Ethanol Free Gas Stations?

[FishingFool]

So I'm told by the previous owner of my boat, the gasoline in the tank is from the original fill up, when he bought it 4 years ago! LOL.

Right now, according to the gauge, it sits at under half a tank of gas. I've been trying to drive it around to eat up as much as it can, but it's a slow process. So far, I've had best results at Lake Tapps because that lake is huge. Can drive around at full throttle for quite a bit.

The gas itself seems to be fine. Motor runs smooth and powerful.

But once I get it drained pretty low, I would like to fill it up with ethanol free gas. I know of a station by Banks Lake, but that's a little far...

My area code is 98030.

[Anonymous]

Run the tank as low as you want then install a water/fuel seperator and add a good quality fuel treatment with each tank full and you'll be fine. Ethanol in the fuel or not.

[scott080379]

you will not find a e free gas station on land and if you please let others know.........some ports do sell e free gas but only a few as it took a long time for them to get to sell it.

Add some sea foam to your boats tank. To be honest another thing that helps keep water out of the fuel is trying to maintain a full take as much as possible.

[Big D]

Here's an article about ethanol I posted awhile back:
http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/ethanol0610.asp

And a video:
http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1738

You may find them useful.

[FishingFool]

Run the tank as low as you want then install a water/fuel seperator and add a good quality fuel treatment with each tank full and you'll be fine. Ethanol in the fuel or not.

Yeah, that's the thing. As you can see, I dont really use a lot of fuel. And really, I dont want to keep a full tank of gas in the boat. ~20 gallons. Will take forever for me to use.



The gas station that I know that has ethanol free gasoline is located at the intersection of highway 174 and highway 155, between Banks Lake And Grand Coulee.

[scott080379]

yep they will be hard to find. they are out there but very few.

[scott080379]

Some costcos don't have E10 fuel, take a trip by and see if they the stickers on the pumps (required by law).

[mav186]

Run the tank as low as you want then install a water/fuel seperator and add a good quality fuel treatment with each tank full and you'll be fine. Ethanol in the fuel or not.

Yeah, that's the thing. As you can see, I dont really use a lot of fuel. And really, I dont want to keep a full tank of gas in the boat. ~20 gallons. Will take forever for me to use.



The gas station that I know that has ethanol free gasoline is located at the intersection of highway 174 and highway 155, between Banks Lake And Grand Coulee.

a.k.a. Tim's Texaco

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that's the thing. As you can see, I dont really use a lot of fuel. And really, I dont want to keep a full tank of gas in the boat. ~20 gallons. Will take forever for me to use.

That could cause you problems. If you don't keep the tank full while in storage/not using you'll have more issues with condensation.

[Marc Martyn]

This issue is state mandated. The only exemption is aviation. If a station tells you they have ethanol free gas, they are most likely being untruthful.

http://www.e0pc.com/WA.php

[produce2troutcat]

Go to pure-gas.org. They have a list of stations in the US & Canada that may still be carrying ethanol free gas. I would suggest contacting any station first before going.

[G-Man]

Marc, is correct with his statement regarding Washington State and ethanol blended fuel. Ever the enviornmental trend setting State, in 2006 Washington had opted to make it mandatory that all gasoline sold in the State is blended with at least 2% ethanol and that the concentration was to be ramped up over time. At this time, high octane avgas, is exempt. Now in some other States, the law is worded so that if you take all the fuel sold, ethanol would make up an average of at least 2% by volume. Huge difference in that Oregon will advertise and sell non-ethanol blended fuels. I drove down the coast to California just a few weeks ago and saw signs at nearly every gas station that was near a boat launch. You can get an ethanol test kit of the internet, they are pretty cheap. It really just consists of a marked test tube in which you place fuel and water together, shake, let settle and measure. I haven't found a single station that has straight gas anymore.

Back to the topic - FF, you can take "stale" gas to your local household hazardous waste collection facility and they will dispose of it for you. I'd run it as low as you feel comfortable with and then drain the tank dry as water will tend to collect on the bottom. Once it's dry you can start fresh and if you aren't a heavy user be sure to treat it as you buy it.

[FishingFool]

Marc, is correct with his statement regarding Washington State and ethanol blended fuel. Ever the enviornmental trend setting State, in 2006 Washington had opted to make it mandatory that all gasoline sold in the State is blended with at least 2% ethanol and that the concentration was to be ramped up over time. At this time, high octane avgas, is exempt. Now in some other States, the law is worded so that if you take all the fuel sold, ethanol would make up an average of at least 2% by volume. Huge difference in that Oregon will advertise and sell non-ethanol blended fuels. I drove down the coast to California just a few weeks ago and saw signs at nearly every gas station that was near a boat launch. You can get an ethanol test kit of the internet, they are pretty cheap. It really just consists of a marked test tube in which you place fuel and water together, shake, let settle and measure. I haven't found a single station that has straight gas anymore.

Back to the topic - FF, you can take "stale" gas to your local household hazardous waste collection facility and they will dispose of it for you. I'd run it as low as you feel comfortable with and then drain the tank dry as water will tend to collect on the bottom. Once it's dry you can start fresh and if you aren't a heavy user be sure to treat it as you buy it.

I think I will do that. Get it down to about a 1/4 tank and drain.

I assume the best way to drain is just to use where the line/primer bulb is connected to?

PS, I assume this is the water seperator?

[Anonymous]

PS, I assume this is the water seperator?

Nope, that's your engines fuel filter, that one only removes particulate. Water will pass right through it.
They don't come stock with your engine.
You should be looking for something like this:

If you have any mechanical ability at all they are very easy to install. You can purchase them single or double ported. I would recommend the double ported model so that you can run filtered fuel to both your main and kicker motors. They mount in the middle of your fuel line in front of priming blub.

Here's a couple of pictures of my set up:




BOAT = Brake Out Another Thousand

[FishingFool]

Big D,

Thanks for the help. Is this where I should mount the W/S? In that pocket right in front of my motor?



I dont know the dimension of these canisters, so I dont know if there's enough room to mount it where I would like it. Rather not mount it by drilling into the transom. Or does it matter if the filter is lying down at an angle, instead of being verticle.

I believe this is what I need?
http://www.mercurypartsexpress.com/us/w ... -p241.html


I do not have a kicker motor. But it looks like the kit comes with the dual setup. Looks like I need to get spouts that screws into the bracket too? Was looking for those 90 degrees angle ones like you have on the right side of yours. But I dont know what they are called, so cant search for them.

Just to confirm I have the right path.
So gas tank.
W/S.
Primer bulb.
Then engine?


So how does this filter work? It traps the water as it passes through the W/S? And how do you know when you have water inside? Have to remove and look inside? If you have too much water, will it block the flow and prevent gas/water from going through?


Luckily, this isnt up to $1000 yet, lol. But I know, it's just a matter of time.... :money:

[Carl762]

Interesting. Bump to top. I need a fuel/water separator.

[TomD]

FF - Wow the price on those has went up... I thought West MArine would have one cheaper, but there's are $49.99, too... You might check Outdoor Emporium and see if they have them cheaper...

And yes, you have it right... the priming bulb goes on the motor side of the filter. Mine is mounted to a bulkhead right over my gas tank., then the gas line goes into the splash well where the bulb is before it hooks to the motor.

It will come with plugs for the second port... I think all I had to buy a stub section of gas line to make mine the way I wanted it (as opposed to just cutting the gas line and inserting the filter) but it was no big deal. I think all the connectors needed were in the kit from West Marine...