Non Ethanol/ Marine Fuel
Non Ethanol/ Marine Fuel (for boats, small engines, classic cars, etc...) – We offer conventional (87 Oct) unleaded gasoline, commonly referred to as marine gas. This gasoline is not available at, "regular," gas stations. Regular gas stations carry E-10 gasohol which is a 90% gasoline 10% ethanol mixture. We offer traditional NON ETHANOL FUEL. Since its introduction E-10 has gained a bad reputation. E-10 isn't as efficient as gasoline, this is even more evident when we compare it's performance in water and its preference to “Phase Separate.” Phase separation occurs when water enters via condensation or contamination and the water pulls the ethanol out of the gas. Ethanol is used as an octane booster in gasohol, if the ethanol “drops“ out so does the octane. For example, if a gasohol with a minimum octane rating of 87 (regular) was to experience phase separation, the result would be a gasohol with an octane rating of about 84 octane. This results in less than optimal detonation which can result in, “pinging,“ this is very harmful to an engine. However, the damage is not limited to just, "pinging." If the engine is two stroke, the contaminated ethanol and water will displace the oil used to lubricate the moving parts, this can lead to water ending up where oil should be. The end result is that parts that require lubrication, to prevent friction , end up going without it The lack of proper lubrication can cause engine failure.
Water as a separate phase, however, can have differing effects on gasoline engines, depending on whether the engine is two-stroke (generally with smaller engines) or four-stroke (i.e. automobile engines). In the case of conventional and MTBE blended gasoline, when a water phase forms, it will drop to the bottom of the fuel tank, and can be drawn into the engine by the fuel pump. Large amounts of water will prevent the engine from running, but no engine damage will result. Phase separation in ethanol-blended gasoline, however, can be more damaging than in MTBE blends and straight gasoline. When phase separation occurs in an ethanol blended gasoline, the water will actually begin to remove the ethanol from the gasoline. Therefore, the second phase which can occur in ethanol blends contains both ethanol and water, as opposed to just water in MTBE blends and conventional gasoline. In the case of two-stroke engines, this water-ethanol phase will compete with the blended oil preventing it from bonding to the metal engine parts. This can result in the engine not getting enough lubrication which may result in engine damage. In the case of four-stroke engines, the water-ethanol phase may combust in the engine and this combustion may damage the engine. The water ethanol phase creates a leaner combustion mixture (i.e. air to fuel ratio is higher than recommended) leaner mixtures can combust at higher temperatures, higher temperatures can damage engines. Engines without sensors to calibrate air to fuel ratios are especially vulnerable to this situation.