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Ok, Im new to this whole whaler craze thing so everyday I try to learn something new about my 88 Montauk. WHAT IS THE DEAL with ethanol? Here in New Mexico (I think) all fuel has at least 10% ethanol mixed with the gas. I have the original fiberglass fuel tank currently in my boat. Should I switch it out? or will a water/fuel seperator work? and if so what kind? The boat has a 90 HP johnson 2 stroke (oil injected) on it.
I am traveling 200 mi tommorrow to check and take some pictures of my new addition to the family (I will post them this weekend). I have plenty of time to work on it. Next trip isnt planned unitl June or July 2010.
Any suggestions would help. Thanks Whaler Nation!

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Quick answer = Dispose of the Pate fiberglass tank. Ethanol is a corrosive and will disolve the resin, get past the filters and trash the motor.

Moeller makes a 20, 24 or 27 gallon plastic tank. Mirax makes 12 and any other custom size in aluminum.

Dispose of any old fuel in the tank and use a treatment (star-tron of blue Stabil) in every gallon of fuel.

A search on ethanol, stabilizer and phase separation will produce dozens of informative threads.

Congratulations.

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Hi Kerry,

Ethanol is an alcohol additive to gas to designed to 'conserve natural resources"...Not really sure about that one but that what is said... It is also not the greatest when it comes to marine engines and outboards. Ethanol attracts moisture... Very bad in a marine environment. Not so bad for the automotive environment.

I would absolutely use a water separator with a 10 micron filter and your Fiberglas tanks are suspect. The ethanol blend will cause older fiberglass to deteriorate and gum up the engine. Do not use these unless they a newer type rated for use with ethanol.

The newer plastic tanks are fine as well as aluminum.

Welcome!!!

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Thanks Phil!
Do I have to do any mods? or are they one size fits all?

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Thank you! You know, I had to talk my wife into getting this thing and told her that it needed nothing. Weird........out comes the money.
Do you have any suggestions on the separator? Name brands or will anyone work. Thanks

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You can find some fuel tanks for the Montauks in the OEM Part Photo section.
http://www.whalercentral.com/photogal...hoto_id=68

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Thanks once again Joe! For some reason they look different from the one's offered by Amazon. Would you still run a water seperator?

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I never did on my Montauk for 15 years but that was before the ethanal fuel.

I run one on my Outrage 18....
You can buy them for about $30 so they are worth it. I run the Sierra brand as filters are easy to get for me at my local auto parts store.

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Also don't forget about your fuel line. If the tank is that old, the like may be too, which means the ethanol will attack it and degrade it into something that will also harm your engine.