Street Gas Vrs Marina Gas

J

Joeshoes

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It is an old topic but I thought that I would revisit it.

I know that the addition of corn oil is killing us all but that is correctable in 1 and 1/2 years (maybe).

Have there been any recent studies indicating any real difference or advantage between Marina gas and street (for cars) gas?

In Long Island Sound, NY, the cost difference is about a dollar a gallon.
 
Really depends on what the marina is selling as "marine fuel".
At the least, I'd want ethanol free. Not sure what the "official" studies show, but practical experience shows very negative results of using street gas (ethanol added) in marine applications.

I've had hoses break down, separation and a host of other fuel systems issues with ethanol.
That's up in the New England area. Down in FL, local marina only sells ethanol free ValvTect fuel.
Besides being free of the ethanol, it supposedly has additional stabilizers and additives to address the conditions of marine use.
At $1 more a gallon, it makes sense to spend the extra. Repairs related to the ethanol fuel in NE have far exceeded the cost savings of "street gas"

John
 
Most marina gas is mid-grade, not regular, so make sure you are comparing the price to the same octane gas. Also, some marinas add Valvetech to their fuel. Other than that, it's the same
 
quote:
Originally posted by jrpar

Really depends on what the marina is selling as "marine fuel".
At the least, I'd want ethanol free. Not sure what the "official" studies show, but practical experience shows very negative results of using street gas (ethanol added) in marine applications.

I've had hoses break down, separation and a host of other fuel systems issues with ethanol.

At $1 more a gallon, it makes sense to spend the extra.

John

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In the metropolitan New York area you cannot purchase fuel without the corn oil (ethanol)either on the street or in Marinas. At least not that I am aware of.

If anyone knows of a place to buy gas, either Marina of street variety, without the corn oil, I would love to know where.

So my original questions remains, differences between Street and Marina?

Hogan- Good point about the octane. I will check my Marina.
 
I pull the boat and fill it up at a gas station or bring a rolling 27 gallon tank out on the (my) dock.

IMO way to many marina's have bad gas. I trust the on land gas stations more and the price is better. The only time I bother with chasing down ethanol free is in the fall when I put the boat away.
 
A lot of the places on the water around here have 89 octane. Evrything else being equal, the street gas is the same thing.
I haven't found a gas place on the water that has Star-Tron added to their fuel. That's the only additive I'm concerned with adding to my gas.
 
The ethanol vs straight gas issue is over 10 years old now. If your still having problems it's not the fuel 100's of thousands of boaters have using ethanol fuel in their boats with no problems. Time to put this turkey to bed.
 
quote:
Originally posted by OLD HOUSEBOATER

The ethanol vs straight gas issue is over 10 years old now. If your still having problems it's not the fuel 100's of thousands of boaters have using ethanol fuel in their boats with no problems. Time to put this turkey to bed.

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More GPH is a problem to me.

Voided warranty when (not if) corn goes to 15% is a problem to me.

Etc.....
 
I have always used street gas. Plus, I build my engines to run on 87 octane. The plus's to this is less chance of water getting into the gas from being in an aquatic environment (higher humidity), and it has much quicker turn over for fresher fuel. Only thing I try to avoid is fueling up when the station is filling it's tanks, too...it kicks up any sediment collecting in the tanks.

As for hoses, they've had alcohol rated hoses for about 20+ years. I keep repeating it but no one seems interested, but, MTBE has/had alcohol in it so the alcohol hose rating goes back quite a while.
 
I use both street and marine, cant really tell the difference because there isn't any, same tanker fills the marina and the gas station down the road. What I wonder about is why am I paying road tax on boat fuel? A boat is obviously an off road vehicle, so why do I have to pay road tax? I get diesel for my equipment with out road tax, known as off road diesel, so why doesn't the marina sell off road gas?.........D.........
 
quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

Most marina gas is mid-grade, not regular, so make sure you are comparing the price to the same octane gas. Also, some marinas add Valvetech to their fuel. Other than that, it's the same

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Not necessarily the same otherwise. Our local marine also added stabilizer to the fuel.

Joe, you need to find out exactly what is the fuel your local marina is selling.

George
 
quote:
Originally posted by OLD HOUSEBOATER

The ethanol vs straight gas issue is over 10 years old now. If your still having problems it's not the fuel 100's of thousands of boaters have using ethanol fuel in their boats with no problems. Time to put this turkey to bed.

Click to expand...


I drive nearly 40 miles round-trip to buy non-ethanol gasoline for my boat. With ethanol I've had problems. Without ethanol I've had no problems. The turkey is indeed in bed. But you're right, it's not the fuel itself, it's the moisture it attracts!
 
quote:
Originally posted by gcolton

quote:
Originally posted by HOGAN

Most marina gas is mid-grade, not regular, so make sure you are comparing the price to the same octane gas. Also, some marinas add Valvetech to their fuel. Other than that, it's the same

Click to expand...


Not necessarily the same otherwise. Our local marine also added stabilizer to the fuel.

Jo.

Click to expand...


That is exactly what I said - Valvetech is a stabilizer, and helps prevent against ethanol problems
 
quote:
Originally posted by D. Andrews

I use both street and marine, cant really tell the difference because there isn't any, same tanker fills the marina and the gas station down the road. What I wonder about is why am I paying road tax on boat fuel? A boat is obviously an off road vehicle, so why do I have to pay road tax? I get diesel for my equipment with out road tax, known as off road diesel, so why doesn't the marina sell off road gas?.........D.........

Click to expand...


I was told if you save your receipts, you can write off the road taxes. I never bothered to try as it didn't seem to be worth it but can't agree with you more.
 
"In Long Island Sound, NY, the cost difference is about a dollar a gallon.

Norwalk cove marina in long Island sound has gas at about 50 cents less/gallon than land based fuel and it also has Valvetec and is higher octane than regular. Similarly they carry diesel at about 80 cents less/gal than land based fuel on Long Island and it also has Valvetec added. You will find many other Ct based marinas have fuel at similar prices or even lower.

Hope this helps
 
Not doubting anyone but wonder why some have problems with ethanol gas and others don't? I have to wonder if the water is getting in before it is pumped into the boat. For thosee who have had problems...was it marina gas or street?
 
I do not think that water is the only problem with the ethanol. From much of what I have heard, synthetic hoses/tubing and fixtures are also subject to deterioration.

Any gas that I use for any of my gasoline motor driven equipment is ethanol free!!!

George
 
You all need to move to Florida. Many street gas stations sell non ethanol gas for a few cents more. Almost all marinas sell non ethanol gas exclusively.

The key to me is how much you use what ever it is you putting it in. If it sits in an infrequently used outboard motor there will be problems with either one but the one with non alcohol can sit longer.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Doc

You all need to move to Florida. Many street gas stations sell non ethanol gas for a few cents more. Almost all marinas sell non ethanol gas exclusively.

The key to me is how much you use what ever it is you putting it in. If it sits in an infrequently used outboard motor there will be problems with either one but the one with non alcohol can sit longer.

Click to expand...


What do you call a few cents more? In this part of Florida it is 60 o 70 cents more.

George
 
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