www.iFourWinns.com

Any one using specific additives with the Ethanol fuels this year?

I have seen several ads and mention of the following:

http://www.startron.com/stretch.php?sec=4

Any opinions

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Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

I was at a seminar this winter sponsored by my marina and one of the guest speakers was a fuel engineer. His comment on Startron was that it had absolutely no active ingredients. According to him, it is basically a marketing scheme with no actual benefit.

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07 Tiara Sovran 4300
07 338 Vista - SOLD

Thanks for your report

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Jeff

2006 Four Winns Yellow Horizon 30th Anniversary 200 SS
2005 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
2004 Ford F-150 Lariat

http://www.seabrook-services.com

Is there an alternative fuel conditioner that you should be using to combat the effects of ethanol during the boating season?

My understanding (which I'll admit is limited) is that the fuel is fine in terms of combustion, it's the long term effects on hoses etc. that's of concern. I say add fuel, then burn fuel as fast as possible. In other words, limit the exposure of hoses etc., to ethanol fuels during actual boating, rather than storing it 'topped off'. Maybe even shut off fuel flow to the engine to burn up the fuel in the lines each time?

One other thought is that use of ethanol should make one less relaxed about the fuel system, which can be a good thing. Check and re-check. Too easy for dockside boaters like me, to get in the habit of hopping in and and firing it up. Not anymore, I plan on visually checking the bilge before engaging the blower, then sniff checking the blower exhaust prior to firing up the engine.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

For the last 6 months I have been designing and building ethanol systems for a petroluem company. One thing I have learned is that ethanol is a great cleaning agent and can be very destructive. We use special gaskets and seals on our ethanol systems. The ones that are typically used for gasoline or diesel systems will get eaten by ethanol. I guess that since ethanol is only 10 percent of gasohol and automobiles don't seem to have a problem with it boats should be fine as well. I'm sure that the 10 percent ethanol will not have nearly the effect on things like 100 percent ethanol does. I do agree that a visual inspection and a little blower time before starting the engine is a good habit to get into.

Just yesterday I was reading the Volvo Penta owners manual for my engine. They had a section on use of ethanol enhanced fuels. It said depending on the boat manufacturer's guidelines, gasoline with up to a 10% ethanol mix can be used. Of course they go on to caution that the engine may run much leaner given the same octane rating.

The manual also had a warning to never to use fuels containing methanol, along with a statement that use of fuels containing methanol will void the warranty.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP