Boat Maintenance

Maintenance Tip, E10 Gasoline
Over the past 15 year’s, buying gasoline was a simple transaction you selected the octane rating recommended by your marine engine manufacturer.  Now gas is changing again. The gas you buy this season at the fuel dock or gas station may not be the same as the gas you bought last year. Gasoline refineries are phasing out the use of MTBE, a toxic additive that helps oxygenate gas and reduces emissions, and replacing it with ethanol. Your car or truck will never notice the change. Your boat, however, may well.
If you boat in an area where a reformulated gasoline blend called E10 (because it contains 10% ethanol), is sold, it may be necessary to take steps to protect your engine from the effects of the switchover.
With three new Ethanol; plants two for the west coast and one for the east coast of Florida scheduled to come on stream over the next 30 months plus E10 imports from outer state now is the time to be aware of what you put in your boat’s gas tank.
To review the entire article on the potential damage reformulated E10 gasoline can do to you engine you can review the entire article in the Boat US Magazine, July addition or log on to the Boat US website at: www.boatus.com/news/reports  and open up the article Titled: Fill Up or Foul Up?
Len Harris

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