This isn’t good news if you have a gas engine, particularly an older outboard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just added more ethanol to be blended into the gas supply, despite opposition from boating and other recreational groups. The EPA’s new standard represents a 0.05 percent increase in ethanol.
The EPA held hearings this past summer, asking the public how much ethanol it wanted to be added to the gas supply. At that time, owners of recreational boats, RVs and others spoke up against increasing the amount of ethanol covered by the Renewable Fuel Standard.
“Ethanol has been demonstrated to cause harm to many gasoline engines at the present 10 percent level, especially legacy outboard motors, decreases fuel efficiency, increases fuel costs for consumers, and has questionable environmental benefits,” said David Kennedy, government affairs manager for BoatUS, which opposes the increase.
Under current regulations, only fuel containing up to 10 percent ethanol is permitted for use in recreational boats. BoatUS says that as higher blends of ethanol enter the gas supply, the chance of misfueling increases. Read more:
https://www.boatus.com/pressroom/release.asp?id=1343
