Anglers and boaters worry that the amount of ethanol allowed in fuel blends will increase to 15%

Previously the ethanol content of gasoline could be no more than 10 percent. Now it appears that the Environmental Protection Agency will increase that percentage to 15 percent.

Anglers and boaters are concerned about the increase because even the 10 percent blends have cause havoc with many marine engines.

The Boats.com website reports, “According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), none of the 18 million boats currently in operation in the U.S. have been designed, certified or warranted to run on anything above E10 fuel, which contains up to 10 percent ethanol.”

The same site reports, “fuel-related problems have become a plague for owners of both outboard and inboard marine engines. Carburetors and fuel filters are clogged with deposits, fuel tanks are contaminated with water, fiberglass fuel tanks are dissolving, and engines are being ruined from running too lean on pure ethanol that “phase separates” out of water-laden fuel.”

It appears that the opposition of marine interests against the increase in ethanol has fell on deaf ears. The EPA release implies that it will approve E15 for 2001 and newer vehicles by mid-2010 unless data reveal problems. The NMMA argues that no decision should be made on E15 until all independent scientific studies confirm that it is compatible with both on-road and non-road engines.

source: examiner