Ethanol gas killed my carb (again) — is non-ethanol worth the 20-minute drive?
Asked by outboard_ollie in Maintenance & Repairs on June 2, 2026
Second carb rebuild in two seasons on the kicker. Mechanic says E10 + sitting = varnish and water. There's a marina pumping rec-90 about 20 minutes away by water. Is everyone really making that pilgrimage or is stabilizer in E10 actually fine?
3 replies
perkins4108 · June 3, 2026
For anything carbureted that SITS — yes, make the drive. E10 pulls water out of humid air and the phase-separated soup at the bottom of the tank is what you're rebuilding out of your carb. Injected engines that run weekly: stabilized E10 is fine.
outboard_ollie · June 4, 2026
So the answer is 'it's not the gas, it's the sitting'. Attacked from both sides: rec-90 AND a resolution to actually use the boat. Twist my arm.
bilge_rat · June 5, 2026
Third option: run the carb dry every time you put her away. 30 seconds of fuel valve discipline = zero rebuilds in 11 years. Old guys at my dock taught me, passing it on.