Gas Tank Issues?

[csvencer]

Poly wasn't so much an issue as the fiberglass tanks in some older boats. The ethanol was breaking down the resin and clogging everything up.

-Svence

[spareparts]

the thing I can't figure is they have been putting ethanol in fuel since the 80's. Thats what caused a lot of OMC's oil injection issues( not all of them though) and promted OMC and all the other manufactures to use ethanol resistant fuel lines adn engine components. Its only recently that they have been putting the E10 sticker on the tanks, theres no telling how much they had been using, leagally they could have been using 9% and not posting it. Some areas of the country have been using ethanol enhaced fuel for years. Now that the pumps get the little stickers, we have to buy all these chemicals that we've not needed before. I've seen ethanol blamed for every type of neglect and missuse casued failure you could think of. As far as the fuel hose goes, anything in an I/O or Inboard has to use USCG type A1, while outboards can get away with B1 fuel lines which both are required to be ethanol resistant adn have been for a niumber of years. AS far as your tank goes, if it was made in teh 80's or newer, you should be fine

[bcmarinamanager]

I don't think very many places have been using ethanol at any level. And it doesn't take a big increase for ethanol to do some real damage to a fuel system. The marinas here don't sell the E10 stuff, but so many people buy gas on the way to their boats it is starting to have an affect on boats with glass tanks. I've had several people at the marina with older Whalers that are having some engine trouble now b/c of the old fiberglass tanks they have. Most are just replaceing the old tanks with the new poly's that fit right under their seats just like the stock ones.

[spareparts]

believe me, there has been ethanol in your gas for a long time, especially in large urban areas. They don't have to post it for percentages under 10%. Back when they first started using it, (in the 80's) we would take carbs apart and the gaskets would be so swolen they would close off passages. The inside of fuel lines would turn to tar. I lived in Raleigh for most of my life, back in the mid 80's I worked at a Gulf station on Six Forks, we would get all kinds of notices about ethanol content in the fuel from the suppliers

[bcmarinamanager]

Really? Wow, I've gotta say that's a surprise to me.