With snowmobile season kicking into high gear across many parts
of the country, those who enjoy the outdoors are pulling their machines out of
storage and getting them ready for another season of exploring. Unfortunately,
there are persistent rumors that could mislead snowmobilers about fuel issues
related to ethanol. Knowledge is power, so let’s examine a few of the more
glaring myths around ethanol use with facts that explain why ethanol is safe to
use in your small engine.
Myth: Any
level of ethanol blended into gasoline is harmful to small engines.
Fact:
Leading snowmobile manufactures such as Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, Yamaha and Polaris
all approve the use of fuel containing ethanol in their engines. An extensive amount
of study has determined that E10, or fuel containing 10 percent ethanol and 90
percent gasoline, is suitable for use in small engines such as those found in
snowmobiles and outboard boat motors. After all, ethanol is already in 97
percent of gas sold in the United States, so most outdoor enthusiasts are
already using it and not experiencing issues.
Myth:
Ethanol causes fuel to separate if it sits for an extended period of time.
Fact:
Due to the fact that ethanol is water-soluble, it actually helps prevent phase
separation. If a small amount of water finds its way into the fuel tank, as is
common in small engines, ethanol allows it to be absorbed into the fuel mixture
and pass harmlessly through the engine. West Marine states that this is
actually a benefit of ethanol, not a drawback, as ethanol “…tends to keep low
levels of water moving through the fuel system, keeping the system ‘dry.’” If a
more significant amount of water is introduced into the fuel tank, inevitably
problems will occur regardless of ethanol content. This is why outdoor enthusiasts
should top off their tanks before use to prevent condensation and ensure tanks
are empty before storing vehicles for an extended period of time.
Myth:
Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline.
Fact:
Testing done by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers determined that
fuel containing ethanol is not any more corrosive than non-ethanol fuel. In
fact, the issue related to damage of small engines comes from the aromatics,
which cause damage to the lines and fuel seals. Any fuel can be corrosive given
the right conditions, so users should always follow manuals and practice proper
storage procedures.
Myth:
Ethanol provides less power than pure gasoline.
Fact:
Ethanol is a high-octane biofuel that provides engines with more horsepower
than regular gasoline. Pure ethanol has an octane rating of 113 (or higher),
while most regular gasoline is 87. Ethanol is added to fuel to raise the octane
level and prevent engine knocking. Previous fuel additives such as MTBE were
polluting the air and waterways, and were significantly more expensive than
ethanol. By switching to ethanol, our environment is cleaner and fuel is
cheaper without any loss in power.
Myth: The
numerous products sold claiming to cure ethanol-related issues are proof
problems exist.
Fact:
Any golfer or fishing enthusiast knows that just because a product is marketed
as a miracle answer for improved results does not mean the product actually
works as advertised. Engine issues can be hard to explain and even more
annoying to fix, so it should be no surprise that products are sold claiming to
be an easy fix. In reality, E10 fuel can actually reduce the need for fuel
additives, since it prevents fuel line freeze, as noted by the Travelers Motor
Club. That is why the snowmobile owner’s manual for Polaris recommends that
those using non-ethanol fuel add another alcohol-based additive to their gas
tank to prevent damage resulting from fuel system icing.
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About American Ethanol
Representing
a wide array of ethanol supporters, from farmers to bio-engineering firms,
American Ethanol was established by Growth Energy, in partnership with the
National Corn Growers Association and others. By establishing a marketing
partnership with NASCAR starting with the 2011 racing season, the same year
that NASCAR switched its fuel to Sunoco Green E15, American Ethanol aims to
educate and inform the broader American public about the benefits of U.S.-made
ethanol. For more
information, visit www.AmericanEthanolRacing.com,
follow us on Twitter @AmericanEthanol
or connect with us on Facebook.
