Fuel gauge accuracy

[jhnmdahl]

That’s how I learned the pump and fuel gauge in my sedan needed replacing.

Anyway, I try to use ethanol-free gas in the boat with sta-bil, and don’t overpay for gas because it’s always on the trailer. My car that gets stored for the winter has gas with ethanol, and I use sta-bil and a full tank to keep water from condensing in the tank (I’m less picky about the boat’s tank being full).

[Ytmsn]

I try not to use ethanol in any way. If I'm traveling and that's all they have I'll use premium because I was told by a friend at a refinery they usually don't put ethanol in premium.

I have 3 hybrid cars. Two that I rotate out with and one my wife drives. I usually average 1200 to 1500 miles a week so naturally both have a lot of miles, and I have learned all the little things that make a difference in getting the highest mpg. Ethanol will drop my mpg by 10 miles a gallon in any of them. So whatever is saved with a cheaper price at the pump is burned up because you have to fuel more often.

The same friend told me to put some ethanol in a glass jar and set it one the shelf in my shop. After a day or so it began developing these little yellow... boogers. He said the polymers in the fuel attract moisture and that's what clogs up the jets in a fuel system. And then there is the caustic issue with anything that is older. It tends to eat up diaphragms, fuel lines and the like.

So I stay away from the stuff!

[ajcampen]

Wish we had it available all over the place in ohio

[AsLan7]

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Wish we had it available all over the place in ohio

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There are quite a few places in Ohio (& around the country) that do not have ethanol in the fuel. I posted a link AJ in a new "ethanol free gas" thread just now, since it's such a hot topic on it's own. Click on it and maybe it will help you:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=679

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[ajcampen]

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Wish we had it available all over the place in ohio

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There are quite a few places in Ohio (& around the country) that do not have ethanol in the fuel. I posted a link AJ in a new "ethanol free gas" thread just now, since it's such a hot topic on it's own. Click on it and maybe it will help you:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=679

.

Ohio is a bad state for it. I've used pure gas and we r not set up in central Ohio like u r in erie

[AsLan7]

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Ohio is a bad state for it. I've used pure gas and we r not set up in central Ohio like u r in erie

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Maybe Columbus has a strong Union of corn farmers.

[vans]

My old boat was empty when gauge read 1/4, don’t ask how I know

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Oohhh...that sounds like a good story, vans. Towed in?

We were boating the Inland Waterway in northern Michigan for the first time, we were 20 miles from campground on water, drove by a marina but boat, which was new to me, showed a little above quarter tank, thought I could make it. Was with two other families, one boat loaded kids and wives and headed back while my buddy got to tow me. I was being cheap as I planned to load boat that night and go into town to save a nickle.
By the way both those guys have been towed by me through the years.

Best story
My buddy Rick and family met us at launch in South Haven years ago, while heading out to lake on river I noticed his bilge pumping, I pulled up and asked if his drain plug was in, he turned white and said no, I left it at home. We were going by a marina and I told him to get out on lake and keep boat on plane while I go buy you a drain plug. I run in marina and asked for a 1/2 ' drain plug, they asked me what thread, I said NPT, (national pipe thread), they didn't know what that meant and I didn't know what thread so I said I'll take all three types you sell. So I catch up with him out in lake which had 2' waves and cold, we dove and tried plugs until we got it, worried we would drop it.
That SOB never paid me back

[AsLan7]

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Man...those are two great stories!!! This may require a whole nutha' thread. "Best personal experience Boat story".
Thanx for sharin' those, vans.

[thunder550]

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Man...those are two great stories!!! This may require a whole nutha' thread. "Best personal experience Boat story".
Thanx for sharin' those, vans.

This could get good...

[AsLan7]

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Man...those are two great stories!!! This may require a whole nutha' thread. "Best personal experience Boat story".
Thanx for sharin' those, vans.

This could get good...

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New "tell us your boating story" thread started...

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=681&p=10987#p10987


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[vans]

Continuation of the day

So we get Ricks drain plug handled, enjoy the day, when he loads his boat his winch strap broke, he was madder than hell, had his wife mad, kids crying and me rolling on the ground laughing at his lucky day, we leave and I get a call later that his truck broke down on way home, brake caliper came loose, he wouldn't give me the pleasure of helping him out as he called his dad for help.
We grew up together and always laugh at what we call "Stupid Tax", which I pay all the time

[AsLan7]

Continuation of the day

So we get Ricks drain plug handled, enjoy the day, when he loads his boat his winch strap broke, he was madder than hell, had his wife mad, kids crying and me rolling on the ground laughing at his lucky day, we leave and I get a call later that his truck broke down on way home, brake caliper came loose, he wouldn't give me the pleasure of helping him out as he called his dad for help.
We grew up together and always laugh at what we call "Stupid Tax", which I pay all the time

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Awesome addendum, Vans!

[Big Block Power]

those are awesome stories

[thunder550]

Continuation of the day

So we get Ricks drain plug handled, enjoy the day, when he loads his boat his winch strap broke, he was madder than hell, had his wife mad, kids crying and me rolling on the ground laughing at his lucky day, we leave and I get a call later that his truck broke down on way home, brake caliper came loose, he wouldn't give me the pleasure of helping him out as he called his dad for help.
We grew up together and always laugh at what we call "Stupid Tax", which I pay all the time

Icing on the cake