Most of the gasoline sold today in the United States contains ethanol, and the percentage is expected to increase over the next few years. Gasoline and ethanol are delivered to the gas stations separately and are blended together at gas stations during delivery. So what are the effects of ethanol in gasoline, and what can you do to prolong the life of your engines running on ethanol-blended fuel?
Be careful on what you hear, as there is no magic ingredient to reverse phase separation after it has already dropped to the bottom. The easiest defence against phase separation is to keep the tank almost full at all times, allowing a little space for the fuel to expand in warmer weather. Moisture comes from the empty space in the tank so reducing the amount of air in your tank will reduce the amount of water that can enter with the air. This is especially important when you are dealing with equipment designed with an “Open” fuel system such as many small non-road engines and watercraft.
Ethanol may contribute to corrosion of fuel tanks and other fuel system components at a rapid rate. It is very important to pour in a fuel additive that guards against corrosion every time you fill the tank; this is especially true with small engines since many still use aluminium parts which corrode more quickly resulting in oxides that look like white rust.
A third issue is that ethanol can loosen debris that normally collects in the corners of the fuel tank and can lead to clogged fuel systems. Again, adding a fuel treatment that contains cleaners will allow for these dirt particles to pass through your system.
The final important fact to remember is that gasoline “oxidizes” when exposed to air. That is, it loses its volatility over time and may turn to varnish. Using a fuel additive that will address all of these issues will help you enjoy your gasoline-powered small engines and/or boat worry-free for years to come.
The good news is that E-10 has been used in many parts of the country for over 25 years so there are proven ways to protect your engines from the potential hazards we have reviewed.
These treatments are designed to protect ethanol-blended fuels against water attraction, varnish formation, and corrosion. The ethanol treatments help protect automotive, small engines and marine engines from these issues. Like the Fuel Stabilizer, the Ethanol Treatments protect fuel for up to 12 months. However, because ethanol is in your tank every day, these STA-BIL® Treatments are recommended during every fill-up.
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