Fuel: Winterization and Ethanol-Blended Fuels

Home Boat Ramp Courtesy Fuel: Winterization and Ethanol-Blended Fuels Maintain Boat ValueBattery Clean Your Boat Tips for Boating with Your Dog Upper Deck Capacity Boat SafetyTen Safe Refueling TipsMarine First AidPrepare your InflatableRapture of the Deep Old North State Marina Guide Events Service Index Boat Dealers A-HBoat Dealers J-SBoat Dealers T-Z Boat Delivery Boat Lettering Boat Lifts - Boat Lift Repair Boat Registrations - Documentation Boat Rentals Boat Clubs Boat Shows Bottom Painting Brokerages Captained Charters - Captain Service Cleaning-Detailing Clubs & Associations Covers & Upholstery Dive Shops - Divers and Dive Services Dock Boxes Dock Builders - Dock Materials - Dredging Dry Storage Electric Repair Electronics Engine Sales-Service A-JEngine Sales-Service L-REngine Sales-Service S-W Fiberglass - Gel-Coat Golf and Utility Cars - Motorcycles-ATV's Life Raft Sales-Service Marine Accessories Marine Audio-Video Marine Finance-Insurance-Surveyors Marine Parts Marine Plumbing-Generation-AC Nautical Apparel Overland Transport Paddle Sports Pile Driving - Seawalls Powerboat Rigging Propellers PWCs Restorations Sailboat Rigging - Sailboats - Sails Schools Spring Commissioning - Winterizations A-RSpring Commissioning - Winterizations S-Z Sunken Boat Retrieval - Towing On-Water Trailer and Trailer Hitches Trailer-Vehicle Tires - Tram Systems - Vintage Boats Water Skis and Wakeboards Waterfront Real Estate Welding and Fabrication Fishing Guide Flathead Cat Fishin'Winter Fishing TipsFebruary Fishing HolesGood Luck, Bad LuckWhat's in your Tackle BoxAugust FishingSummer Night FishingFishing Lures Crickets! Bait and Tackle A-LBait and Tackle M-Z Rod, Reel Repair; Taxidermists; Clubs Guides and Charters Fishing Licenses Pilot's Galley Fry Great SeafoodTips for Steamin' Seafood Chowder

Boat Ramp Courtesy Fuel: Winterization and Ethanol-Blended Fuels Maintain Boat ValueBattery Clean Your Boat Tips for Boating with Your Dog Upper Deck Capacity Boat SafetyTen Safe Refueling TipsMarine First AidPrepare your InflatableRapture of the Deep Old North State Marina Guide

Tips for Boating with Your Dog

Ten Safe Refueling TipsMarine First AidPrepare your InflatableRapture of the Deep

Ten Safe Refueling Tips

Prepare your Inflatable

Old North State Marina Guide

Service Index Boat Dealers A-HBoat Dealers J-SBoat Dealers T-Z Boat Delivery Boat Lettering Boat Lifts - Boat Lift Repair Boat Registrations - Documentation Boat Rentals Boat Clubs Boat Shows Bottom Painting Brokerages Captained Charters - Captain Service Cleaning-Detailing Clubs & Associations Covers & Upholstery Dive Shops - Divers and Dive Services Dock Boxes Dock Builders - Dock Materials - Dredging Dry Storage Electric Repair Electronics Engine Sales-Service A-JEngine Sales-Service L-REngine Sales-Service S-W Fiberglass - Gel-Coat Golf and Utility Cars - Motorcycles-ATV's Life Raft Sales-Service Marine Accessories Marine Audio-Video Marine Finance-Insurance-Surveyors Marine Parts Marine Plumbing-Generation-AC Nautical Apparel Overland Transport Paddle Sports Pile Driving - Seawalls Powerboat Rigging Propellers PWCs Restorations Sailboat Rigging - Sailboats - Sails Schools Spring Commissioning - Winterizations A-RSpring Commissioning - Winterizations S-Z Sunken Boat Retrieval - Towing On-Water Trailer and Trailer Hitches Trailer-Vehicle Tires - Tram Systems - Vintage Boats Water Skis and Wakeboards Waterfront Real Estate Welding and Fabrication

Boat Dealers A-HBoat Dealers J-SBoat Dealers T-Z Boat Delivery Boat Lettering Boat Lifts - Boat Lift Repair Boat Registrations - Documentation Boat Rentals Boat Clubs Boat Shows Bottom Painting Brokerages Captained Charters - Captain Service Cleaning-Detailing Clubs & Associations Covers & Upholstery Dive Shops - Divers and Dive Services Dock Boxes Dock Builders - Dock Materials - Dredging Dry Storage Electric Repair Electronics Engine Sales-Service A-JEngine Sales-Service L-REngine Sales-Service S-W Fiberglass - Gel-Coat Golf and Utility Cars - Motorcycles-ATV's Life Raft Sales-Service Marine Accessories Marine Audio-Video Marine Finance-Insurance-Surveyors Marine Parts Marine Plumbing-Generation-AC Nautical Apparel Overland Transport Paddle Sports Pile Driving - Seawalls Powerboat Rigging Propellers PWCs Restorations Sailboat Rigging - Sailboats - Sails Schools Spring Commissioning - Winterizations A-RSpring Commissioning - Winterizations S-Z Sunken Boat Retrieval - Towing On-Water Trailer and Trailer Hitches Trailer-Vehicle Tires - Tram Systems - Vintage Boats Water Skis and Wakeboards Waterfront Real Estate Welding and Fabrication

Boat Dealers J-SBoat Dealers T-Z

Boat Lifts - Boat Lift Repair

Boat Registrations - Documentation

Captained Charters - Captain Service

Dive Shops - Divers and Dive Services

Dock Builders - Dock Materials - Dredging

Engine Sales-Service A-J

Engine Sales-Service L-REngine Sales-Service S-W

Engine Sales-Service L-R

Engine Sales-Service S-W

Fiberglass - Gel-Coat

Golf and Utility Cars - Motorcycles-ATV's

Life Raft Sales-Service

Marine Finance-Insurance-Surveyors

Marine Plumbing-Generation-AC

Pile Driving - Seawalls

Sailboat Rigging - Sailboats - Sails

Spring Commissioning - Winterizations A-R

Spring Commissioning - Winterizations S-Z

Sunken Boat Retrieval - Towing On-Water

Trailer and Trailer Hitches

Trailer-Vehicle Tires - Tram Systems - Vintage Boats

Water Skis and Wakeboards

Waterfront Real Estate

Welding and Fabrication

Fishing Guide Flathead Cat Fishin'Winter Fishing TipsFebruary Fishing HolesGood Luck, Bad LuckWhat's in your Tackle BoxAugust FishingSummer Night FishingFishing Lures Crickets! Bait and Tackle A-LBait and Tackle M-Z Rod, Reel Repair; Taxidermists; Clubs Guides and Charters Fishing Licenses

Flathead Cat Fishin'Winter Fishing TipsFebruary Fishing HolesGood Luck, Bad LuckWhat's in your Tackle BoxAugust FishingSummer Night FishingFishing Lures Crickets! Bait and Tackle A-LBait and Tackle M-Z Rod, Reel Repair; Taxidermists; Clubs Guides and Charters Fishing Licenses

Winter Fishing TipsFebruary Fishing HolesGood Luck, Bad LuckWhat's in your Tackle BoxAugust FishingSummer Night FishingFishing Lures

February Fishing HolesGood Luck, Bad LuckWhat's in your Tackle BoxAugust Fishing

February Fishing Holes

Good Luck, Bad LuckWhat's in your Tackle Box

What's in your Tackle Box

Rod, Reel Repair; Taxidermists; Clubs

Pilot's Galley Fry Great SeafoodTips for Steamin' Seafood Chowder

Fry Great SeafoodTips for Steamin' Seafood Chowder

Tips for Steamin' Seafood

Fuel: Winterization & Ethanol-Blended Fuels by Rob Dingman & Margaret Podlich The coming of cooler weather means an end to the boating and motorcycling season for many. Chiefly important in preparing these vehicles for winter is managing the potential for engine damage from the federally-mandated ethanol blend in our nation’s gasoline supply. Ethanol in gasoline stored for long periods can damage marine and motorcycle engines: “phase separation” of the fuel can leave a corrosive water-soaked ethanol mixture at the bottom of the gas tank. Half of the respondents of a recent Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) survey reported that they have had to replace or repair their boat engine or fuel system parts due to suspected ethanol-related damage, costing an average $1,000 for repairs. To prevent ethanol problems over the winter, boats with built-in gas tanks should have fuel stabilizer added and the tank left nearly full. E10 fuel remaining in small portable gas tanks (and not pre-mixed with 2-stroke engine oil) should be poured into your car’s gas tank and used quickly. Same goes for motorcycles – store full with stabilizer or drain completely. So how did ethanol get into our gas? Signed into law in 2005 and expanded in 2007, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires an increasing amount of biofuels such as corn ethanol to be blended into the gasoline supply. However, the ethanol mandate has failed to achieve promised consumer and environmental benefits. In addition to winter storage and engine repair concerns, ethanol-blended fuel is actually worse for our air and water. According to research from the University of Tennessee, ethanol’s “clean alternative” record is “highly questionable.” The 2014 federal National Climate Assessment reported that ethanol production can require 220 times more water than gasoline. Ninety-one percent of those surveyed by BoatU.S. prefer non-ethanol fuel for their boats. An AMA commissioned poll found that 78 percent of all voters – not just motorcycle owners – have “very serious concerns about E15 use” and 70 percent oppose increasing the amounts of ethanol blended into gasoline. But the Environmental Protection Agency ignores the public’s concerns and continues to increase the amount of ethanol required to be blended in our nation’s gas. Even though it’s illegal to use E15 (15 percent ethanol by volume) in marine engines, snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, and any vehicle made before 2001, E15 can now be found in 24 states. Using E15 in many vehicles on the road today will void the manufacturer’s warranty. With a recent $100 million USDA grant made available to subsidize the installation of blender pumps at gas stations throughout the country, access to ethanol- free gas may soon be more difficult, leading to even more cases of inadvertent mis-fueling and engine damage. Thankfully, Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to repeal the ethanol mandate, but the question remains whether our legislators will protect consumers and our environment by eliminating the ethanol mandate. Rob Dingman is the President and CEO of the American Motorcyclist Association, America’s largest motorcycling organization and Margaret Podlich is the President of the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nation’s largest recreational boat owner advocacy, service and safety group.

Fuel: Winterization & Ethanol-Blended Fuels by Rob Dingman & Margaret Podlich

Fuel: Winterization & Ethanol-Blended Fuels

by Rob Dingman & Margaret Podlich

The coming of cooler weather means an end to the boating and motorcycling season for many. Chiefly important in preparing these vehicles for winter is managing the potential for engine damage from the federally-mandated ethanol blend in our nation’s gasoline supply. Ethanol in gasoline stored for long periods can damage marine and motorcycle engines: “phase separation” of the fuel can leave a corrosive water-soaked ethanol mixture at the bottom of the gas tank. Half of the respondents of a recent Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) survey reported that they have had to replace or repair their boat engine or fuel system parts due to suspected ethanol-related damage, costing an average $1,000 for repairs. To prevent ethanol problems over the winter, boats with built-in gas tanks should have fuel stabilizer added and the tank left nearly full. E10 fuel remaining in small portable gas tanks (and not pre-mixed with 2-stroke engine oil) should be poured into your car’s gas tank and used quickly. Same goes for motorcycles – store full with stabilizer or drain completely. So how did ethanol get into our gas? Signed into law in 2005 and expanded in 2007, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires an increasing amount of biofuels such as corn ethanol to be blended into the gasoline supply. However, the ethanol mandate has failed to achieve promised consumer and environmental benefits. In addition to winter storage and engine repair concerns, ethanol-blended fuel is actually worse for our air and water. According to research from the University of Tennessee, ethanol’s “clean alternative” record is “highly questionable.” The 2014 federal National Climate Assessment reported that ethanol production can require 220 times more water than gasoline. Ninety-one percent of those surveyed by BoatU.S. prefer non-ethanol fuel for their boats. An AMA commissioned poll found that 78 percent of all voters – not just motorcycle owners – have “very serious concerns about E15 use” and 70 percent oppose increasing the amounts of ethanol blended into gasoline. But the Environmental Protection Agency ignores the public’s concerns and continues to increase the amount of ethanol required to be blended in our nation’s gas. Even though it’s illegal to use E15 (15 percent ethanol by volume) in marine engines, snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, and any vehicle made before 2001, E15 can now be found in 24 states. Using E15 in many vehicles on the road today will void the manufacturer’s warranty. With a recent $100 million USDA grant made available to subsidize the installation of blender pumps at gas stations throughout the country, access to ethanol- free gas may soon be more difficult, leading to even more cases of inadvertent mis-fueling and engine damage. Thankfully, Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to repeal the ethanol mandate, but the question remains whether our legislators will protect consumers and our environment by eliminating the ethanol mandate.

Ethanol in gasoline stored for long periods can damage marine and motorcycle engines: “phase separation” of the fuel can leave a corrosive water-soaked ethanol mixture at the bottom of the gas tank. Half of the respondents of a recent Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) survey reported that they have had to replace or repair their boat engine or fuel system parts due to suspected ethanol-related damage, costing an average $1,000 for repairs.

To prevent ethanol problems over the winter, boats with built-in gas tanks should have fuel stabilizer added and the tank left nearly full. E10 fuel remaining in small portable gas tanks (and not pre-mixed with 2-stroke engine oil) should be poured into your car’s gas tank and used quickly. Same goes for motorcycles – store full with stabilizer or drain completely.

So how did ethanol get into our gas? Signed into law in 2005 and expanded in 2007, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requires an increasing amount of biofuels such as corn ethanol to be blended into the gasoline supply. However, the ethanol mandate has failed to achieve promised consumer and environmental benefits. In addition to winter storage and engine repair concerns, ethanol-blended fuel is actually worse for our air and water. According to research from the University of Tennessee, ethanol’s “clean alternative” record is “highly questionable.” The 2014 federal National Climate Assessment reported that ethanol production can require 220 times more water than gasoline. Ninety-one percent of those surveyed by BoatU.S. prefer non-ethanol fuel for their boats. An AMA commissioned poll found that 78 percent of all voters – not just motorcycle owners – have “very serious concerns about E15 use” and 70 percent oppose increasing the amounts of ethanol blended into gasoline.

In addition to winter storage and engine repair concerns, ethanol-blended fuel is actually worse for our air and water. According to research from the University of Tennessee, ethanol’s “clean alternative” record is “highly questionable.” The 2014 federal National Climate Assessment reported that ethanol production can require 220 times more water than gasoline.

Ninety-one percent of those surveyed by BoatU.S. prefer non-ethanol fuel for their boats. An AMA commissioned poll found that 78 percent of all voters – not just motorcycle owners – have “very serious concerns about E15 use” and 70 percent oppose increasing the amounts of ethanol blended into gasoline.

But the Environmental Protection Agency ignores the public’s concerns and continues to increase the amount of ethanol required to be blended in our nation’s gas. Even though it’s illegal to use E15 (15 percent ethanol by volume) in marine engines, snowmobiles, motorcycles, lawnmowers, and any vehicle made before 2001, E15 can now be found in 24 states. Using E15 in many vehicles on the road today will void the manufacturer’s warranty. With a recent $100 million USDA grant made available to subsidize the installation of blender pumps at gas stations throughout the country, access to ethanol- free gas may soon be more difficult, leading to even more cases of inadvertent mis-fueling and engine damage. Thankfully, Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to repeal the ethanol mandate, but the question remains whether our legislators will protect consumers and our environment by eliminating the ethanol mandate.

With a recent $100 million USDA grant made available to subsidize the installation of blender pumps at gas stations throughout the country, access to ethanol- free gas may soon be more difficult, leading to even more cases of inadvertent mis-fueling and engine damage.

Thankfully, Congress is considering bipartisan legislation to repeal the ethanol

mandate, but the question remains whether our legislators will protect consumers and our environment by eliminating the ethanol mandate.

Rob Dingman is the President and CEO of the American Motorcyclist Association, America’s largest motorcycling organization and Margaret Podlich is the President of the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nation’s largest recreational boat owner advocacy, service and safety group.

STA-BIL is available at fine chandler's shops. Other Boating Features: Boat Ramp Courtesy Maintain Boat Value Battery Maintenance Clean Your Boat 10 Safe Refueling Tips Marine First Aid Prepare your Inflatable New Upper Deck Capacity Rules The Boating Dog

STA-BIL is available at fine chandler's shops.

Other Boating Features: Boat Ramp Courtesy Maintain Boat Value Battery Maintenance Clean Your Boat 10 Safe Refueling Tips Marine First Aid Prepare your Inflatable New Upper Deck Capacity Rules The Boating Dog

Other Boating Features:

10 Safe Refueling Tips

Prepare your Inflatable

New Upper Deck Capacity Rules

ABOUT PILOT MEDIA Pilot Media publishes boating guides providing comprehensive information on boating and waterfront living. Each edition includes an index of boat related businesses, reference maps, marina & boatyard guides, a directory of waterfront & water-access restaurants - The Pilot's Galley - and a Fishing Guide that includes a directory to area fishing service providers. Read more > Copyright © 2018 Pilot Media II LLC

Pilot Media publishes boating guides providing comprehensive information on boating and waterfront living. Each edition includes an index of boat related businesses, reference maps, marina & boatyard guides, a directory of waterfront & water-access restaurants - The Pilot's Galley - and a Fishing Guide that includes a directory to area fishing service providers. Read more >

GET AROUND Subscribe Today! Contact Pilot About Pilot Media Marketing Services Home PILOT EDITIONS Piedmont Lakes Pilot Grand Strand Pilot Old North State Pilot Tennessee Valley Pilot Cape Fear Coast Pilot RED SKY AT NIGHT? GET YOUR ACTUAL FORECAST:

GET AROUND Subscribe Today! Contact Pilot About Pilot Media Marketing Services Home

PILOT EDITIONS Piedmont Lakes Pilot Grand Strand Pilot Old North State Pilot Tennessee Valley Pilot Cape Fear Coast Pilot

Piedmont Lakes Pilot

Old North State Pilot

Tennessee Valley Pilot

Cape Fear Coast Pilot

RED SKY AT NIGHT? GET YOUR ACTUAL FORECAST:

GET YOUR ACTUAL FORECAST:

GOT FEEDBACK? TELL IT:

Piedmont Lakes Pilot | Pilot Media

Navigation