Performance and Ethonal

[max200]

It feels like my motors performance is down some mabye due to ethonal. I'm not the only one who has noticed this. A couple boat buds agree on this as well a few friends with dirt bikes, and yes I am aware it is summer but the numbers are down more than usual. Anyone else notice this???

[Stitch King]

Ethanol has less btu's than gasoline. You need 27-30% more ethanol than gas to get the same power output.

So if a gallon of gas has 10% ethanol then yes you will see a drop in performance. Let me know what the HP rating of your motor is and I can estimate the drop you should expect.

[benski]

It is too true about ethanol, as Stitch King says. Keep an eye out on your fuel hoses, diaphragms, filters, o-rings, etc. as well.

[max200]

I run a 200 promax. that probably explains a few things. gonna try an experiment this weekend our local sonoco sells race fuel around the corner gonna burn a tank of that, but I don't know if they tamper with that to.

[mirage243]

I run a 200 promax. that probably explains a few things. gonna try an experiment this weekend our local sonoco sells race fuel around the corner gonna burn a tank of that, but I don't know if they tamper with that to.

There will be no ethanol in Sunoco race fuel.

[max200]

good to hear since it will be a 7.00 dollar per gallon experiment

[Bruster]

Ethanol has less btu's than gasoline. You need 27-30% more ethanol than gas to get the same power output.

So if a gallon of gas has 10% ethanol then yes you will see a drop in performance. Let me know what the HP rating of your motor is and I can estimate the drop you should expect.

Try bumping up your main jets one size larger. The ethanol is nothing more than a placeholder in your fuel tank. You (we) pay for it but it dosen't do anything. Don't get me started.....:eek:

[Wile E. Coyote]

Got to put more fuel in it . I run mine pig rich for the most part ,so I haven't noticed any looses . But we have lost a couple motors around here that where running close to lean before .Rich Martin 018:thumbsup:

[Stitch King]

Don't waste the money on the race fuel. Instead spend it on going bigger on the jets like Bruster said.

Or cook up a batch of ethanol (or buy it) and add 2 oz per gallon of gas. That will bring it back up to where you should be.

[max200]

gonna try the race gas anyway! to see how it runs. My mota is injected would have to change to an adjustable ecu. was gonna do that anyway. I'll see how it runs this weekend and post some results.

[mrcrsr]

i heard model airplane fuel w/ 30% nitro will boost performance, knew those glow planes were good for something:cheers:

[max200]

got a few gallons of that too. maybe I'll throw that in the mix. Make it sound like a top fuel drag boat. I wonder if anybody has tried nitro methane in a two stroke?

[theoldwizard]

It is too true about ethanol, as Stitch King says. Keep an eye out on your fuel hoses, diaphragms, filters, o-rings, etc. as well.
With only 10% ethanol you should have no problems with any "rubber" parts. The big problem is the free "clean out" of your fuel tank. Run good fuel filters, carry spares and replace them often ! :cheers:

[Mark75H]

got a few gallons of that too. maybe I'll throw that in the mix. Make it sound like a top fuel drag boat. I wonder if anybody has tried nitro methane in a two stroke?

Nitromethane is used in 2 stroke racing where rules allow ... which is very rare these days, but used to be common. It will not change the sound of the motor except for the moment it seizes up :eek: To use nitromethane you will have to go up on jetting.

It is no longer used in most racing categories due to the expense it caused in destroyed motors both while running and sitting. When it dries it forms highly corrosive salts that are also explosive (but hard to set off without a hammer).

[1BadAction]

I love the smell of 60% and castor in the morning, smells like... RACING :reddevil:

[Dutch]

if you dont have the compression to burn straight race fuel it will run worse.
try splashing with a little race fuel instead.

[max200]

Only gonna run about 1/3 tank of race gas. Maybe that will soak up some ethanol. can't afford more than that anyway.

[Michael J Giesler]

try mixing it with 100 octain av gas cheaper than race gas call your local airport just my 2cents.

[jphii]

got a few gallons of that too. maybe I'll throw that in the mix. Make it sound like a top fuel drag boat. I wonder if anybody has tried nitro methane in a two stroke?

I've tried nitro, and there are Pro Fuel outboard drag racers that use it. Mix about 4-6%, and go up at least a couple of sizes on jets. Don't know how that jetting transfers to richening your curve on an EFI motor. Plan on losing a motor experimenting.

I get almost as much performance out of Renegade 110 octane oxygenated fuel. Not so hard on engines either.

[max200]

Allright!! I ran some race gas but the weather was to bad for top end running, but I will tell you that the punch was totally back!!! felt really good. big difference hopefully tommorow night will be calm will post again when I get some top numbers.

[baldad45]

Here's my 1st hand experience with ethonol.First time out this year I had 5 gal. of premium from last year with stabalizer ,started great ,ran great but I've had bad experiences with old gas in the past. Got 5gal of fresh premium ,same oil mix ,but all our fuel now has 10% ethonol. Started hard,didn't planeout easy as before, stalled out trying to planeout. Before it would pull over 6000 at less than full throtle now only 5500 at wide open.I wouldn't have thought of the ethonol as the problem till I read this thread .But when the only thing I changed was the gas tank with the new gas I'm very suspicious. Still have 1/2 tank of that old gas to try next time out,that should confirm or rule out this idea. Thanks for the heads up. Glen

[theoldwizard]

Here's my 1st hand experience with ethonol.First time out this year I had 5 gal. of premium from last year with stabalizer ,started great ,ran great but I've had bad experiences with old gas in the past. Got 5gal of fresh premium ,same oil mix ,but all our fuel now has 10% ethonol. Started hard,didn't planeout easy as before, stalled out trying to planeout. Before it would pull over 6000 at less than full throtle now only 5500 at wide open.I wouldn't have thought of the ethonol as the problem till I read this thread .But when the only thing I changed was the gas tank with the new gas I'm very suspicious. Still have 1/2 tank of that old gas to try next time out,that should confirm or rule out this idea. Thanks for the heads up. Glen
Check/replace all filters !

Ethanol, even at only 10% is a wonderful fuel tank cleaner ! Expect to replace your filters several time this year. It also grabs and holds on to any moisture.

[harrells]

The only brand of sunoco race fuel un-leaded without ethanol is the 260 GTX. 98 OCTANE and GREEN in color. All other sunoco race fuels have ethanol or lead added. It is also found as CAM2 260gtx.

[h2oskiier30]

Try bumping up your main jets one size larger. The ethanol is nothing more than a placeholder in your fuel tank. You (we) pay for it but it dosen't do anything. Don't get me started.....:eek:

10% ethanol is an octane booster for blended gasoline. 80% naphtha (approx. 70 octane), 10% regular gasoline, and 10% ethanol...which boosts octane to 87. Lead, the best octane booster ever, does the same thing.

Ethanol does indeed have a use...but the downside far outweighs the good.

[max200]

Well finally! after all the storms have passed I got to stretch it out. half tank of race fuel and half super unleaded. got two more mph on top and a lot more punch gonna try straight race gas next.

[YoungStream]

I am running an Evinrude 225 HO Ficht.

Earlier in the year the internal fuel pump blew and I noticed the fuel filter had all sorts of crap in it. I guess the tank got the cleaning that is being mentioned here. The problem is that it breaks the stuff off but does not eat it. It is almost like a second additive is need to clean this stuff up when it is broken off.

What is worse....

This weekend the fuel pump blew again.

I now suspect it is the ethanol fuel that is doing it.

I am up in Canada. Anyone know of gas in Canada I can get without ethanol.

Anyone with Ficht engines having problems?

Tim