Ethanol x Ali = Corrosion.
Submitted by carnarvonite on Tue, 2010-09-07 22:30
Was talking to a pro wet liner today and he asked about the new rescue vessel we are getting built for Carnarvon and what fuels will we using.
It seems that the proposed 10% ethanol blend they are using in Queensland and New South Wales is causing corrosion in ali fuel tanks and line resulting in block filter/ injectors on the outboards and major repairs to patch or replace the tanks with stainless.
I hadn't heard of this problem before and was wondering if anyone here had experience with it.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
In the us there have been
In the us there have been alot of problems with ethanol eating fibreglass fuel tanks but you would need nearly straight ethanol to affect ali.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Ethanol is also know to
Ethanol is also know to cause problems with the regular fuel hoses.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Thats true Alfred, although
Thats true Alfred, although you would expect newer boats would have better resistance to ethanol, as its use is more widespread.
poddyfish
Posts: 986
Date Joined: 01/05/07
rescue
crikey thats just wat the doctor ordered when your out in 3-4m seas trying to do a rescue... fuel line failure or something of the sort! not good news
Fear The Spear............!
roberta
Posts: 2773
Date Joined: 08/07/08
Portside Marine
when we had a fish talk night and a few other guests at CPBA, last year brought in a expert from Mercury and he showed slides on the use of ethanol......bad bad stuff, don't use it. Forgot all the problems but they were heaps, he stated as he was also talking about car fuel tanks as well, it goes like mud at the bottom of your fuel tank from memory.
FOUND THIS ON THE INTERNET
ETHANOL AND OUTBOARD MOTORS – a refresher on the facts.
Ethanol blended petrol is not recommended for use in outboard motors for a number of
reasons which BOA has gone through in some detail in previous BOA newsletter articles
(refer December 2008 and March 2009 issues). Even NSW Maritime has posted warnings in
this regard. But because NSW legislation concerning the mandatory blending of ethanol is
starting to kick in, some boaters are expressing concern that ethanol free fuels may soon not
be available. To dispel those concerns, the following points might be useful.
1. NSW legislation requires that the minimum volumetric ethanol content of all petrol sold
in NSW is 4% and is to rise to 6% by 2011.
2. NSW legislation requires that the minimum ethanol content of all regular unleaded petrol
sold in NSW after 1 July 2011 is to be 10%
3. Higher octane grade petrol is not required to contain ethanol – provide of course that the
global volumetric targets are being met.
4. An exception to the minimum ethanol content requirement applicable to all regular
unleaded petrol, however, will apply to the sale of petrol for the fuelling of boats.
5. Federal legislation (a) limits the maximum amount of ethanol in any grade of petrol to
10% and (b) requires that all ethanol blends be labelled to indicate what percentage of
ethanol it contains – E5 (5% ethanol) or E10 (10% ethanol) for example.
So these are the rules. Going forward, there are going to be two ways to purchase ethanol free
petrol.
1. Purchase your petrol from a marina that is permitted, under the NSW legislation, to
purchase and sell ethanol free regular unleaded petrol. But, just to be sure, ask and look
out for an “E” label.
2. Take the easiest way out and simply buy a higher octane fuel that is not required to and
probably won’t (watch out for any E labelling) contain ethanol. It might be a touch more
expensive and it won’t make your motor run any faster but it will eliminate the very
serious problems that could be encountered if an ethanol blend is used.
Anton le Rutte
BOA Newsletter, March 2010
Ginger Tablets Rock
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Should we be discussing with
Should we be discussing with WA government their policy on introducing higher ethanol blends in our fuel??
Maybe they are planning to bring in the stupid rules like NSW
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
OZ Wide
You can bet you bottom dollar that E10 is going to be Oz wide within 5 years and thats going to be rotten news for all out board owners.
botti
Posts: 106
Date Joined: 24/04/10
E85
I run ethonal in my race car its great stuff allthou i dont think i would use it in a boat
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
you may want to speak to
you may want to speak to dunc (slam) about this one.
he's had to have his ally tank cut out of his boat (twice
) due quite possibly to this.
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.