TESTING CONFIRMS DANGERS OF ETHANOL IN MARINE ENGINES
On Friday (Oct. 21, 2011) the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy
Efficiency & Renewable Energy released the results of two studies on the
effects of using fuel that is 15 percent ethanol in volume (E15) in marine
engines. The studies were conducted on engines provided by two marine
engine manufactures; Both are members of National Marine Manufacturers
Association (NMMA).
The long-awaited reports show significant problems with outboard, stern
drive and inboard engines. Results of the reports show severe damage to
engine components and an increase in exhaust emissions, reinforcing the
recreational boating industry's concern that E15 is not a suitable fuel for
marine engines.
Emissions and durability testing compared E15 fuel and fuel containing zero
percent ethanol (E0) and examined exhaust emissions, exhaust gas
temperature, torque, power, barometric pressure, air temperature, and fuel
flow. Specifically, the report showed degraded emissions performance
outside of engine certification limits as well as increased fuel
consumption.
In separate testing on engine durability, each tested engine showed
deterioration, including two of the three outboard engines, with damages
severe enough to prevent them from completing the test cycle. The E0 test
engines did not exhibit any fuel related issues. -- Read on:
http://www.nmma.org/news.aspx?id=18043
