Test old fuel, remove from tanks

[LastChance]

Id just fire it up and.go,.my rig sat for three years when I first got it, bolted the Zukes on and went.i

[dance a jig]

Charlie,
you said "DO NOT MIX ANY TYPE OF ETHANOL GAS WITH ANY GAS CONTAINING MTBE!!!!!!"

Could you comment further about that and site some sources. There are many from the states like yourself, who come to Canada with E10 fuel in their tanks, and refuel while in Canada with MTBE fuel. thanks. DAJ

[Charlie]

Charlie,
you said "DO NOT MIX ANY TYPE OF ETHANOL GAS WITH ANY GAS CONTAINING MTBE!!!!!!"

Could you comment further about that and site some sources. There are many from the states like yourself, who come to Canada with E10 fuel in their tanks, and refuel while in Canada with MTBE fuel. thanks. DAJ

I would highly suggest at least try to know what types of gasoline you are planning on mixing! Here is the State of Washington requirements concerning MTBE:

State; WA
EPA Region: 10
Phaseout date: 1/1/04
Complete or partial ban?: Partial: may not be intentionally added to fuel, or knowingly mixed in gasoline above 0.6% (vol.)
Applies to other oxygenates?: MTBE only
Date of adoption: 5/10/01

I carry 296 gallons of fuel - full. Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not ethanol, depending on where I buy and honestly, while in Washington - I don't care due to the above. The changes of me having problems mixing any gasoline containing such a small amount of MTBE is slim. Not saying there could or could not be issues with the other additives used - Not sure anyone can honestly answer that one?

Now with that said, what I do...
1) I prefer to leave Tacoma, WA with just enough fuel (and a little reserve) to get me to my Port of Entry in Canada and then fill her up. Point of Entry is almost always either Victoria or Oakbay. FYI... One trip into Victoria I got there and wasn't sure I had enough fuel left in the tanks to get me to the customs dock and back to the fuel dock. So, to the fuel dock I went and took on 295 gallons of fuel!

2) I will burn as much fuel off, getting rid of any E10 (or other non-MTBE gas), before filling her up with what I assume will be MTBE. Once you sort through all the BS, you will find there is enough valid information out there to justify the concern of, "DO NOT MIX ANY TYPE OF ETHANOL GAS WITH ANY GAS CONTAINING MTBE!!!!!!", at least there is for me. Here IMHO are some of the more "valid" sources stating concerns mixing MTBE with ethanol and they pretty much say the same thing:

“Mixing MTBE fuel with ethanol blend fuel can create a gel-like substance that clogs passages in carburetors.

“Stalled engines and engine damage are the result. Fuel injected engines have shown less damage, than carbureted engines, from this gel-like substance.
http://www.evinrude-parts.com/boat_e...recaution.html

"Avoid mixing E10 and MTBE gasoline blends. Mixing may cause precipitates to form which can clog filters.
http://www.star109.org/tech%20tips/D...Tip%20E-10.htm

“Since the 1970s, most non ethanol gasoline sold has a component called MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) added to the base gasoline to increase oxygen in the fuel, boosting octane. Though this additive is being phased out due to concerns over pollution of drinking water aquifers, it still is in use in many areas. Mixing ethanol with MTBE fuels creates a gel-like substance that gums up fuel and combustion systems.
http://www.iboats.com/basics/ethanol_fuels.html

“So what I have found, and it is difficult to pin-point, but a reaction takes place when ethanol fuels and MtBE fuels are mixed. Since ethanol loves water, we now have a third element to deal with. We know that ethanol fuel will phase separate when the percentage of water reaches 0.5% at either 60 or 70 degrees F. At this point a dark slurry will appear at the bottom of the fuel tanks. I often reference this as dark grapefruit, but actually it is the mixing of MtBE & ethanol.

“Located in http://www.enertechlabs.com/ethanol_in_gasoline.htm they also reference this goo. In addition I have attached a photo taken during a tank cleaning last summer. On the left is a pre-filtration sample bottle, next is a post-filtration sample bottle and finally a bottle of water. The matter in the pre-filtration sample bottle hadn't time to reach the black goo but given time it would have. At this stage the boat was out of service and was undergoing major cost set-backs to restore the engines.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=404821

“There is also a problem where Gasoline, MTBE, Ethanol, and Water come together. This combination can cause formations of a thick, gooey, black material that wreaks havoc on fuel systems.
http://www.enertechlabs.com/ethanol_in_gasoline.htm

[Westcap19]

Is MBTE still used here in BC or Canada for that matter? Seems odd if BC gasoline producers are required to include an average of 5% ethanol in their products....

[Fisher Down]

Is MBTE still used here in BC or Canada for that matter? Seems odd if BC gasoline producers are required to include an average of 5% ethanol in their products....

X2, I was wondering the same thing (if BC uses both MTBE & ethanol).
It certainly sounds like a deadly combination (after reading Charlies posts).

F D