BoatU.S. Safety Alert:
Newly Reformulated Gasoline
With Ethanol Could Rupture
Old Fiberglass Gas
Tanks
Explosion Hazard
and Significant Engine Damage
Evidenced on Large, Older Vessels
Older fiberglass fuel tanks may fail as a result of recent gasoline
reformulations that are using increased concentrations of the fuel additive
ethanol.
BoatU.S.
believes that as a result of industry-wide changes in fiberglass resin
formulations in the mid 1980’s, the problem appears to be limited
to tanks manufactured prior to this date. Diesel fuel systems are not
affected. The fiberglass fuel tanks in question were standard equipment
on some Hatteras, Bertram and possibly other boats. While the investigation
is still in the preliminary stage, BoatU.S. believes that reformulations
made to gasoline in the Long Island Sound area that replaced MTBE (Methyl
Tertiary-Butyl Ether) in late 2004 with a 10% concentration of ethanol
is causing the additive to “attack” the resin in the old
fiberglass tanks. The results are weakened tank walls and bottoms with
the potential to leak. Anytime gasoline leaks into the bilge, there
is a significant risk of an explosion.
BoatU.S.
has confirmed reports of tank wall failure in which gasoline was found
leaking into the bilge. It also has reports of a tar-like substance
– possibly created from the chemical reaction between the older
fiberglass resin and ethanol – causing hard black deposits that
damage intake valves and pushrods, ultimately destroying the engine.
“At
a minimum the problem can devalue a boat significantly since replacing
damaged fuel tanks and engines can be a significant expense. However,
the potential for leaking and explosion is a far greater factor,”
said Chuck Fort, associate editor of Seaworthy, the damage avoidance
newsletter from BoatU.S.
BoatU.S. is asking boaters for any firsthand reports or other information
they may have on the issue and is doing additional testing to evaluate
the extent of the problem. “We’d like to know if other gasoline
reformulations with lesser concentrations of ethanol react with the
resin, perhaps at a slower pace,” said Fort.
The increasing
use of ethanol has largely been the result of federal and state efforts
to replace MTBE, a potential carcinogen, with a safer alternative. MTBE
and ethanol oxygenate fuel to help reduce harmful emissions when running
cold engines just after startup. BoatU.S. has no reports from other
states using lesser concentrations of ethanol. “Many well-regarded
boat manufacturers have used fiberglass tanks reliably for years,”
said Fort. “But unforeseen by these builders, the new reformulation
in New York and Connecticut includes a high percentage of ethanol. And
unfortunately, gasoline with ethanol is the only fuel available to boaters
in these areas,” he added. Some stations in New Jersey may also
be using ethanol-enhanced fuel.
If you have
any information on the issue, please contact Fort at 703-461-2878, ext.
3033 or email CFort@BoatUS.com.
Early symptoms
may include engine backfiring and hard (sluggish) starting, in which
the motor turns over slowly as though the battery were weak. Affected
engines also may not reach their rated RPM. Fort said, “Ironically,
the substance seems to pass through fuel filters leaving no tell-tale
marks – some have appeared clean on our reports. The only way
to know for certain is to pull the carburetor and inspect the underside
for a black, gummy film which can indicate a serious problem.”
Until it
fully understands the extent of the issue, BoatU.S. is recommending
that any early 1980’s or older vessel with fiberglass gas tanks
be stored empty over the winter.
BoatU.S.
– Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the
nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its
620,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate
marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats;
the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts
on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 825 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing;
and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating
publication in the U.S.
