I have had the same spin on water separating fuel filters on the fuel lines since the boat was new...change them every fall after the season is done. I have only ever found small amounts of particulate which the filters caught, never any water or sludge. I never buy fuel from fuel docks...all service station fuels either directly into the boat if its on the trailer or into proper containers.
Ethanol Issues Getting Worse
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Ok I now have a plan for next winter. I'm going to buy a small 2 gallon portable fuel tank and fill it with the Aspen fuel...apparently Western Equipment here in Victoria has it..so it says online. I'll change my spin on filters at seasons end in late October as normal but fill the new ones with Aspen. I'll install t-valves on both my fuel lines before the filters and have a short length of fuel line which is long enough to reach the cockpit floor. I'll install the portable fuel line fittings to those hoses. So after changing the filters and filling with Aspen I will close the t-valves to the tank and open to the portable tank. Through the winter when running the motors up to keep oil on the internal parts it will run on Aspen....once I start doing charter trips I just turn the valves and run off the boats tank.
InterMechanico
Well-Known Member
Yes, pretty expensive stuff. I use it exclusively at the cabin in small engines that are used seasonally and it is really good. Everything starts and runs perfectly every spring.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I use the 2 stoke for my weed eater at the end of the season
Strait shooter
Member
I have been fueling up at Van Isle marina either by boat or Jerry cans. No issues. So far it is ethanol free.
Bryan Allen
Well-Known Member
Is this the Aspen fuel some have mentioned ? https://www.aspenfuels.com/products/alla/aspen-4/ If so, does anyone know where it is avalable in the Comox Valley ? TIA
Max123
Well-Known Member
Just curious if there are some typical best practice tips for seasonal startup - I'll list mine (feel free to comment/add/roast):
- I store my boat outside (under canvas) through the winter, so my assumption is I'm at higher risk for water in the tank due to high humidity.
- I've got an external Racor filter/water separator and the Etec is equipped with its own internal spin-on fuel filter with water sensor.
- I use the Pitt Meadows marina fuel dock during the season when there are lots of boats - but use pump gas during off season as my assumption is the marina doesn't get much volume and the fuel might be old. I can't confirm if they are ethanol free or not. I typically add a splash of Evinrude 2+4 Fuel Conditioner every fill.
- Last tank of fuel for the season is filled with Chevron 94 (even though its no longer ethanol free), with the higher winterization dose of 2+4 fuel conditioner plus Star Tron enzyme fuel stabilizer (recommended by Nick at Maple Marine). I then run the winterization/oiling sequence for the Etec (a nice feature).
- At spring startup I run the old tank of gas with the old Racor (let the old filter take any gunk/gel from the winter), then I change to a fresh fuel filter. I change the internal Etec filter every 2-3 years - changing both every year seems like overkill.
So far, no issues - but this is the first winter where Chevron 94 has ethanol, so I guess we'll see.
I've got a little 6hp kicker which sees minimal use - I run it out of gas and drain the bowl after every single use (gets stored indoors).
- I store my boat outside (under canvas) through the winter, so my assumption is I'm at higher risk for water in the tank due to high humidity.
- I've got an external Racor filter/water separator and the Etec is equipped with its own internal spin-on fuel filter with water sensor.
- I use the Pitt Meadows marina fuel dock during the season when there are lots of boats - but use pump gas during off season as my assumption is the marina doesn't get much volume and the fuel might be old. I can't confirm if they are ethanol free or not. I typically add a splash of Evinrude 2+4 Fuel Conditioner every fill.
- Last tank of fuel for the season is filled with Chevron 94 (even though its no longer ethanol free), with the higher winterization dose of 2+4 fuel conditioner plus Star Tron enzyme fuel stabilizer (recommended by Nick at Maple Marine). I then run the winterization/oiling sequence for the Etec (a nice feature).
- At spring startup I run the old tank of gas with the old Racor (let the old filter take any gunk/gel from the winter), then I change to a fresh fuel filter. I change the internal Etec filter every 2-3 years - changing both every year seems like overkill.
So far, no issues - but this is the first winter where Chevron 94 has ethanol, so I guess we'll see.
I've got a little 6hp kicker which sees minimal use - I run it out of gas and drain the bowl after every single use (gets stored indoors).
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If this was an ethanol problem, you would think a lot more people would be having the same issues. I was watching a YouTube video of a guy replacing a tank in a Grady. The main fuel input line had a whitish gel growing in it. How old are your fuel lines? I just pulled my fuel sender line, the insulation on the ground was disintegrating exposing bare wire for the whole length. Fortunately the power was okay. Just pointing out there are bad runs of plastic or rubber.
seachicken
Well-Known Member
I just filled the car up at Chevron in Sidney and the label on the pump says 1-15% ethanol in 87, 89 and 91 octane fuel so should be nothing in the 94 octane. I specifically went there instead of the coop to avoid ethanol.
SpringFever2359
Well-Known Member
my 25yr old kawasaki motor JDeer lawnmower runs like a dream every spring after sitting all winter?
My son was just given his grandpas 1996 GMC 4x4 truck about 80km and 2 stroke 8hp Johnson ,both had sat for over 9yrs in the garage.
GMC had a full fuel tank, and needed new battery but started rite away.
Same with 8hp it started after a couple pulls, carb wasn't touched and used his grandpas old tank with old fuel!
My son was just given his grandpas 1996 GMC 4x4 truck about 80km and 2 stroke 8hp Johnson ,both had sat for over 9yrs in the garage.
GMC had a full fuel tank, and needed new battery but started rite away.
Same with 8hp it started after a couple pulls, carb wasn't touched and used his grandpas old tank with old fuel!
Max123
Well-Known Member
Old pump tags. All pump gas from any large station now has ethanol in all grades. The requirement was phased in as part of the BC Low Carbon Energy Fuels Act, and includes a very limited exemption for organizations dealing with less than 200,000L. I don't know if any of the independent pumps have such low volume.
Basically all on-road fuel and diesel now has some component of ethanol or blended biodiesel to at least 5%, and need to meet a minimum overall % of all fuel sold. In the past, Chevron & Shell used to make up for this with higher ethanol in their regular gas and provide ethanol free Premium (to meet overall requirement) but they aren't allowed to do this any more.
I emailed False Creek Fuel back in Feb 2024, and they were still ethanol free - but he noted that was only for the time being, and it seemed like time was running out - not sure what their status is now, or if there are any small marina fuel docks that can sell ethanol free.
Max123
Well-Known Member
Its an old pump sticker unless there is something really unique going on. See the FAQ on Coop's website (which was posted in June 2023).
FAQs about the Ethanol Announcement
Otter Co-op is a locally-owned co-operative serving Aldergrove, Surrey, Abbotsford, Delta, Langley, Pitt Meadows, Armstrong, Mission, Chilliwack, Penticton, and West Kelowna.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
I use 87 octane gas with seafoam additive and have no problems.
My fuel rarely sits unused more than 6 months though.
My fuel rarely sits unused more than 6 months though.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
What make and size of kicker ? Year?
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Sea Chaser
Crew Member
Regular seafoam or Marine seafoam
Lots of people are they just haven't figured out what the problem is yet. But it is mainly with carbed motors as EFI engines have fuel under pressure entering the engine which eliminates the problem. Ethanol will still eat up aluminum and some older rubber/plastics., especially if it sits for long periods.
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