Ethanol Info

[Rambling Wreck]

I think you are experiencing the ethanol price spike issue. Many companies decided to go with ethanol to avoid being sued for using the MTBE, a carcinogen. The price went way up and they stopped using ethanol for now as they were not competitive. Instead of spending the time, effort and money to design displays that can change to accurately reflect what is in the tanks, my guess is that the "may contain ethanol" sticker will become common.

From what I am reading, the midwest has the most stations with ethanol due to the production capabilities and since it is still not cost effective to trasnport it domestically.

Maybe the oil field find in the Gulf will turn out to be real and will solve the problem for the near future - assuming we are allowed to drill for it and build the refineries needed to process it.

[Lakeside]

Could be.

Approx 40% of the pumps in Wisconsin are E-10.  It's 100% of the pumps in S.E. Wisconsin, where required by the EPA.

E-85 is beginning to show up at some stations, too, particularly near Wausau.

Maybe, no-ethanol will become a marketing plus for some stations.  I saw one in Minnesota which proudly proclaimed "No Ethanol" right on their main street sign where they post their prices.  Let's hope this becomes a trend, particularly with all the bad press about ethanol and boats right now.

[sailtl]

I am curious. Did everybody store their boats empty of gasoline or full of gasoline? Any concerns regarding ethanol in the fuel? I stored ours empty.

[cyclone]

You really should store it full, keep the tank full all the time. That prevents air and condensation. Air makes the gas break down, water will fill up your fuel filter eventually and cause runnability problems. Not a big deal if you change the filter every year, which you should. It's a stock part at West Marine.

I also use Stabil in my second to last tank of the year, then top it off for the winter.

[PSullivan3]

Also an empty tank of gas is more likely to expode over a full tank

[Lakeside]

Ditto Pete's post.  Always full.