Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I spent a good deal of time testing the 6 month old E-10 gas in the boat using the kit I got from http://www.fuel-testers.com/index.html - a good source of info. I checked the fuel from 3 different levels in the tank that has about 25 gallons remaining in it from last summer. All levels showed no water and about 8% ethanol. I've decided that I would pull out ~5 gallons to use in the tractor and add 5 gallons of supreme for an octane boost with some Startron or Stabil marine additive. I'm doing this mostly because I simply have no place to store or dispose of all the gas in the tank.

What did they send you to test it. Was it somethimng that gave you the desired info immediatly. Or did you have to send them samples. It sound like it must have given you the results immediatly. If so it sounds like something good to keep around..

Haven't I heard before that you shouldn't use anything onther than 87 octane in a boat????

Just wondering, as I know for a fact that the octane makes a difference in my autos. ( I actually can't put anything less than 91 in my car, or it runs like crap).

Of course, this thinking may be based on the fact that I have a 2 stroke as well.

Last year I was with my father in law when he picked up his new boat. Mind you it is an I/O but I was shocked when they told him that under no circumstances is he to put premium gas in the tank.
I asked the tech what that was about and he said the manufacturer recomends regular. I dont know about you but I always ran premium in my boats and my Harleys. So I said the hell with it and switched to Mid Grade on my boat. But my question about the premium in a carburated boat like father inlaws is what could it hurt and why would they recomend not using premium.

Only difference I know of between the 3 grades 87,89 and 91 is the octane rating to resist knocking or pinging. The higher the octane the higher the compression ratio the engine can have with out preignition! They also tend to put more detergents in the higher grades also. If the manufacturer states 87 is all you need, then you won't gain anything by using a higher octane except a lighter wallet. The oil company's push high test because they make more profit on it.

Hey Ghost Rider,

It's a little kit I got with easy instructions from fuel-testers.com - real simple to use. Will let you quickly assess the integrity of the fuel at home or at the pump. Check it for water and ethanol content.

That's what I had wondered as well " What would it hurt to run a 10% ethanol blend".
Reason I ask is it is hard to find places around here, with just straight gasoline. Also, there are several stations around, where 89 octane is actually cheaper than 87, becuase of the abundance and location of the Corn to make the ethanol.

That, and I don't mind spending the extra $2 per tank of gas on higher octane fuel, if it is better for my engine. Wheter that be my car/truck/boat/mower/etc. it's like insurance in my mind.

We get 85, 87, 91 out here...
Ya, i know, 85?
Junk...

None the less, UP here in Colorado, we get 85 since 'supposedly' we can burn it.

I always use 87 in da toon....