Gas/Ethanol Damage to Bertram Gas Tanks

rhamilton210 · Sep-01-2006, 05:22 PM

Was reading in the BoatUS magazine that Bertrams with Gas Power built between 1961 and 1995 are vulnerable to damage to their gas tanks when using Ethanol laced gasoline.

Guess you have to take the tanks out and waste the gas as they start to leak.

Has anyone else seen this problem?

My tanks are all plastic so I havent seen any problem but then I don't have a Bertram (yet).

BBLU

aguachico · Sep-01-2006, 07:56 PM

fiberglass tanks are not good with ethanol

cretin · Sep-02-2006, 06:26 AM

Yes, it will damage glass tanks. It can turn into a tar like substance and get all the way to your motor. It can cause some major damage to your engine! I would stay away from it in your boat due to ethanol loves water and it will find it. Its just not worth saving a few bucks to damage your boat.I have also read that if you switch over your tank, it should be dry out before adding the new fuel. I also found out that on some older boats you need to switch out any rubber lines with new line. The ethanol can eat away the rubber causing fuel system plugging. Its also recommened to completly empty ethenol based fuel from your tank during storage. You will be tested on this lesson ....

Kingfish · Sep-02-2006, 04:41 PM

Not just a problem for fiberglass fuel tanks!

Ethanol acts a detergent, loosening rust, debris and other gunk inside the tank and your fuel lines. This will clog filters, restricting fuel flow resulting in hard starting and stalling.

This has already been happening on the other coast!

http://www.boatus.com/news/ethanolache.htm

barracudabreath · Sep-02-2006, 05:21 PM

How do we know whether the gasoline we are using has ethanol in it, and what percent ethanol?

Kingfish · Sep-02-2006, 06:41 PM

The pump should have a sticker. To be sure you should ask.

Tight Lines HH · Sep-02-2006, 06:47 PM

Great! More fuel issues to worry about.

Diamond Jim · Sep-03-2006, 08:38 AM

Now you have given me some thing to wonder about. My engines are diesel not gas, but I bought two cases of additives on Ebay. They are on the boat now so I can't tell whats in them.
My port engine started to slow down like a dirty filter about a month ago. I had the filters changed and checked the fuel line. The end with a clamp was a little raw. Trimmed it back and replaced the clamp. The engine still will not come up to speed.only about 1800 red line is 3500.
My thought is this fuel line is an after market one and with the additives it my be affecting the inside of the fuel line.
The Starboard engine is running just fine. They both feed out of the same tank.
Any thoughts. I have a Diesel man coming down on Wed to presser test the Fuel injector pump.
I have another fuel line, so I may just change the old one today and see.gunz gunz gunz