[Rhodes22-list] Ethanol problems

[Chris Cowie]

Susan:

I unplug my gas line and let the motor run dry when I return to my slip at the end of a sailing outing, I think plug the gas line back in so it is ready to go the next time I go out.  In addition to gas stabilizer that keeps teh gas fresh I also us a gas additive Sea Foam that helps keep the carburetor clean.  I also completely empty my gas tank at the end of the season and start with fresh gas at the start of the season.

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On Jun 18, 2017, at 2:44 PM, Rick <sloopblueheron at gmail.com<mailto:sloopblueheron at gmail.com>> wrote:

Hi Susan,

There is no such thing as ethanol build up.  Instead, the ethanol is
probably dissolving your fuel line or even your gas tank.   Be sure your
fuel system is ethanol tolerant and the ethanol will actually keep your
engine clean.

If you have a gas station that now sells ethanol free gas, that will
probably not last long.  With the new EPA mandate for 15% ethanol, corn
producers are going gang busters and the supply of ethanol will soon be
overwhelming.

Rick

On Sun, Jun 18, 2017 at 2:14 PM, Susan Crane <scranevmd at verizon.net<mailto:scranevmd at verizon.net>> wrote:

I posted a query last fall about the problems I was having with my Mercury
outboard and received several very helpful replies that basically indicated
that my problems with stalling and erratic idling were due to buildup of
ethanol residue in the carburetor.  So I have tried unplugging the gas line
and letting the motor run till it stalls, but I am still having problems.
This is probably a silly question, but when one does that with the gas
line,
do you leave it unplugged until the next time you use it or do you reattach
it after the motor stops, or does it matter?  Just in case anyone wonders,
I
have been adding fuel treatment to the gas.  Next question:  I have found a
local gas station which sells ethanol free gas and am going to switch to
that.  Will using it help clean out the carburetor or do I need to have it
cleaned or replaced?  I had a new carburetor put in last summer and the
motor ran perfectly for a few outings before the problems recurred.
Obviously, I know nothing about outboard motor functioning and the mechanic
at my marina has been less than helpful.  He doesn't seem to believe that
it
is an ethanol issue.  I am trying to avoid buying a new outboard, but am at
my wits end with this.  Just the stress of the motor stalling while docking
takes some of the fun out of sailing.  Any help will be greatly
appreciated.



Susan Crane

s/v Whimsy

Bohemia River

Chesapeake Bay

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