[Rhodes22-list] The Curse of Ethanol

[Mary Lou Troy]

Hi Rob,
Just to clarify, On the recommendation of our mechanic we do NOT run 
our engine dry after every use. It evidently leaves a film that can 
harden as it evaporates - especially if your boat sits a while 
between uses (story of our lives at this point).

And you may be right - it may be the real good cleaning he gave it 
that is the reason it is now running so well but it's probably 
running better than its ever run (based of course on our limited experience)

Mary Lou




At 02:13 PM 9/9/2013, you wrote:
>It maybe the ethanol, and maybe it's something else?  I've got the 
>same Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9 and had a world of trouble with it last 
>year, mostly because it sat on the hard for three years prior to 
>that, so I expected trouble.  I rebuilt the carburetor and still had 
>problems getting it to run right.   I finally took it to an engine 
>mechanic who did a real good job cleaning it out and it's run fine 
>ever since.  I use regular ethanol containing gas with some Seafoam 
>fuel stabilizer.  I don't run my carb dry between outings as Mary 
>Lou suggests, but I do at the end of the season.  You can check 
>other components of your fuel system.  Make sure you tank vent is 
>open (I leave mine open all the time), the pickup tube is not 
>blocked (I got some crap in mine that was restricting fuel 
>flow).  Make sure you fuel line is not pinched.  I had one fuel line 
>where the check valve didn't work properly and would not pass fuel 
>correctly until I replace the whole line.  Make sure you're getting !
>  a good supply of fuel to the carb.  When you say it ran fine 
> for  20 minutes and then kept cutting out makes me think it's a 
> fuel supply problem, not a fuel quality problem.  Just a guess, but 
> look for something else besides the ethanol.  What ethanol will do 
> is adsorb water that will pool in the bottom of your fuel 
> tank.  Try a new load of gas if needed.  If it's still quitting, 
> it's not the gas quality, but the supply.  My 2 cents. - rob
>
>Oh, and welcome to the list!
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org 
>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Carman George
>Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013 12:08 PM
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] The Curse of Ethanol
>
>Hello everyone!
>
>
>
>My wife and I are new members and this is our first message.
>
>
>
>We own a 1984 recycled Rhodes 22 and are in our third season sailing 
>the top of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, our Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9 HP 
>has experienced fouling issues apparently as a result of ethanol. 
>The carb has been cleaned and serviced twice this season and I have 
>installed a 10 micron in-line fuel filter as well as Yamalube fuel 
>additive to new fuel. We took out the boat last Friday and the 
>engine ran fine outbound for 20 minutes. On the return it kept 
>cutting out every 30 - 45 seconds. Boat U.S. ultimately had to tow 
>us in (they did a great job).
>
>
>
>Has anyone experienced similar issues? The only thing left is have 
>someone professionally clean out the tank but that's all I can think of.
>
>
>
>The Rhodes is a fine sailboat but oh those engines and that lousy ethanol!
>
>
>
>Thanks.
>
>
>
>Frank and Linda George
>
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