Ethanol Gas Problems
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:26 pm
The legislator is working on several bills to get rid of the ethanol that's added to our Hawaii gas. Boaters are especially hard hit. Ethanol is a solvent and is eating through boat gas tanks, especially fiberglass. In some cases through the hull of the boat. It also dissolves rubber hoses and gaskets in engines. All that gunk is really clogging up motors.
Ethanol also attracts water. (our little gas tanks must have the air vent open.... sucks that water right in) Not good for gas. If you let the gas sit in the tank for 2 weeks, the ethanol mixes with water and evaporates. This lowers the octane of the gas so the engine won't start or runs bad. (I know about this one) It also turns the gas a milky yellow color.
It's not only boaters. Do you have a lawnmower, generator, weed whacker, chain saw, or other small gas engine. All the "gas engine" airplanes are grounded.
Ethanol was suppose to be made from sugar cane to help the plantations. Since there are no longer any sugar plantations, the ethanol is imported from the mainland. Gas prices are 11 cents a gallon higher because we have to add ethanol.
It lowers the performance of cars so we have to use more gas. When your car stops running you just pull over. Can't do that out in the ocean.
This law adding ethanol to the gas is not as good an idea as everyone thought it would be. You can bet the environmentalist will fight tooth and nail to block any repeal of the Ethanol Laws.
Aloha,
Stan
Ethanol also attracts water. (our little gas tanks must have the air vent open.... sucks that water right in) Not good for gas. If you let the gas sit in the tank for 2 weeks, the ethanol mixes with water and evaporates. This lowers the octane of the gas so the engine won't start or runs bad. (I know about this one) It also turns the gas a milky yellow color.
It's not only boaters. Do you have a lawnmower, generator, weed whacker, chain saw, or other small gas engine. All the "gas engine" airplanes are grounded.
Ethanol was suppose to be made from sugar cane to help the plantations. Since there are no longer any sugar plantations, the ethanol is imported from the mainland. Gas prices are 11 cents a gallon higher because we have to add ethanol.
It lowers the performance of cars so we have to use more gas. When your car stops running you just pull over. Can't do that out in the ocean.
This law adding ethanol to the gas is not as good an idea as everyone thought it would be. You can bet the environmentalist will fight tooth and nail to block any repeal of the Ethanol Laws.
Aloha,
Stan
Maybe this whale watching boat has a weakened hual due to ethanol degradation and the environmentalists can spend some time with the marine animals their natural environments. 
