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Author Topic:   Ethanol Damage To Fiberglass Fuel Tanks

BilgeRat posted 09-11-2008 09:20 AM ET (US)
I'm on the verge of buying a very low-hour 1998 Montauk with a 1998 Mercury 90. Local dealer says I should replace the fiberglass 24-gallon fuel tank or be prepared for major engine damage due to the interaction of the fiberglass tank and ethanol. The tank has a warning for using fuel with methyl-alcohol, but says nothing about ethanol. Will ethyl-alcohol damage the tank? Are any negatives known about either this model boat or motor? Are there any fuel-related maintenance precautions that need to be observed regarding ethanol? Thanks.
New 2 Whalers posted 09-11-2008 09:41 AM ET (US)
Do a search for ethanol.
There is a large volume of posts dealing with your question.
BTW, methanol or methyl alcohol, is wood alcohol.
glen e posted 09-11-2008 10:05 AM ET (US)
Yes - ask Bertram, Hatteras or Yellowfin...but older tanks....
jimh posted 09-11-2008 08:52 PM ET (US)
Just read the hundred or so prior discussions on the effect of ethanol on fiberglass fuel tanks.
megawhaler posted 09-16-2008 04:18 PM ET (US)
Replace the tank before using. Also check the fuel line going from the tank to the motor. Make sure it's rated for ethanol. If you have a gray Tempo fuel line with the plastic sleeve, that too needs to be replaced ASAP.
For all those who think they can get away a while longer with the old, or even newer Pate tanks, read on.
I was curious as to how bad the ethanol reacted with the [fiberglass fuel tank]. So last summer I removed a 12-gallon tank from my 15-footer. It was less than half full with 10-percent ethanol diluted fuel. I stood it on its end against the fence in my back yard for the winter. Come this June I opened the lid and looked in. To my amazement the fiberglass cloth used to form the tank was lifted in sheets, as if it was wrinkled as it was [laminated]. I dumped the fuel into another container. It was milky white, and small quarter size chunks of soft [residue] kept pouring out. Once they were exposed to the air for a couple of days they hardened up again. What amazed me the most was that even the portion of the tank that was not submerged in the ethanol-laced gasoline was also lifting up.
Good luck,
Mark
TC Goldman posted 09-17-2008 11:29 AM ET (US)
Everyone talks about the new (with sticker saying it's ok) Pate tanks being bad also?
Has anyone had a "new" Pate tank (with the sticker saying it's ok to use with ethanol) go bad?
I know the "old" tanks were not made for Ethanol. I know Pate is know out of business, but I thought I read somewhere that a truck or train hit there shop?
Please post if you did have a "new" tank go bad from Ethanol.
Thanks,
Todd
Nauti Tauk posted 09-17-2008 04:28 PM ET (US)
Tod,
I purchased a 27 gallon Pate tank in February 2006. It's suppose to be Ethanol proof......I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I may pay dearly down the road but it was sooooo expensive I just can't bring myself to throw it out. So far I haven't seen any "clouding" of the fuel. Here's hoping......
TC Goldman posted 09-17-2008 04:49 PM ET (US)
Nauti,
That's how I am thinking also.
Todd

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Author	Topic: Ethanol Damage To Fiberglass Fuel Tanks
BilgeRat	posted 09-11-2008 09:20 AM ET (US) I'm on the verge of buying a very low-hour 1998 Montauk with a 1998 Mercury 90. Local dealer says I should replace the fiberglass 24-gallon fuel tank or be prepared for major engine damage due to the interaction of the fiberglass tank and ethanol. The tank has a warning for using fuel with methyl-alcohol, but says nothing about ethanol. Will ethyl-alcohol damage the tank? Are any negatives known about either this model boat or motor? Are there any fuel-related maintenance precautions that need to be observed regarding ethanol? Thanks.
New 2 Whalers	posted 09-11-2008 09:41 AM ET (US) Do a search for ethanol. There is a large volume of posts dealing with your question. BTW, methanol or methyl alcohol, is wood alcohol.
glen e	posted 09-11-2008 10:05 AM ET (US) Yes - ask Bertram, Hatteras or Yellowfin...but older tanks....
jimh	posted 09-11-2008 08:52 PM ET (US) Just read the hundred or so prior discussions on the effect of ethanol on fiberglass fuel tanks.
megawhaler	posted 09-16-2008 04:18 PM ET (US) Replace the tank before using. Also check the fuel line going from the tank to the motor. Make sure it's rated for ethanol. If you have a gray Tempo fuel line with the plastic sleeve, that too needs to be replaced ASAP. For all those who think they can get away a while longer with the old, or even newer Pate tanks, read on. I was curious as to how bad the ethanol reacted with the [fiberglass fuel tank]. So last summer I removed a 12-gallon tank from my 15-footer. It was less than half full with 10-percent ethanol diluted fuel. I stood it on its end against the fence in my back yard for the winter. Come this June I opened the lid and looked in. To my amazement the fiberglass cloth used to form the tank was lifted in sheets, as if it was wrinkled as it was [laminated]. I dumped the fuel into another container. It was milky white, and small quarter size chunks of soft [residue] kept pouring out. Once they were exposed to the air for a couple of days they hardened up again. What amazed me the most was that even the portion of the tank that was not submerged in the ethanol-laced gasoline was also lifting up. Good luck, Mark
TC Goldman	posted 09-17-2008 11:29 AM ET (US) Everyone talks about the new (with sticker saying it's ok) Pate tanks being bad also? Has anyone had a "new" Pate tank (with the sticker saying it's ok to use with ethanol) go bad? I know the "old" tanks were not made for Ethanol. I know Pate is know out of business, but I thought I read somewhere that a truck or train hit there shop? Please post if you did have a "new" tank go bad from Ethanol. Thanks, Todd
Nauti Tauk	posted 09-17-2008 04:28 PM ET (US) Tod, I purchased a 27 gallon Pate tank in February 2006. It's suppose to be Ethanol proof......I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I may pay dearly down the road but it was sooooo expensive I just can't bring myself to throw it out. So far I haven't seen any "clouding" of the fuel. Here's hoping......
TC Goldman	posted 09-17-2008 04:49 PM ET (US) Nauti, That's how I am thinking also. Todd