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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Valvtect Ethanol Gasoline Treatment

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/25/2009 : 14:48:39

I read about [url="http://www.valvtect.com/VMAEthanol.pdf"]this [/url]on [url="http://www.navagear.com/"]Navagear [/url]& thought I'd pass it along. Sounds like good way to prevent alcohol problems with your fuel.

Does anyone have experience with this stuff?

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2009 : 16:54:21

PS tested a bunch of stabilizers recently, and none of them had significant effect on stored fuel. The concept of fuel sitting in a car's fuel tank for a season would be pretty bizarre. Several of the products had some short term benefits, but the cost/benefit value of these products is generally marginal. They don't hurt, so use them it it makes you feel more secure, but don't expect them to really prevent phase separation in your spare tank. I address that issue by using two 3 gal. tanks and filling the second one when the first is below 1/2 full or when starting a longer cruise.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 01/25/2009 : 21:42:03

Every additive product claims the same thing... I've talked to mechanics and e-mailed engine makers, and nobody has a definitive answer.

You guys have it easy, as I once did! Just don't keep your few gallons of gasoline around for more than a short season. I now have a 110 gallon tank (have your fun with me!) and face some interesting options for the winter: (1) Try to run it down to a very small number without running out... (2) Fill it all the way up to minimize the air-space that fosters condensation and therefore water pollution, and add stabilizers, or (3)--recommended this year--fill it half way, stabilize the hell out of it, and then fill it with fresh gas at the beginning of next season. But I'm talking about a considerable amount of fuel in a built-in tank. You folks should just dump the few gallons into your cars/trucks now and then, and start afresh. (Two gallons into 15 is pretty safe.) Don't risk your carbs for a couple of bucks worth of gas!

The other safeguard is to install a Racor water separator, as I did in Passage. This assumes that no matter what you do, ethanol will absorb and then release some water, and it will wreck your carb. It's a new world.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 01/25/2009 21:55:36

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.