Alcohol, Gasoline, and Fiberglass Fuel Tanks

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Author Topic:   Alcohol, Gasoline, and Fiberglass Fuel Tanks

BemidjiWhaler posted 05-14-2004 10:15 PM ET (US)
My fiberglass 24-gallon fuel tank for our 2003 Montauk 170 arrived today. I noticed a warning on the tank to avoid using fuel with alcohol in it, if possible.
My wife,(The Skipper), and I, live in the midwest. Almost everyone here is doing their best to add ethanol to gasoline. Most of the fuel is already at least 10-percent ethanol.
Scientific-type-Whalerologists: Should I be concerned about fuel with ethanol and a fiberglass tank?
Regards,
Dave

jimh posted 05-15-2004 09:19 AM ET (US)
You should send a letter to your United State Congress representative to let him know that you do not appreciate the use of your tax money to subsidize the cost of producing alcohol-gasoline blended fuels.
Without subsidy of your tax dollars, the price of ethanol blended fuels would be significantly higher than pure gasoline, and they would be unsustainable in the marketplace. Because of this a great deal of political pressure was applied, in the name of "the environment", on the Congress of the United States to create a subsidy for the dilution of gasoline with expense-to-produce alcohol. Thus the market for ethanol fuel was artificially created and continues to survive only due to the aid of your own money being used to subsidize it.
Diluting gasoline with alcohol is bad science. It is, in the end, nothing more than a political pay out to the farmers who grow excess corn and to the Archer Daniels Midland Company who makes millions of dollars in profit from the sale of the alcohol to use in diluting gasoline.
There is little if any environmental benefit, no economic benefit, and substantial potential for harm, as you have discovered in the purchase of your Pate fuel tank.
You should also vote with your purchase dollars and seek to buy only gasoline fuel which has not been diluted with alcohol. The BP-brand of gasoline is often available as pure gasoline, and should be used in preference to ethanol fuels.
Also, your fuel economy will be greater with pure gasoline, which may make it more attractive even if sold at a slightly higher price.
John from Madison CT posted 05-15-2004 04:28 PM ET (US)
Man.....glad I didn't comment on a "non-Whaler" related matter. : ) : ) : )
BemidjiWhaler posted 05-16-2004 03:14 PM ET (US)
jimh,
Thanks for the info about British Petroleum (no acronyms or abbreviations from this boy again).
Dave
Divedog posted 05-16-2004 11:56 PM ET (US)
I'd be more concerned about your motor that the gas tank. I just delivery of my 04 Montauk and spent the weekend going through the owners manuals. Mercury recommends that you do not run fuel with alcohol. It increases the condensation and contributes to the corrosion of your engine.
jimh posted 05-17-2004 07:31 AM ET (US)
For more information about BP in the United States, see their web site:
http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=488&contentId=2000734. All of their stations use the "BP" name for their brand.
I remember when Standard Oil became Esso then later Exxon.
Clark Roberts posted 05-17-2004 07:36 AM ET (US)
Long term effects can be softened/erroded gaskets in fuel pump, carbs and any related fuel line items. Noteable are the fuel lines themselves (if not alcohol resistant) and especially the primer bulb which can get cardiac arrest and get smushy and gooy inside. The residue from the disintergrating primer bulb will find its way into the carb and so on. As to the tank, I would call Pate and ask them how long it takes for the tank to melt down! Happy Whalin'... Clark.. Spruce Creek Navy
pilat posted 06-28-2006 02:02 AM ET (US)
[Complimented the participants on their knowledge.]
Buckda posted 06-30-2006 10:37 AM ET (US)
Better yet,
Write your congressperson and ask that they encourage Canada to produce, and offer to buy, oil from the oil sands in Alberta.
In addition to wonderful scenery, beautiful lakes full of walleye, and vast timber reserves, Canada has more oil than Saudi Arabia.....and....AND...get this: They're a democratic country, which is (generally) friendly to the US. These two great countries would control everything - from discovery and production all the way to transportation and delivery. Not only would you be supporting North American economy and workers, you would be decreasing the power of these Middle East dictatorships on the world stage, allowing them to focus on rising to prominence through other, more altrustic means.
You'd also be yanking a major funding source for terrorist organizations and supporting a democratically elected government which has sound and responsible environmental controls and regulations on the industry.
Finally, this is a country that is our neighbor, and our friend. Canadians travel in the US often, and US citizens, travel to Canada often. The country has a vast wilderness North, which they have a keen interest (although limited funds) to protect, as should we - both from an environmental and defense perspective. I really don't understand, now that oil is above $60 per barrel for good, why we don't focus our efforts in this direction.

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Author	Topic: Alcohol, Gasoline, and Fiberglass Fuel Tanks
BemidjiWhaler	posted 05-14-2004 10:15 PM ET (US) My fiberglass 24-gallon fuel tank for our 2003 Montauk 170 arrived today. I noticed a warning on the tank to avoid using fuel with alcohol in it, if possible. My wife,(The Skipper), and I, live in the midwest. Almost everyone here is doing their best to add ethanol to gasoline. Most of the fuel is already at least 10-percent ethanol. Scientific-type-Whalerologists: Should I be concerned about fuel with ethanol and a fiberglass tank? Regards, Dave
jimh	posted 05-15-2004 09:19 AM ET (US) You should send a letter to your United State Congress representative to let him know that you do not appreciate the use of your tax money to subsidize the cost of producing alcohol-gasoline blended fuels. Without subsidy of your tax dollars, the price of ethanol blended fuels would be significantly higher than pure gasoline, and they would be unsustainable in the marketplace. Because of this a great deal of political pressure was applied, in the name of "the environment", on the Congress of the United States to create a subsidy for the dilution of gasoline with expense-to-produce alcohol. Thus the market for ethanol fuel was artificially created and continues to survive only due to the aid of your own money being used to subsidize it. Diluting gasoline with alcohol is bad science. It is, in the end, nothing more than a political pay out to the farmers who grow excess corn and to the Archer Daniels Midland Company who makes millions of dollars in profit from the sale of the alcohol to use in diluting gasoline. There is little if any environmental benefit, no economic benefit, and substantial potential for harm, as you have discovered in the purchase of your Pate fuel tank. You should also vote with your purchase dollars and seek to buy only gasoline fuel which has not been diluted with alcohol. The BP-brand of gasoline is often available as pure gasoline, and should be used in preference to ethanol fuels. Also, your fuel economy will be greater with pure gasoline, which may make it more attractive even if sold at a slightly higher price.
John from Madison CT	posted 05-15-2004 04:28 PM ET (US) Man.....glad I didn't comment on a "non-Whaler" related matter. : ) : ) : )
BemidjiWhaler	posted 05-16-2004 03:14 PM ET (US) jimh, Thanks for the info about British Petroleum (no acronyms or abbreviations from this boy again). Dave
Divedog	posted 05-16-2004 11:56 PM ET (US) I'd be more concerned about your motor that the gas tank. I just delivery of my 04 Montauk and spent the weekend going through the owners manuals. Mercury recommends that you do not run fuel with alcohol. It increases the condensation and contributes to the corrosion of your engine.
jimh	posted 05-17-2004 07:31 AM ET (US) For more information about BP in the United States, see their web site: http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=488&contentId=2000734. All of their stations use the "BP" name for their brand. I remember when Standard Oil became Esso then later Exxon.
Clark Roberts	posted 05-17-2004 07:36 AM ET (US) Long term effects can be softened/erroded gaskets in fuel pump, carbs and any related fuel line items. Noteable are the fuel lines themselves (if not alcohol resistant) and especially the primer bulb which can get cardiac arrest and get smushy and gooy inside. The residue from the disintergrating primer bulb will find its way into the carb and so on. As to the tank, I would call Pate and ask them how long it takes for the tank to melt down! Happy Whalin'... Clark.. Spruce Creek Navy
pilat	posted 06-28-2006 02:02 AM ET (US) [Complimented the participants on their knowledge.]
Buckda	posted 06-30-2006 10:37 AM ET (US) Better yet, Write your congressperson and ask that they encourage Canada to produce, and offer to buy, oil from the oil sands in Alberta. In addition to wonderful scenery, beautiful lakes full of walleye, and vast timber reserves, Canada has more oil than Saudi Arabia.....and....AND...get this: They're a democratic country, which is (generally) friendly to the US. These two great countries would control everything - from discovery and production all the way to transportation and delivery. Not only would you be supporting North American economy and workers, you would be decreasing the power of these Middle East dictatorships on the world stage, allowing them to focus on rising to prominence through other, more altrustic means. You'd also be yanking a major funding source for terrorist organizations and supporting a democratically elected government which has sound and responsible environmental controls and regulations on the industry. Finally, this is a country that is our neighbor, and our friend. Canadians travel in the US often, and US citizens, travel to Canada often. The country has a vast wilderness North, which they have a keen interest (although limited funds) to protect, as should we - both from an environmental and defense perspective. I really don't understand, now that oil is above $60 per barrel for good, why we don't focus our efforts in this direction.