E10 in petrol, will my 30 year old US engines be ok?

[GW The Reds]

For those of us in the UK, there is a change in the petrol we buy and use for our cars,. We have no option, as of latter this year, the regular petrol sold at the pumps will have its ethanol content increased from 5% to 10%.
All cars & bikes produced since 2000 will be OK to run with this E10 fuel, some older cars will have to use the premium fuel, at an extra cost.
But what about us boat owners, specifically those who have boat engines made in the USA, some 30 years ago. Will our engines be OK to run E10 fuel?
I know the main things that had to be changed, on the cars, were where certain pastics come into contact with the fuel. Some plastic sort of melt in E10 fuel.
any help will be much appreciated.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Unsure but from September "super" will be the old E5 and I discovered through the forum that in most of the country Shell "Ultimate" is ethanol free

 

[SC35]

It might be worth trying to contact the engine manufacturer to see what they advise.
There are lots of bad things that could happen, but that doesn't that mean they will all happen to you.

Some more details here:

Biofuel upgrade will affect older petrol engines - Yachting Monthly

 

[[164147]]

All cars & bikes produced since 2000 will be OK to run with this E10 fuel

Most will be - it's 2011 on that are guaranteed to be.

I had enough problems with E5 and a 1998 Triumph Daytona

 

[BruceK]

1998 Triumph Daytona

Being a Triumph fan myself I have to confess I am not sure it's all down to E5. It's Brit Iron, only the UJM is trouble free. But then UJM's are bland and boring

 

[[164147]]

Nothing to do with the engine - the fuel tank was nylon which the ethanol caused to expand and leak stripping the paint from the frame.

 

[dpb]

The answer is here:
http://www.mercurymarine.staging.ya...arranty/service-maintenance/ethanol-fuel.aspx

 

[Croftie]

To any owners with classic cars that have hose type fuel injectors ie vw, merc etc keep an eye on the hoses, indeed any hose on any part of the system as much of the older hose is not resistant to Ethanol.

 

[Caraway]

For those of us in the UK, there is a change in the petrol we buy and use for our cars,. We have no option, as of latter this year, the regular petrol sold at the pumps will have its ethanol content increased from 5% to 10%.
All cars & bikes produced since 2000 will be OK to run with this E10 fuel, some older cars will have to use the premium fuel, at an extra cost.
But what about us boat owners, specifically those who have boat engines made in the USA, some 30 years ago. Will our engines be OK to run E10 fuel?
I know the main things that had to be changed, on the cars, were where certain pastics come into contact with the fuel. Some plastic sort of melt in E10 fuel.
any help will be much appreciated.

Rubber fuel hose can be replaced with ethanol resistant new product.

 

[ontheplane]

on old cars, just use Super Unleaded - however that may not be an option on the boat....

 

[Caraway]

Our nearest fuel station sells Esso. Their Esso super unleaded petrol (Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97) is ethanol free (except in Devon, Cornwall, the Teesside area and Scotland).
That's where I take the MG. I also get Nectar points.

 

[GW The Reds]

Thanks all for the replies.
I have, today, found in an operators manual, a statement that the boat, with gas (petrol for UK) will be OK for fuels up to 10% Ethanol.
So UK E10 petrol will be OK.
Our local marina sells E5 petrol at £1.60 per litre, but there are only 2 petrol refueling points on the River Crouch, so they sort of have you over a barrel. And to be fair, their overheads will be higher than the local Jet station.
Thanks again guys for your thoughts and info.
Live Long & Prosper

 

[stuartwineberg]

Thanks all for the replies.
I have, today, found in an operators manual, a statement that the boat, with gas (petrol for UK) will be OK for fuels up to 10% Ethanol.
So UK E10 petrol will be OK.
Our local marina sells E5 petrol at £1.60 per litre, but there are only 2 petrol refueling points on the River Crouch, so they sort of have you over a barrel. And to be fair, their overheads will be higher than the local Jet station.
Thanks again guys for your thoughts and info.
Live Long & Prosper

Maybe but don’t leave it in there over long periods, as discussed it can phase separate