5.0 and E85?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 941
Likes: 25
From: Port huron MI
The shelf life and fact that ethanol absorbs moisture are its two biggest downfalls to me. both of which there isn't you can do anything about and effects both small engine and marine engines. The face that boats are in very damp environments most of their lives makes this even worse. But the EPA doesn't care and is doing everything it can to eliminate ethanol free gas. Good for me, i work for a marine parts distributor, we sell more water seperators lol.
It's not as much of an issue in cars and trucks unless they are stored for long periods or the station has dirty gas. then some kind of gas treatment is a must.
It's not as much of an issue in cars and trucks unless they are stored for long periods or the station has dirty gas. then some kind of gas treatment is a must.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 536
From: barton city mi
Exactly.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
The shelf life and fact that ethanol absorbs moisture are its two biggest downfalls to me. both of which there isn't you can do anything about and effects both small engine and marine engines. The face that boats are in very damp environments most of their lives makes this even worse. But the EPA doesn't care and is doing everything it can to eliminate ethanol free gas. Good for me, i work for a marine parts distributor, we sell more water seperators lol.
It's not as much of an issue in cars and trucks unless they are stored for long periods or the station has dirty gas. then some kind of gas treatment is a must.
It's not as much of an issue in cars and trucks unless they are stored for long periods or the station has dirty gas. then some kind of gas treatment is a must.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 941
Likes: 25
From: Port huron MI
Small gas stations just have water in the tanks ethanol or not...small engines will have issues if not winterized ethanol or not (my lawn mower hasn't had any issues). I guess I just don't have exposure to the problems I only hear about on forums so my perspective is skewed. Either way I am certainly a fan of choice.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
I guess thats how some places get away with E0?
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
So I have a 5.0L also and I have though about when I order a tuner to get a E85 tune but where I live in Florida we are actually loosing E85 to ethonal free 87 for boats since living in an area close to water that's where the money is made for them. I personally didn't think it would make to much of a difference anyways because it is a natural aspirated engine where a couple of my friend's with Subaru's can almost have a 50-60HP difference between 93 and E85. I may experiment with it in the near future but i am curious as to what y'all think about it with the stick tuning on the trucks and also if anyone has had a tune done for E85 on thier 5L
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
So I have a 5.0L also and I have though about when I order a tuner to get a E85 tune but where I live in Florida we are actually loosing E85 to ethonal free 87 for boats since living in an area close to water that's where the money is made for them. I personally didn't think it would make to much of a difference anyways because it is a natural aspirated engine where a couple of my friend's with Subaru's can almost have a 50-60HP difference between 93 and E85. I may experiment with it in the near future but i am curious as to what y'all think about it with the stick tuning on the trucks and also if anyone has had a tune done for E85 on thier 5L
It's subjective if we are talking about using it with the factory settings...just try it out. I personally had a WRX but shyed away from E85 do to the need for new injectors and a pump...plus it was not as widely available in DFW as it is now. Damn dose it produce mad power with those Turbo's. I ended up settleing with a custom 93 tune that added 60lbft and a "modest" 25hp. That car was amazing lol.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
Small gas stations just have water in the tanks ethanol or not...small engines will have issues if not winterized ethanol or not (my lawn mower hasn't had any issues). I guess I just don't have exposure to the problems I only hear about on forums so my perspective is skewed. Either way I am certainly a fan of choice.
Ethanol absorbs moisture from the air, E-free gas does not. In humid environments, it collects much faster. If it collects enough, it will phase separate (not good). It also shortens the life of polymers in the fuel system, and is far more corrosive to metals (than E-free gas). For seasonal engines and marine environments, it's a terrible fuel.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
Ethanol absorbs moisture from the air, E-free gas does not. In humid environments, it collects much faster. If it collects enough, it will phase separate (not good). It also shortens the life of polymers in the fuel system, and is far more corrosive to metals (than E-free gas). For seasonal engines and marine environments, it's a terrible fuel.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 941
Likes: 25
From: Port huron MI
As I have read, over and over again. Dose not change the fact that many gas stations tend to collect water rather it is E10 or E0. I grew up in Houston, Tx, about as humid as it gets...never have had water or heard of water in someones gas tank. My step dad's boat dose not have any issues either despite sitting for months at a time. Again as I said earlier, I have never seen any of these claims actually happen.
Believe what you will but ethanol fule makes our dealers a ton of money pumping out fuel tanks and over hauling fule systems. There are also many boats running from the 70's and ethanol tears up rubber lines, gaskets and orings in those old things. That is one of the worries people have with older no flex fuel cars and the ever increasing ethanol in regular gas.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
Regular gas does not absorb moisture(no where as much) and for the most part they stay separate, ethanol does and will phase change to where the water laden ethanol will separate. Sure there is water in every tank, normally that is not sucked up unless the tank is ran down. In ethanol blends the water doesn't stay separate because it's been absorbed.
Believe what you will but ethanol fule makes our dealers a ton of money pumping out fuel tanks and over hauling fule systems. There are also many boats running from the 70's and ethanol tears up rubber lines, gaskets and orings in those old things. That is one of the worries people have with older no flex fuel cars and the ever increasing ethanol in regular gas.
Believe what you will but ethanol fule makes our dealers a ton of money pumping out fuel tanks and over hauling fule systems. There are also many boats running from the 70's and ethanol tears up rubber lines, gaskets and orings in those old things. That is one of the worries people have with older no flex fuel cars and the ever increasing ethanol in regular gas.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
Now if it is an old, low volume store then sure, I can see problems (But still see folks buying it) As for older equipment, then no one is argueing that.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
As I have read, over and over again. Dose not change the fact that many gas stations tend to collect water rather it is E10 or E0. I grew up in Houston, Tx, about as humid as it gets...never have had water or heard of water in someones gas tank. My step dad's boat dose not have any issues either despite sitting for months at a time. Again as I said earlier, I have never seen any of these claims actually happen.
I've seen puddles of water sitting at the bottom of gas tanks with E10 after sitting for a few months, phase separated. In real life, not on the internet. Just because you have limited experience with it does not mean it doesn't happen. I grew up on a farm, with dozens of vehicles and dozens of small engines. I also worked as a dealership technician for years. When you deal with that many vehicles, you see things that a homeowner with two cars and a lawnmower might not see.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 336
Likes: 2
I've seen puddles of water sitting at the bottom of gas tanks with E10 after sitting for a few months, phase separated. In real life, not on the internet. Just because you have limited experience with it does not mean it doesn't happen. I grew up on a farm, with dozens of vehicles and dozens of small engines. I also worked as a dealership technician for years. When you deal with that many vehicles, you see things that a homeowner with two cars and a lawnmower might not see.
