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What
is Phase Separation?
E-10
gasoline
is
hygroscopic
(absorbs
moisture
from
the
air).
If
enough
water
is
present,
either
from
condensation
or
contaminated
fuel,
E-10
will
separate
into
two
layers
of
liquid:
a
top
layer
which
is
almost
all
gasoline,
and
a
bottom
layer
which
is
almost
all
ethanol
(up
to
75%)
and
water
(and
oil,
in
2-cycle
fuel).
This
process
is
called
phase
separation,
and
may
make
an
engine
difficult
or
impossible
to
start.
Problems
with
Phase
Separation
|
Phase
separation
will pull
the
octane
booster
out
of
the
fuel, suddenly
dropping 89
octane
to
82
or
83.
If
the
fuel
filter
is
clean
but
the
engine
has
no
power,
phase
separation
with
octane
drop
has
probably
occurred.
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The greatest
potential
for
damage is
in
2-cycle
engines
using
pre-mix.
If
the
engine
is
able
to
start
and
run,
it
won't
be
lubricated
because
almost
all
the
engine
oil
will
have
separated
out
of
the
fuel.
In
some
cases,
particularly
in
cold
weather,
an
emulsion
can
form
that
can
clog
fuel
filters
and
cause
carburetor
slides
to
stick.
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Boats
and
equipment
with "open" fuel
systems
have
a
breather
on
the
tank
that
is
always
open
to
the
atmosphere
and
humidity.
Condensation
forms
every
time
there
is
a
difference
between
the
fuel
temperature
and
the
atmosphere.
Over
time
this condensation
will
build up
enough
to
cause
phase
separation,
leaving
water
in
the
tank
to
cause
rusting
and
form
ethanol
sludge
that
will
clog
fuel
lines.
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When
phase
separation
occurs
in
bulk
storage
tanks, lower
octane
fuel
gets
distributed throughout
all
engines
and
equipment
serviced
by
the
tank.
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While
K100
will prevent phase
separation
from
occurring,
if
it
has already
happened K100
will
not
totally
reverse
the
separation
-
the
tank
must
be
drained.
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Minimizing
the
Chances
of
Phase
Separation
|
Use
K100-G
or
K100-MG
(with
enhanced
stabilizers)
as
on ongoing
treatment to keep
water
out of
the
E-10
fuel.
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| Keep
the
fuel
tank full and,
if
possible, close the
tank
vent
when
the
equipment
is
not
in
use. |
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