| E-10 (Ethanol) in Gasoline and Where to Find Non-Blended Gas |
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| Panel OKs Bill Allowing Stations to Offer Ethanol-Free Gas |
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Oregonian Newspaper -Reported by Scott Learn
Oregon gas stations would be allowed to offer high-octane gasoline without ethanol under a bill unanimously approved by the House environment and water committee on April 28.
Since January 1, 2009, stations statewide have been required to sell only gas that contains 10 percent ethanol. That requirement was passed by the 2007 Legislature at the urging of Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
But legislators from both parties say they've heard complaints about reduced mileage and engine and fuel system damage from ethanol, particularly to systems in boats, airplanes and older model cars.
House Bill 3177 is designed to give consumers an ethanol-free option at 91-octane or above, though it's unclear how many stations would ultimately offer it.
Many stations get their 89-octane blend by mixing premium and lower-octane gasoline. Those stations couldn't easily use ethanol-free premium gas because the resulting 89-octane blend, still subject to the 10 percent ethanol requirement, wouldn't have a high enoough ethanol content.
The bill now moves to the House floor.
What the Marine Board is Doing
Throughout the legislative process, the Marine Board's Director, Paul Donheffner has been actively engaged in representing the views of boaters with blended fuel.
Because we are working closely with the Department of Agriculture, we will continue to receive updated information about retail gas stations and distributors who are dispensing non-blended fuel. The list below on the page is continuously updated as new information is received.
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| EPA Seeks Comments on Ethanol Increase -Extended to July 20, 2009 |
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Marine Industry Opposes
Let your voice be heard! The Marine Board encourages boaters to submit comments about the proposed blended gasoline increase. Ethanol absorbs water and as boaters know, water is bad for engines, and impossible to avoid with a boat!
Boaters have until July 20, 2009 to comment on the EPA proposed rulemaking. Click here for the official notice. Submit your comments identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211, by one of the following methods:
- http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
- Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
- Mail: Air and Radiation Docket, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6122T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington DC 20460.
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The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comments on a proposal to increase the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to 15 percent, a move opposed by many in the marine industry.
Click here to learn more...
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| What Boat Owners Need to Know! |
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Background, Precautions and Water Hazards
E10 is increasing in popularity for two main reasons: our nation’s fuel demand, and our environmental awareness. Ethanol can be produced domestically; it performs as an effective oxygenate, reducing harmful emissions such as benzene. It doesn’t contaminate groundwater the way the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) can.
For the marine industry, though, ethanol raises some issues. Ethanol is a solvent that doesn’t mix well with the additive MTBE fuel in some tanks. Combining MTBE with E10 scours fuel systems, overburdening filters, breaks down fiberglass fuel tanks and rapidly absorbs water from atmospheric humidity. The result is a brief shelf life. Adopting E10 into fuel is changing the way gasoline-powered boats are maintained, serviced, used and even constructed.
The good news is that there are many ways to protect boats, owners, builders, and repairers from the potential hazards of the switch to ethanol.
PRECAUTIONS FOR BOAT OWNERS USING E-10 GASOLINE
- Run a non-alcohol fuel stabilizer in your boat’s fuel system at all times. Recommended for engines that sit for a lengthy period.
- The more use the boat gets, the less likely it is to have problems.
- *If you winterize your boat and don’t plan on using it for a while, keep your tank 95% FULL to prevent any condensation but allow room for expansion. It's important to avoid water intrusion into your fuel system. (See below for more detailed information on “why.”)
- Install a water-separating fuel filter.
- Keep a stock of spare fuel filters handy, and the means for safely changing them.
- Replace older weather-faded plastic portable tanks with new tanks.
- Make sure you know what your fuel retailer is dispensing.
- Rubber fuel lines older than the mid-to-late 1980’s should be inspected and may need to be replaced.
- Some older carbureted engines may require special tuning. Consult the engine manufacturer for details.
CLICK HERE to learn more specifics from Mercury Marine.
Water Hazards
Ethanol absorbs water extremely well. Marine fuel systems are very susceptible to water intrusion. E10 has the ability to absorb a certain amount of water into solution and simply allow it to be burned by the engine. Here’s the comparison: MTBE gasoline can hold about 60 ppm (parts per million) of water in solution; E10 can hold 6,000 to 7,000 ppm of water in solution. Meaning, if you have a 100 gallon (378.5 liters) tank, it could hold up to .6 - .7 gallons (2.3 – 2.6 liters) of water in solution.
The biggest problem with ethanol for an alternative is with “phase separation.” That’s what happens when the fuel is saturated beyond it’s capacity to hold water in solution. Water and gasoline actually separate, and the gasoline floats on top of the water. With MTBE you could simply pump the water out from under the gasoline, or let your filters remove the water. With E10, ethanol blends more easily with any water. When phase separation occurs in E10, the ethanol is pulled out of the gas and absorbed by water. This results in two solutions, neither of which is good for the engine or fuel system…not to mention the environment. The gasoline left behind is absent of oxygenate. The water left behind now contains a high concentration of ethanol; this solution is highly corrosive and damages any material it may come in contact with in the fuel system. The only solution for phase-separated fuel is to dispose of the entire fuel load, clean the tank, and start over with a fresh tank of E10.
E10’s ability to absorb water has yet another drawback; it can absorb water directly from the atmosphere through the vent while simply sitting in the tank. In just 100 days at 70% humidity, E10 can absorb enough water to phase-separate. The shelf life of E10 is only 60-90 days if left without treatment.
Another important fact to remember is that gasoline “oxidizes” when exposed to air. That is, it loses its volatility over time. A good non-alcohol fuel stabilizer is highly recommended at all times in your boat’s fuel. *The key is to not leave a boat for long periods of time with a large load of fuel aboard.
For more information and preventative tips, visit http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy.
Other News Related Articles
"Gas, Ethanol Not a Good Mix For Boats" by Roy Gault, Statesman Journal
"E-20, A New Ethanol Concern " from Soundings Magazine
"Trouble in the Tank" by Bill Monroe, The Oregonian
"Law Puts Biofuel Mix in Pumps" by Gail Kinsey Hill, The Oregonian
KGW Report -New Ethanol Rules Take Effect in Nine OR counties
"Ethanol's Effects Bother Boaters " -by Gail Kinsey Hill, The Oregonian
"Bill May Drain Ethanol from Off-Road Gasoline " -by Gail Kinsey Hill, The Oregonian
"Take Steps to Prevent E-10 Damage" -by Mark Freeman, Medford Mail Tribune
"Oregon Legislature Weighs Ethanol Bills" -by Scott Learn, Oregonian
"Corn Ethanol Concerns Spread to Oregon" -by Kate Gilbraith, NY Times
Join in on the conversation at www.iFish.net.
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| Where to Find Non-Blended Fuel |
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Information is continually being updated with the assistance from the Department of Agriculture.
This information can be used to help retailers find distributors and boaters to find retailers!
NOTE: Many distributors only deliver large quantities (by the barrel) to retailers, so look on the list below for a retailer near you!
*Some CFN (Commercial Fueling Network) Card locations are also listed which apply to active businesses and farms where the gasoline is used for business only, and purchase over 900 gallons of fuel annually.
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| Helpful Advice |
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Fuel Stabilizers for Gasoline
Because E-10 gasoline has a much shorter "shelf-life" than blended gasoline, Wayne Bauman, Treasurer for the Beaverton Power Squadron, recommends three different products boaters can use with E-10:
- Marine Formula Sta-Bil
- Soltron Enzyme Fuel Treatment
- Star Tron Gasoline Additive.
These products stabilize the E-10 for up to one year. They also have a petroleum distillate base instead of an isopropyl alcohol and OMC2+4 Fuel Conditioner that are recommended for regular (non-blended) gasoline.
Click here for the latest information about E-10 -Service Bulletin (Mercury Mariner)
Boat U.S. offers more detailed information about E10, winterizing, storage, and trends with ethanol blended gasoline.
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