EXTRA! Interview

6 Questions for Jerry Nessenson, ValvTect

Ethanol in marine fuel

is a problem but you

can protect yourself.

Jerry Nessenson

Jerry Nessenson is passionate about marine fuel for both personal and professional reasons. He’s been boating for more than 30 years and has cruised the Great Lakes, Canada’s North Channel as well as most of the waters around Florida and the river system from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1987 Jerry founded ValvTect Petroleum Products to manufacture and market fuel additives to refiners, fuel marketers and large fleets. ValvTect is now one of the nation’s largest suppliers of fuel additives to gasoline and diesel fuel distributors, and last year more than one billion gallons of fuel were sold by ValvTect distributors under ValvTect’s brands of Diesel Guard and ValvTect Marine Fuels. Currently more than 600 marinas market specially formulated marine-grade gasoline and diesel fuel under the ValvTect Marine Fuel brand.

Southern Boating’s Doug Thompson caught up with Nessenson to find out where we stand on ethanol and marine fuel.

SB: E15 fuel and the problems it can cause marine engines was a big media issue earlier this year—just where do we stand now regarding legislation?
JN: E15 has been approved for “on road” vehicles models 2001 and later ONLY. It is not approved for marine or other “non-road” vehicles or equipment. This notwithstanding, several industry trade groups, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) have filed law suits to prevent E15 from being used.

SB: How has the NMMA fared in fighting the introduction of E15 to marine fuel docks?
JN: Since E15 is not approved for marine use, this is not an issue, however a successful law suit against the EPA’s approval would prevent future approval of E15 for marine use. At this time the EPA is not pushing approval of E15 for marine use.

SB: What is the major problem E15 fuel can cause marine engines?
JN: The biggest concern is that ethanol has greater oxygen content than gasoline. Thus E15 has higher oxygen content than E10 which virtually all marine engines have been built to use. The higher oxygen in E15 causes the engine to operate leaner and at higher temperatures which can cause engine damage. The leaner mix can also degrade engine performance as marine engines will not operate as well on a leaner mixture.

SB: What can boat owners do to protect themselves?
JN: Boaters who purchase gasoline at marinas should not have to worry as E15 is not a legal fuel that can be sold from a marina. Trailer boaters who purchase at gas stations should not buy E15. Pumps at land based stations dispensing E15 must be labeled with a special label required by the EPA that warns E15 must not be used in marine engines or other non-approved engines.

SB: ValvTect buys gas from refineries, treats the fuel with its additives and then delivers marine-grade fuel to marinas it has already approved. Will ValvTect continue to do this, and are other techniques in the works to help boat owners?
JN: We have advised all Certified ValvTect Marinas that they must not sell E15, even if eventually approved by the EPA. We will only approve the sale of E15 under the ValvTect trademark after marine engine manufacturers approve it.

Whenever gasoline (or diesel fuel for that matter) is used for marine use, it should be treated with a fuel additive that has been formulated to help prevent fuel-related problems such as destabilization, corrosion, phase separation and deposits. Vessel operators should only use fuel additives that are formulated with fuel-additive technology that is used and approved by gasoline refiners and engine manufacturers; such as technology used to formulate ValvTect Ethanol Gasoline Treatment which is used to formulate ValvTect Marine Gasoline and sold in individual containers for aftermarket use.

SB: What do you think the long-term solution will be regarding ethanol and marine engines?
JN: The solutions are already here! First, virtually all marine engines built since the early 1980s are compatible with E10. Fuel-related problems that can occur with E10 can be prevented by using a specially formulated marine gasoline such as ValvTect Marine Gasoline or, in the case of trailerable boaters, treating the fuel with an ethanol treatment such as ValvTect Ethanol Gasoline Treatment. Additionally important is that everyone should make sure to properly maintain their boat’s fuel system; i.e. tight fill caps, proper water separators, etc. Second, do not buy or use E15 in marine engines.