fuel choice

[jeffreyk573]

Gentlemen,
I would like your opinion on whether you would run 87 octane "pure gas"
or 93 octane E10. That is what I'm trying to decide on right now. I have only been able to find one station in my entire area that sells pure gas, but it's only 87oct. I can find 93 E10 all over. I have only had my saltare out once this year, and she had a pretty good miss at higher RPM. I have since siphoned all of the last years gas, and changed the fuelfilter/water sep. I need to put gas in tommorrow for the only day this weekend that I can go to the lake, and would like some input.

[cigars n scotch]

Actually I am interested in this post in general so I hope that others who have a 21v (mine is an '08) post up what fuel they are running. I run Mid-grade in mine right now (I think it's 89 in my area) and was wondering what others run or suggest I run. do you all run high-test or mid?

[jeffreyk573]

I have previously just been running what i can find, and not even using an additive. But I think that needs to change. This is an old engine with about 1300 hours on it. and I'm not really ready to rebuild it just yet. So I think that with some TLC, maybe I can get at least another season out of her.

[whelchel86]

87 ethanol free in mine. It's 1/2 mile from the house and only about 15 cents more per gallon.

[Blackntan90]

I have been running 87 with 10percent ethanol for about 10 years now- no problems at all- I also use seafoam regularly.

[csuggs]

87 Octane E10 - with Marine Stabil added for ethanol.

[cadunkle]

I don't know what these PCM 454 was designed to run on, or what was done to the engine when it was rebuilt by the previous owner... So no idea on what octane. 89 is pretty common on the water so I've always run that in my boat, figuring no one would build a boat engine that wouldn't run on what you can get on the water. I get no detonation so all is well. I suppose I could try 87 and save $4 per tank, but for 40+ gallons $4 is fairly insignificant to me.

As for ethanol, all we have around here is E10. They outlawed MTBE here, which is retarded, but because of that there's no choice. I've never had a problem with E10 and wouldn't worry about it. Worst case is you need to adjust your idle mixture and jetting to compensate, but it would be a small amount for only 10%.

[haugy]

I run ethanol free. But my main desire for this is for hose protection and storage ability. Ethanol will eat up hoses and is prone to water collection under storage.

I've done a test in the Mariah on 89 Ethanol free, and 89 10% ethanol. I had not timing issues or detonation problems. I also had the same powerband except at top end. My top end did suffer with 10% ethanol.

I also did a fuel consumption measure. I used two 5 gallons jugs and ran a line to them. One each of the fuel above. I could run longer at 2500rpm on the clean non 10% ethanol fuel. Which is what most people are encountering.

So I get 89 octane ethanol free for my Saltare. Should help on any old hoses I've yet to replace, and give me a longer running solid burn.

[Patrick56]

87 or 89 100% gasoline in my 03' SSV. Ethanol is can attract water, is a detergent not a lubricant and has a pretty short shelf life.

[csuggs]

Wish I knew where to get 100% gas

[jet]

Use to run Super till I got the 4-Blade..now 89 is fine!

[whelchel86]

Wish I knew where to get 100% gas


Here you go, maybe this will help.

http://pure-gas.org/

[pap]

Are stations required to have a sticker on the pump if there is ethanol? I thought so, but we have several stations locally where I've filled up my boat that do not mention ethanol at all, so I have been assuming that it is pure gas.

I was running 93 octane, but just last trip started using the 89 as that's what the manual says to run.

[jeffreyk573]

Well, I went with the 87oct pure gas, added Lucas upper cyl lubricant and berrymans B12. Boat ran great for the first 20 minutes then the dreaded miss
returned. I think that it's fuel related. Not really sure where to go from here.
I replaced the carb with a Brand New Holley last year. Any suggestions?