The Fuels and Additives Market Adjusts Focus as Ethanol Repair Issues Become Less Prominent

by Brianna Liestman (Boating Industry) ... Issues related to tank compatibility with E10 have declined in the past years as many older systems and boats are being retired and replaced with new engines, which were built to work with E10.

“New boats don’t have that problem because newer boats are designed to be more compatible. You don’t have the rubber hosing issues in some. But you do have, in the older engines, [problems with ethanol damage are] still out there,” said Marvin Griffin, president of ValvTect Petroleum.

However, with the new administration in the executive branch and a Republican-controlled Congress, fuel additive manufacturers are confident that won’t be a concern. E10 will still be around, but E15 will not be as widespread as E10 has become.

As a result, fuel additive companies have changed their messaging from the dangers of ethanol to the need for additives regardless of fuel type. Consumers may not be as aware of the need for fuel additives now that the phase separation “catastrophes” caused by ethanol 10 years ago have plateaued or declined.

“We do see the need to tweak that and reeducate [or] remind consumers that even though they may be finding ethanol-free fuels and they’re finding they’re going back to the old norm, that gasoline – regardless of if it’s ethanol or not – we have to remind them that it still goes bad,” said Matthew Wing, brand manager of Sta-Bil. “Even though you might be avoiding the ethanol problem or that you are aware of the ethanol problem, there are still other fuel management topics and issues out there that we want to address and remind them that you want to always stay protected.”

When isobutanol came to the marine market, there was reasonably a lot of excitement: a biofuel that would meet the Renewable Fuel Standard requirements and keep boat systems safe. What could be better?

To ensure the fuel was as ideal for a marine environment as it was marketed, ValvTect ran a yearlong test to look at stability, performance issues and other quality control to ensure the product didn’t fall apart and it was compatible with ValvTect’s additives. The company got in touch with Gevo, the producer of isobutanol, and tested the fuel to confirm ValvTect’s additives reacted similarly in isobutanol as they do in E10.

The result was that ValvTect can verify its additives work in isobutanol as they do in E10, which led to ValvTect and Gevo making a joint announcement in 2016 that they endorse the use of their products together, sharing the message that both products are needed for an efficient fuel system. READ MORE