Ethanol May Cause Boat Fuel Problems

Recreational boaters in most parts of the country have been introduced to gasoline containing higher concentrations of ethanol, a corn-based additive that replaced a known carcinogen, MTBE.  The new fuel, dubbed "E-10" for its 10 percent ethanol content, unfortunately has the ability to attract greater amounts of water and "phase separate," or form two separate solutions in the gas tank, usually over a long period of time. Once this happens, the engine won't run and internal damage could occur.