Aspen fuel

[mick]

I’ve used it in the past. These days I use STA-BIL 360 Marine

[Brinormeg]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Never worried about a mower or any other small equipment. Even a car that stood stored in the garage doing just 6mls a year to go to MOT and on the same tank of fuel for several years.

But a single outboard at sea is relied on a bit more than all the other engines so I'm willing to go the extra mile over winter. Come summer then I'll just use pump petrol.

Yip…….I think I will run some through the OB the way the lack of boat outings are going, and a bit in the mower if I’ve got some anyway can’t do any harm.
The mower was only £120 compared to what we paid for the new OB, so not the end of the world if it packs up. Reviews for it were bad, and mainly fuel related though, but it’s got me through this season so far.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by chipko

Despite running 7 portable motors ranging from 2.3 to 20hp, incl. a couple of two strokes, reckon this year I’m following Fenlander’s lead and trying Aspen for the first time. A 5 litre can at £23 should do a quick run through for all, 3L in a tank for the four strokes and a 2L mix in a tank for the smokers.

Worth adding never had any problems in the past with ethanol free premium or even 5% ethanol mix, drained or not.

Hello Chipko

Where did you pick up a 5 ltr can for £23. I understand there is a 2 stroke mix available

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

>>I agree for some people Aspen is a very good idea for small outboards if you only have a few

So there you are... I never have more than two outboards so you agree it's a very good idea.

It's 3 times the price so to fill my tank with Aspen for the last outing and over-winter storage (then return to pump fuel next season start) will cost just £20 extra a year. Insignificant really.

Dadeo Aspen is an ethanol free ultra clean "petrol" made in Sweden and aimed at the portable garden machinery market. It has a can storage life of 5 years and 2 years in a motor. It has to be bought in cans and from garden machinery/farming type places. It's selling very well in the UK.

Interesting that you have availability of ethanol free pump fuel in the USA.

Yup if you have a low number of outboards with similar fuel line connectors it is a good idea. It might be possible to rig up a lemonade bottle or similar with a solid pipe in the cap so that a length of hose with the appropriate connector on the end for your particular outboard can be push fit on. Then a couple of carb fulls run through might be a good way to go.

On you 2 stroke did you use the mixed Aspen or add your own oil ?

[Steve509926]

If an EFI OB has a pressurised fuel system, is there any advantage using Aspen?

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

If an EFI OB has a pressurised fuel system, is there any advantage using Aspen?

The majority of the fuel in the system is still going to be unpressurised, only what's between the High pressure pump, the injectors, and the return line up to whatever type of pressure regulation system is used will be under pressure.

I see where you are coming from, because you'd like to think that any EFI outboard would have E10 compliant hoses, which if they remain under pressure the fuel inside would not absorb water or suffer any other issues.

But the fuel in the tank, and fuel hoses up to the HP pump will not be at high pressure, and could even be open to atmosphere.

[Fenlander]

All I can say about the efi situation is the biggest outboard related holiday spoiler I’ve experienced was with the Suzuki 20efi suffering fuel issues needing back flushing from the injectors right back through the hp and lp elements of the system at the dealership. They commented the injector filters were exceptionally fine and while they do protect the injectors they are likely to block with contaminants that would pass through an older carb system unnoticed. Jeff of course had huge problems a few years back with fuel contamination making his 25hp efi run very poorly.

[Nasher]

Yes I agree Fenlander.
And can even apply to differences between older and newer tech EFI systems

I'm almost finished putting the 2005 Opti 225 on my RIB that replaces the 1998 DT200EFI.
Although the Opti is not the latest tech I've been warned by everybody I've spoken to that the fuel filtration needed for the Opti is far more stringent than for the old DT EFI.
Not to mention it being far more fussy with regard to the water content of it's fuel.

I'm starting from scratch with new hose, external filter etc.
And am even going to get the remaining several year old fuel pumped out the underdeck tank and start with fresh.
It's been exposed to atmosphere through the breather far too long for my liking.

[Matt]

First thing I did on my opti was replace both filters.
And I carry a pair of spares on board, too.

[Steve509926]

If you had access to E5 (couple of litres left from 2 weeks ago) and ran your outboard for 15mins every 2-3 weeks over the winter period, which is probably more often than during the summer period, would you still recommend Aspen?

[chipko]

Probably not, especially if treated with stabiliser. Even though might be giving Aspen a try this year we’ve never had any problems wintering with fresh E5 stabilised fuel in efi and carbed motors, both run and not run over winter

[Fenlander]

Well that 2lit will be gradually aging with the potential for absorbing moisture.

Thing is with pump fuel you might be fine, you probably will. Even better with a fuel stabiliser as Chipko says (I've used Quicksilver Quickstor up to now). But with Aspen you are certain.

A £23 5lit container from your local garden machinery dealer will last you at least two years just used as a pre-winter run through so overall not that expensive.

[Steve509926]

Thanks Fenlander for bringing it to my attention, chipko for suggesting fuel stabiliser and mick #21 for mentioning Stabil Marine. I will probably use it all year round now I know about it.

Just ordered a bottle which was on special offer:-

https://303carcare.co.uk/products/st...caAmG-EALw_wcB

[Brinormeg]

Gee Steve......that 8oz would last me for years to come with suz 20 efi.....for all the bloody miles I've done this year

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Brinormeg

Gee Steve......that 8oz would last me for years to come with suz 20 efi.....for all the bloody miles I've done this year

Just worked out it will last me between 3 - 4 years.
The obvious answer to that predicament is to get out on Redneck more!

[chipko]

Well following Mr F’s lead, just run four of our motors through with Aspen 4. Third of a litre or so in each integral tank for the little 2.3 and 3.5’s and the rest in a spare tank for the 20 efi.

Reckon I might even splash out on another 5l can to mix for the 9.8 and 15 two strokes.

Luckily have enough small 12l tanks to label up a couple purely for Aspen to run through as and when required.

Probably all a bit over the top as never had any fuel issues in the past, but can’t do any harm.

[Carfan]

Originally Posted by trevbouy

Anyone tried removing ethanol using water as per YouTube videos ?

Very interesting thread , lots of information !

I have removed the ethanol from petrol, its easy to do. As it happens , while doing it you get to see what percentage ethanol was in the fuel, my E10 varied from 3% to 6% over a few months in different batches.
I have added octane booster , as apparently removing ethanol reduces the octane.

I also have Aspen, just got 25l of Classic €175.

Does anyone know if Aspen is any better than just removing the ethanol from pump petrol ?

Does the fuel still deteriorate without the ethanol ?

(E5 is no longer available, just E10, but from my tests its nowhere near 10% )

[dhaglund]

Originally Posted by Carfan

Does anyone know if Aspen is any better than just removing the ethanol from pump petrol ?

Yes, it is heaps better with regard to emissions. Aspen is regular petrol, just highly cleaned. In a scenario where you're actually standing in the exhaust this makes a big difference. Such as when running a chainsaw on a windless winter day when the exhaust lingers.

With regard to storage over time... I don't know.

[Fenlander]

I only use Aspen for over winter storage and then it's loads easier than "cleaning" regular fuel. During the summer boating season I use normal pump fuel which has never been a problem.

Is there no E5 in Ireland?

[Dadeo]

So I take it that ethanol free fuel from the pump is not a thing in Europe... at all? Where I live in upstate New York state I can get high octane premium without ethanol for about a half a dollar a gallon (US) more than regular premium. It's usually about $4.25 a gallon when regular gas is $3.25 a gallon. It's not at every filling station, I'd guess ethanol free gas is available at about 10 to 20 percent of all stations in our area. And ethanol free gas is the only kind of gas you can get at a marina filling dock. I know of no marina that sells regular gas anymore in the USA.