb – with gas that is known to be good – flush the fuel hoses, filter bowl with this good gas, so you’re not just putting bad gas back in your clean carb.

[david-bartlett]

I take a simple approach to this "problem". I use the cheap gas. If it is a motor that sees regular use, I just keep using it. If it isn’t, I drain the fuel out when I put it away.

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