Did you know the fuel you use in your boat uses 10% ethanol. Ethanol is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water. Your boat lives in the water, not the best environment for keeping your fuel clean. 90 days is the longest period of time you can safely store your boat without using some kind of stabilizer. Stalling, vapor lock, clogged fuel filters, misfire, hesitation and surging are just some signs of a contaminated fuel system. While a whole paper could be (and has been) done on this, these are just a few of the signs of fuel trouble. Fiberglass tanks have been known to dissolve and rubber and plastic seals are also affected. Carbureted motors have the most difficulty with E10.
To avoid issues like this, always:
- Check your tank for presence of water
- Use a water separating fuel filter
- Avoid running on the bottom of the tank
- Check your fuel filter often
- If you have a fiberglass tank – replace it immediately
- Use a stabilizer like Evinrude – Johnson 2 + 4 fuel conditioner or Stabil for instance
These are a few of the things you can do to avoid problems down the road, but if you have trouble call us anytime, we are here for your boating needs!
Thanks,
Eric O’Day
The Boat Yard | 281.334.3300