Marine Gasoline Engines & Ethanol
Watercraft that runs on gasoline has a different issue. The primary concern is the ethanol that’s blended with pump gas. Some marinas and gas stations carry ethanol-free gasoline. However, most do not.
Ethanol causes problems in starting, performance, and can lead to long-term maintenance expenses. Why is this? Firstly, ethanol is hygroscopic. In other words, it pulls the moisture out of the surrounding air inside your fuel tank. When enough water collects in the tank, a process known as phase separation takes place. It doesn’t take much water to cause phase separation. This is when the ethanol bonds with water and separates from the gasoline. The ethanol/water cocktail settles to the bottom of the tank. Moreover, phase separation takes the octane with it. The result is less effective gasoline. Secondly, the separated mixture can interfere with lubricants and potentially cause significant damage when it burns through the engine.
In 2017, Boating Magazine tested a gallon of E10 gasoline (10% ethanol). The results showed that the tested fuel turned into about three ounces of water/ethanol and 61 ounces of unusable 77-octane gasoline. To illustrate, a 100-gallon boat fuel tank would have contained nearly 1/2-gallon of the ethanol sludge based on the test results.
Another thing to consider is that pump gas breaks down and degrades in as little as 90 days. To put it another way, the chemical properties of the fuel change as it sits in your tank. As a result, deposits form in the gas. Also, ethanol is a solvent. This wreaks havoc on the internal parts in your fuel system–including degradation of plastic, rubber, and other fuel system components.
Benefits of Marine Fuel Stabilizer Additive
Owners of gasoline-powered boats and personal watercraft should use a fuel additive to protect their fuel systems against the harmful effects of ethanol. This provides fuel stability protection. They formulate many of today’s fuel stabilizers to both prevent the formation of gums and varnish and mitigate the effects of phase separation. Some of these products include lubrication to protect parts and prevent corrosion. Furthermore, they retard phase separation and keep small amounts of water in suspension.
Fortunately, VP Racing Fuels has applied nearly 50 years of fuel science to produce Ultra Marine™. It’s a fuel additive designed to protect boats and watercraft and keep their engines running like new. Ultra Marine features a MIL-SPEC all-metal anti-corrosive package, detergent package, and a strong phase separator inhibitor to stop ethanol issues and keep fuel fresh.
If you’re an owner or operator of a marina, Ultra Marine is a terrific and easy way to increase your margins. Simply purchase it in bulk and mix in into your pump gas.
Use Ultra Marine for gas engines and Diesel All In One for diesel engines. It’s a small investment that will protect your expensive watercraft and ensure fun days on the water for years to come.
