Mixing fuel

3

36mainship36

Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2005
RO Number
19818
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176
Can different octane fuel be mixed/blended to boost the octane. For example, new 107 octane unleaded or leaded and current 2 yr old 89 octane. I have about 175 gallons in 2 separate tanks. Is it worth the effort ? The fuel did not separate, there was no water at the bottom of the tanks.
Your opinion.....

Lou R.
 
You can blend it. Refineries make regular and premium gas and to get mid grade it is blended at the pump. With the prices today I would use it.
 
Try running the gas you have now and see how it works. You may only need to add your regular gas as needed.
 
I gather from the responses, the fuel will mix ? I didn't want to drop 5 gallons of 107 octane racing fuel in each tank and they seperate and never blend. Does anyone see any benefit to using leaded racing fuel ?
 
Avoid alcohol. Octane is not the only thing lost in old fuel. I would not necessarily waste my time boosting octane if I was not having problems with detonation.

The best thing you can do is whatever you can to burn it quickly. Sometimes the best way to do that is to add nothing and just run it.
 
I'm curious if the reason you have so much unburned fuel had anything to do with trying to store full tanks to avoid condensation?
 
Of course the fuel will mix. There are both gasoline after all. But as others have mentioned I'd just top off with the same octane and burn it up ASAP. or if the engine is running OK on it now just use it up and then fill up with new fuel. Or if you are going to store it again store it with as little fuel as possible this time.
 
Ghost, I filled up and when I was out running, ran ground and lost a strut, shaft and a prop. Boat sat for a while . Now it's repaired and ready to cruise. Fuel is old. Boat runs, I'm afraid to push it. Worried about detonation.
 
Makes sense. I'd just be prepared with filters and just run the engines lightly. If you get the boat up on plane, don't dilly dally, get it there quicker and then back off. If your going to have knocking, you will know right then.
 
Nice to hear it did not separate after two years, I assume you used a fuel stabilizer knowing it would be laid up so long? Curious the brand.

There is so much fear and concern on this topic since E10 was introduced. There are many differnt products out to address and you wonder sometimes. By nature no one wants too take on the risk becasue of the potential negative you hardly see anyone do it or if they do you never hear anything positive or negative.

Good luck and let us no your experience, what you end up doing and how you made out.

Mike
 
quote:
Originally posted by 36mainship36

I gather from the responses, the fuel will mix ? I didn't want to drop 5 gallons of 107 octane racing fuel in each tank and they seperate and never blend. Does anyone see any benefit to using leaded racing fuel ?

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The fuel will mix just fine but you can't "fix" old fuel. If your engine won't run correctly on it, you need to get rid of it.

Don't use leaded fuel unless your engine is old enough to have been designed to use it.
 
When we test fuel (for commercial facilities), we pull three samples; one from near the top, a second from mid level and the third from near the bottom. Each test will reveal a difference in fuel quality, however since all fuel tanks pull from near the bottom this would indicate that new, fresh gas usually remains near the top being that it is lighter in weight.
In building fuel storage tanks, it was required to provide sample ports that would spiral around the tanks along the stairway. Fuel grade (and quality) is determined by weight and temperature - pilots take on "x" number of pounds of fuel and use "x" number of pounds per hour. Few people are aware that fuel is sold by the pound (from Texas, La & Oklahoma) but marketed by the gallon at the pump.

So would I add 2 gallons to 150 gallons, no. If I noticed performance issues with todays gasoline I would certainly look at the cost factor. Dumping 200 gallons which costed $3 a gallon and replacing with 200 gallon of fuel at $5 is $1600 compared to a fatal engine failure?
 
Absolute, 85 gal. currently in each tank. You think adding 5 gal. of 107 octane fuel to each tank will not have a positive effect ? At todays price , I have about $680.00 in fuel aboard. The boat does run. I'm not sure how well it will run at cruise speed. Your thoughts....
 
quote:
Originally posted by 36mainship36

Absolute, 85 gal. currently in each tank. You think adding 5 gal. of 107 octane fuel to each tank will not have a positive effect ? At todays price , I have about $680.00 in fuel aboard. The boat does run. I'm not sure how well it will run at cruise speed. Your thoughts....

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Before gathering false conclusions, why not take the boat out for a quick spin. Using caution, listen for miss firing, look for lack of power and notice if any pinging when you go for wide open throttle. If any of these appear, then venture on with the 107 octane, if none of these appear, count your blessings.
If you were in the Tampa Bay area I would gladly check that fuel for you.
 
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