View Full Version : Mixing ethanol and non-ethanol
TyeeTom
04-24-2009, 09:52 AM
I had a problem with my kicker last weekend. It started fine and then would abruptly quit. Acted like fuel starvation. So I trolled with my main motor for a while, which ran fine at both high and low RPM. About an hour later, my kicker fired-up and trolled fine for another hour. Then the same symptoms appeared. Started fine but quit abruptly.
The carb checks-out fine and we are thinking I am the cause....That the problem is caused my me mixing ethanol blended fuel with non-blended fuel. Seem plausible to any experts out there?
12pulls
04-24-2009, 10:14 AM
Never has been a problem with me, have you checked your fuel lines, bulb primer, filter, and or fuel pump? Pin holes in any of these can create problems.
HntnFsh
04-24-2009, 04:00 PM
Are the motors plumbed seperately.Could the kicker be sucking air,if they are plumbed together.
I dont think the gas issue you mentioned is the problem.
MattPark
04-24-2009, 06:22 PM
The only thing you do by mixing regular gasoline with gasoline containing ethanol is lower the percentage of ethanol in your tank. Your problem lies elsewhere.
Have you tried pumping the primer bulb when the problem occurs?
sounds like you have a fuel line problem not the gas.
TyeeTom
04-25-2009, 04:30 AM
The mechanic checked it out and said he eliminated any of those problems. Read this from my research....
Mixing MTBE fuel with ethanol blend fuel can create a gel-like substance that clogs passages in carburetors.
Stalled engines and engine damage are the result. Fuel injected engines have shown less damage, than carbureted engines, from this gel-like substance.
The recommendation was to empty my fuel tank, which has twenty gallons, and start over with one or the other.
Dinikin
04-25-2009, 10:13 AM
A fuel sample test could give you better idea what is going on inside your tank.
You can always get 3Gal. portable canister and see if it will help.
The mechanic checked it out and said he eliminated any of those problems. Read this from my research....
Mixing MTBE fuel with ethanol blend fuel can create a gel-like substance that clogs passages in carburetors.
Stalled engines and engine damage are the result. Fuel injected engines have shown less damage, than carbureted engines, from this gel-like substance.
The recommendation was to empty my fuel tank, which has twenty gallons, and start over with one or the other.
1pump
04-27-2009, 03:04 AM
Mixing MTBE fuel with ethanol blend fuel can create a gel-like substance that clogs passages in carburetors.
Why do you think you have MTBE? Pretty rare (or non-existent) around these parts. I haven't seen any since before the ethanol mandate went into effect.
foxer
05-27-2009, 10:10 PM
Bump, what was the outcome of this. My kicker is acting weird too. Hard to start, then wont stay running at lower rpms....Mid and high rpm were fine.
JerryM
05-30-2009, 07:47 PM
My old Merc did this when the ehtanol first came out. My fix was new plugs, sea foam and high RPMs to clear stuff out. Took awhile but ended up okay. I think the problem is, and this is from a dealership, the ethanol being a solvent, loosens the crud built up in the lines and causes fowling. Just have to work through the issue then keep burning the E gas until common sense prevails and we rid ourselves of it. Dealer cautioned against going back and forth because of the crud build up and fowling. Makes sense to me. Just no fun at all working through it.
cloudbusterb
06-10-2009, 09:43 PM
you cant get gas without ethanol in wash . state .If you know a place let me know my airplane can run on 86 octane car gas but we did away with it all up here and in portland all the gas had 10% also alcahol is bad on these engines .GOOD LUCK out there:whistle:
12pulls
06-10-2009, 10:38 PM
Ethanol has been around for years now. Most of the issues should be resolved by now.
cmb1998
06-11-2009, 07:13 AM
you cant get gas without ethanol in wash . state .If you know a place let me know my airplane can run on 86 octane car gas but we did away with it all up here and in portland all the gas had 10% also alcahol is bad on these engines .GOOD LUCK out there:whistle:
I don't know where your at, but you can get non ethnol gas in Battle Ground.
Later,
Chris
Bobberman
06-11-2009, 08:08 AM
you cant get gas without ethanol in wash . state .If you know a place let me know my airplane can run on 86 octane car gas but we did away with it all up here and in portland all the gas had 10% also alcahol is bad on these engines .GOOD LUCK out there:whistle:
I know a place with no ethanol http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/news/docs/EthanolList.pdf
Azeal
06-11-2009, 10:26 AM
Bump, what was the outcome of this. My kicker is acting weird too. Hard to start, then wont stay running at lower rpms....Mid and high rpm were fine.
Likely carbs are gummed up or their is some other fuel restriction (hose, fuel filter, etc...). Too much air and not enough fuel at low RPM's, up the throttle (or choke it, if it has one) and it likely runs fine.
My old Johnson kicker did the same this spring (after it got a carb re-build last fall). I was able to fix it by unscrewing the low speed jet and spraying a few shots of carb cleaner into the carb, then putting the jet back in and running it while shooting some carb cleaner into the intake. Might try this, and/or a bit of sea foam in the tank, before tearing it appart.
foxer
06-11-2009, 11:22 AM
Likely carbs are gummed up or their is some other fuel restriction (hose, fuel filter, etc...). Too much air and not enough fuel at low RPM's, up the throttle (or choke it, if it has one) and it likely runs fine.
My old Johnson kicker did the same this spring (after it got a carb re-build last fall). I was able to fix it by unscrewing the low speed jet and spraying a few shots of carb cleaner into the carb, then putting the jet back in and running it while shooting some carb cleaner into the intake. Might try this, and/or a bit of sea foam in the tank, before tearing it appart.
Carb needed cleaning...Also had the tank drained, no more E10 for me.