R22 Discussion Group

Here's a little history lesson for da list. Prior to unleaded gasoline we  
ran regular gas with lead in it. Lead was used as an anti-knock agent in 
engines  and also lubricated the valves. Lead started showing up in the air and 
also  water supplies, so the government switched everyone to unleaded 
gasoline, but  added MTBE to it to help it burn cleaner in vehicles with 
catalytic converters.  Then we started to see MTBE show up in water tests and also 
in the meat of fish  and birds. They banned the use of MTBE and replaced it 
with ethanol, which burns  clean and adds oxygen for the burning of the 
gasoline. The switch from MTBE to  ethanol was so quick that small engine 
manufacturers had little time to gear up  for it or do any substantial testing to 
see what would fail. And we all know  where we stand today. Plastic fuel 
lines, fuel filters and some carburetor parts  could not stand up to the 
ethanol. Ethanol as a fuel works great. I have a Dodge  pickup that is a flex fuel 
vehicle and I buy and burn ethanol whenever I find  it. It is usually 
cheaper than gasoline and I like the way it smells at the tail  pipe. And no, it's 
not consumable. The government adds ten percent gasoline just  to make sure 
someone doesn't try drinking it.

Rummy

In a message dated 9/9/2013 12:08:55 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
carmangeorge1326 at hotmail.com writes:

Hello  everyone!

My wife and I are new members and this is our first  message.

We own a 1984 recycled Rhodes 22 and are in our third  season sailing the 
top of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, our Yamaha 4 stroke  9.9 HP has 
experienced fouling issues apparently as a result of ethanol. The  carb has been 
cleaned and serviced twice this season and I have installed a 10  micron 
in-line fuel filter as well as Yamalube fuel additive to new fuel. We  took out 
the boat last Friday and the engine ran fine outbound for 20 minutes.  On the 
return it kept cutting out every 30 - 45 seconds. Boat U.S. ultimately  had 
to tow us in (they did a great job).

Has anyone experienced  similar issues? The only thing left is have someone 
professionally clean out  the tank but that's all I can think of.

The Rhodes is a fine  sailboat but oh those engines and that lousy  ethanol!

Thanks.

Frank and Linda  George

The Rhodes 22 Discussion Group

R22RumRunner at aol.com

The Curse of Ethanol/History lesson.