Canadian Marine Parts

I thought I would write a quick article on E-10 Ethanol Gasoline used in boat engines as we are getting into spring boating and everyone will be rushing to the pumps to fill their tanks!

Gasoline has been re-formulated in recent years by the refineries, and ethanol has become a popular additive because it reduces the amount of conventional fossil fuel oil used to create your boat fuel. Ethanol is made from corn, mostly, and E-10 Ethanol has 10% ethanol.

E-10 Ethanol Gasoline Likes Water

It's great to see us using less fossil fuel in our gasoline but it does require some extra work for us boaters since water is an unavoidable issue in boat fuel.

Ethanol is Hygroscopic, which means that a molecule of ethanol will join with a water molecule and hang on to it. Water is heavier than gasoline so all these ethanol/water couplings fall to the bottom of your fuel tank. Chemists call this "phase separation".

Your fuel pump draws fuel from the bottom of the tank so at some point this ethanol/water mixture gets drawn into the engine's fuel system, and we all know how much boat engines like water!

Boat Fuel Tanks Hold Wet Air
The other problem with boat gas (that cars not tend to experience) is that it tends to sit for longer periods of time while we are doing things other than boating, like surviving our winters... Large boat fuel tanks have lots of air space in them and air holds moisture, and eventually the air passes the water to the fuel, especially if it have ethanol in it.

Ethanol and Octane
Ethanol is over 100+ Octane, giving the fuel much of its required octane rating. Unfortunately, when the water carries the ethanol to the bottom of the tank it takes the octane rating with it. The result is poor performance, knocking, pinging and possible engine damage as well. Fuel economy and power also suffer.

It doesn't end there.

Ethanol is a solvent which breaks down tar and organic sediment in marine fuel tanks, and the water/ethanol mixture will even strip any deposits of varnish or gum that have built up in your tank. Once in solution, all this stuff gets sucked into the fuel system where it plugs up filters and makes a thick, syrupy mixture. Syrup gets real stiff in cold weather, right? well so does this stuff!

There's An Additive For That: Star Tron

I recommend a Star Brite additive called Star Tron to our customers. Star Tron uses enzyme technology to disperse water into microscopic clusters, then allows it to pass through the fuel system and engine with doing any harm. The gunk does not build up on the bottom of your fuel tank and phase separation does not occur. Accumulations of water are eliminated with regular use.

Star Tron does other things to like:

• prevent octane loss
• improving combustion performance
• prevent filter clogging
• dislodge sludge and other deposits so they can be burned and eliminated
• gelled deposits are "solubilized" so they flow through filters

You can order Star Brite Star Tron in 8 fl. oz, 16 fl. oz, 32 fl. oz. and bulk sizes at Canadianmarineparts.com, which is the supply business my sons and I run. My sons Max and Bob will take your call or you can order Star Tron online at this link.
One fluid ounce of the additive treats 15 gallons of gas.

If you want more information call us at
604-588-9977
1-877-580-9977

I hope you found this article helpful!

Signed,

Ted Richards
Canadian Marine Parts
Surrey, BC

STAR BRITE STAR TRON SOLVES FUEL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY NEW
FORMULATED E-10 ETHANOL ENHANCED GASOLINE