Recreational gas problem?

[cdavisdb]

I run non-alcohol gas in my volvo I/O and 4 stroke kicker, juiced from 90 to 92 octane because the main engine is very high compression and prefers 93 octane. Seldom go more than 30 days between starting either one. Recently I had a problem with both engines that sure looked like fuel. In the kicker, corrosion in the fuel pump, crap in the bowl and blockages that would not come out inside the carb, nothing in the on-engine filter. Finally got an entirely new carb. At about the same time, in the main engine, I lost a low pressure fuel pump and found crap and corrosion in the holding tank between hi and low pressure pumps, valve in that tank sticking due to corrosion. Never saw anything in the Racor filters. Note: since using non alcohol gas, I never see any water in the filters, except in the Bahamas which don't have any E10.

I've been warned that non-alcohol gas can be contaminated with E10. If so, a little bit of E10 plus condensate water in the tank could make a fair amount of sludge.

Could this get pulled thru Racor filters and screw up the engines?

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by cdavisdb

I run non-alcohol gas in my volvo I/O and 4 stroke kicker, juiced from 90 to 92 octane because the main engine is very high compression and prefers 93 octane. Seldom go more than 30 days between starting either one. Recently I had a problem with both engines that sure looked like fuel. In the kicker, corrosion in the fuel pump, crap in the bowl and blockages that would not come out inside the carb, nothing in the on-engine filter. Finally got an entirely new carb. At about the same time, in the main engine, I lost a low pressure fuel pump and found crap and corrosion in the holding tank between hi and low pressure pumps, valve in that tank sticking due to corrosion. Never saw anything in the Racor filters. Note: since using non alcohol gas, I never see any water in the filters, except in the Bahamas which don't have any E10.

I've been warned that non-alcohol gas can be contaminated with E10. If so, a little bit of E10 plus condensate water in the tank could make a fair amount of sludge.

Could this get pulled thru Racor filters and screw up the engines?

Hmmm.
Nothing in the racor?
Did you empty it into a glass?
In theory, the water should stay at the bottom.
E 10 is just rec gas before they add ethanol.
IE sympatico.

[cdavisdb]

Yep, emptied both into clear glass containers, many times, has looked fine in the last year or so. Haven't seen any water in a long time. Given that my tanks are not often completely full and the humidity around here, some condensate should be present. Unless there is E10 contamination.

[gofastsandman]

My understanding is they add the ethanol to the trucks, so maybe someone was asleep at the wheel?

They have test kits.

Have you had the culprits apart recently or could this be residual?