Gasoline fuel prices are the highest they have ever been in recent history. You could probably remember back in the 1970’s when gas prices were well below one dollar. Ever since then, they have been slowly creeping up, and, since hurricane Andrew, the prices have skyrocketed and as an average, they are higher than ever before.
Now, there has been an interested debate of the use and functionality of ethanol. Ethanol, a fuel that is supposed to be renewable, to be cheaper, and to burn cleaner, and made in good ‘ol U.S.A., does have its problems. It is not the fuel that many people thought it would be.
One of the major problems with ethanol is that the alcohol in the ethanol fuel attracts water. Ethanol is a fuel that attracts water. This is a huge problem for boaters. Boats are always in the water and therefore, using ethanol as the source of fuel for the watercraft is a major problem. What can you do to solve this problem? You can purchase and install a 10-micron filter in your fuel line. Just cut the fuel line and insert it in. A somewhat easy repair. For waverunner watercraft, ten percent ethanol is acceptable and will work fine.
Another problem with ethanol is that it can dissolve plastic. With more and more plastic being used and since it is such a major part of fuel line components, this is problem. The ethanol fuel will turn the plastic fuel line into a jelly-like substance and after this happens and you get to the bottom of your fuel tank, the jelly just gets sucked in. Now, that’s a problem.
If you have a fiberglass tank, you are in for some serious trouble. Just save yourself the time, misery, and headache and have the fiberglass tank removed for something better like a plastic tank that cannot be dissolved.
So why do companies promote this stuff called ethanol? They simply promote it to keep their profits high as they possibly can be. It is not in your best interests that they keep in mind. It costs all consumers who use ethanol thousands of dollars in repairs every year due to the use of ethanol in fuel. Best bet is plainly to use gasoline without this destructive additive.
