S.O.S on ethonal gas.

[duckboat]

In my area this is the 1st year ethonal gas is now being sold year round instead of just winter time. Last years tank of gas ran great even with a small fill up but then after the next 20 gallon fill up felt a sluggish and now the hole shot sucks. Feels like a 100 hp or more is now lost and takes off like a I/O. My boat is a 09 tige 22ve v-drive 340 horse PCM. Need addatives? Other Problem?

[robert theisen]

May be the fuel filter.HOW many hours?How old is the gas in it?Does it misfire?

[duckboat]

May be the fuel filter.HOW many hours?How old is the gas in it?Does it misfire?

The end of season gas of 2010 did great at the start of this year. Just when I started filling up the problems began. 50 hours on boat. Take to PCM dealer each winter and spring. About the fuel filter don't know but only 50 hours? Doesn't seem to miss just a slug on the hole shot. Once it gets warmed up gets a little better but have to go on a 20 min boat ride with stops and starts to check on the hole shart. Never have been able to get the jet engine feel back. Also when cruising I can feel slight loss of power at times but comes back. Just feels like it doesn't have the strong feeling like it had. Gas is premium for every fill up.

[chpthril]

Doesnt sound like an ethanol problem. Its not like a poison that's lethal after one dose. Its been run in hi-way vehicles for years with no ill performance effects.

[chpthril]

Gas is premium for every fill up.

Stop using premium and use 87 oct if you can.

[duckboat]

Stop using premium and use 87 oct if you can.

Ok good thats what someone at a boat shop told me today when I was asking about addatives. Don't use the good gas because it doesn't alarm the knock sensor I was told causing the computer to think it is broken. He explained limp mode to get home but I think it has too much power for that. Addatives have mixed results and the guy told me he was not a believer in them but has a friend that runs another shop who is!?

[chpthril]

Ok good thats what someone at a boat shop told me today when I was asking about addatives. Don't use the good gas because it doesn't alarm the knock sensor I was told causing the computer to think it is broken. He explained limp mode to get home but I think it has too much power for that. Addatives have mixed results and the guy told me he was not a believer in them but has a friend that runs another shop who is!?

Its not better gas, just more expensive and designed for engines with higher compression. "Premium" as they call it, has a higher octane level, meaning it has a lower volatility rate. This means it resists heat to a higher point then lower octane fuel. Running "Premium" in an engine that doesn't require it, can actually have the opposite effects as what they advertise on TV.

Additives are great as a preventative, but do not usually cure ailments.

[duckboat]

Thanks for the help I will try the reg unleaded next fill. Gauge showed 90% full last night. Have to fill and see if it works some.

[duckboat]

Found a station in my area that sells non-ethanol gas. Going to drain some gas out of the boat and into the car then fill the boat. Hope this works and gets rid of that 1972 bayliner preformance as my friends told me how it was running the other day since the e10 is becomeing the norm around here. In away I hope it might be another little problem because if it's the ethonal my boating days are over since it sounds like all gas will have ethonal in the near future.

[Ewok]

I'm with CHP on this one, probably not a problem with ethanol in the gas but in the fuel filter. I know when ethanol first came out, it disolved and broke up some of the varnish on the bottom of tanks without ethanol. When people started putting E10 gas in their boats it would dislodge sediment and gunk from the bottom of tanks and clog the fuel delivery system. If I were you I would replace the fuel filter and keep putting E10 gas in it since its slowly taking over everywhere and maybe run a tank or two of gas treated with SeaFoam to help clean up the fuel system.

[ktm450exc]

I have the fuel injected Black Scorpion motor in my boat. Are you saying I should NOT use 92 or higher octance? I have been running 92 with 10% ethanol in my boat for years and I have yet to have a problem.

[chpthril]

I have the fuel injected Black Scorpion motor in my boat. Are you saying I should NOT use 92 or higher octance? I have been running 92 with 10% ethanol in my boat for years and I have yet to have a problem.

1st) im saying you need to run the octane level recommended by the manufacturer. Higher is ok if nothing else is available. Its not uncommon to find on the lake pumps with mid-grade octane or higher only. never run lower.

2nd) im saying its a waste of money to use the more expensive fuel just because the commercial says its better.

3rd) there's no correlation between the octane level and ethanol %. If ethanol is mandated in your area, you will find it in all the grades. There is no advantage to running the 92 w/ethanol over the 87 w/ethanol.

[bfrank]

Marine Sta-bil every tank full......no problems!

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/stabil/default.aspx

[Duncan]

Marine Sta-bil every tank full......no problems!

[Ewok]

Marine Sta-bil every tank full......no problems!

Yup!