Should I Use Ethanol-Free Gas In My Jet Ski? Expert Answer

I also needed clarification about Should I Use Ethanol-Free Gas In My Jet Ski? Each motor you utilize will be unique depending on its use and applications. The fuel you utilize will therefore depend on the motor.

When refueling a jet ski, you’ll want to be precise and careful to use the right fuel for the machine’s best performance. By doing this, you can extend your time in the water and keep the motor from suffering any harm.

The type of jet ski you use will determine your fuel, but most may run on standard unleaded or premium gasoline. Although using premium fuel is advised by many manufacturers, your manual should indicate whether ordinary unleaded Octane 89 is an adequate fuel for the engine. This gas should not include any ethanol.

Depending on the engine, some even utilize aviation or jet gasoline, but most jet skis can run on regular automobile fuel. This makes it very simple to control and refuel if necessary when traveling to or from the waterway. The greatest information for finding fuel to correctly and safely fuel your jet ski is provided in this book.

Should I Use Ethanol-Free Gas In My Jet Ski?

It is advised against using ethanol-containing gasoline in a jet ski since it may worsen damage to how the fuel lines, plastic parts, and pipes interact. You can use ethanol gas in your jet ski if the ethanol content is 10% or less.

This fuel, frequently called E10, is safe for your jet ski engine. However, I advise against using ethanol gas in 2-stroke jet skis. Avoid using E15 or 15% ethanol in your boat or jet ski! You can only use E10 (10% ethanol) or less. Please be aware when at car gas stations, as E15 may become more prevalent and even become the “regular” 87 gas everyone chooses.

What Is Ethanol Gas?

Ethanol is created by fermenting corn after the starch or sugar has been removed. Ethanol is utilized as a “oxygenate” for gasoline to reduce air pollution from hydrocarbon emissions. Additionally, ethanol acts as an octane booster, reducing knocking.

The issue with ethanol is that it prefers water and has a lower energy density than pure gasoline. Jet skis and yachts have an issue with that water-loving trait.

What Types Of Jet Skis Can Run On Ethanol Fuel?

Around the middle of the 2000s, ethanol was first added to gasoline. By 2013, the majority of American gasoline had at least 5% ethanol; after that, the percentage increased to 10%.

Please pay attention to the gas pumps since most people did not understand the increase to 10%, as there appears to be another push for 15% as of 2022. For your jet ski, stay away from 15% ethanol.

Every producer of jet skis has been aware of these fuels for a while, and the E10 utilized doesn’t impact 4-stroke engines. The only jet skis I would be concerned about are 2-stroke models, especially given how easily ethanol damages engines. Gas with ethanol should be avoided if you have a 2-stroke jet ski. You can use 10% or less ethanol gasoline in a 4-stroke jet ski.

What Type Of Fuel Are Jet Skis?

Typically, unleaded ordinary fuel and premium gasoline are used in jet skis. This is mostly determined by the jet ski’s particular model and maker. Look for a jet ski that can run on standard unleaded fuel to save money on gas. You can get a clear answer about what your engine will run best on from the user manual and the jet ski dealers.

It is significant to remember that not every marina offers various octane levels. Since it takes different storage tanks for them to offer more than one type of fuel, many only sell 87 or 89 octane.

This is important for supercharged or higher-performance personal watercraft owners, such as these 3 top speed models, because they frequently need premium 93-octane fuel for both engine longevity and peak performance.

You might also need to choose the right gasoline for your ski because most octane boosters and fuel additives have yet to be tested to demonstrate their effectiveness.

You may refuel with premium octane fuel at any gas station if you tow your PWC to and from your preferred riding locations. However, you might need to locate portable gasoline tanks and fill them up if you keep your ski at a dock or marina full-time throughout the riding season. Very annoying, but it might prevent issues down the road. Carefully review your owner’s manual.

Over the years, my son and I have tested three to four different 5-gallon container brands. When filling up, many of them leak at the cap. There are better options than this, particularly for the environment.

Remember that 5-gallon cans are simpler because 10 gallons of gasoline weigh 63 lbs. One 5-gallon can be carried more easily in each hand. If you want to fill up at the gas station and bring the extra premium to the water, this Garage Boss from Amazon works wonderfully.

Regular Vs Premium Fuel 

According to US News, the octane rating is the primary distinction between ordinary and premium gas. Because premium gas has more octane, combustion will only occur when ideal. It depends on the jet ski’s technology, and higher octane only sometimes equates to better performance.

Even though engines that demand high-octane fuel can still operate on standard gas, their performance will be less efficient and better. The performance of various fuels can be tested, and any significant differences can be noted. To do this, you should run the engine for at least two tanks while varying the octane levels to see if there is a difference.

Where Alcohol Problems For Jet Skis Occur?

Ethanol has one significant drawback regarding Jet Ski engines: it is like water. When ethanol is exposed to enough water, it separates and produces foul-smelling water and gas (bad gas).

Water can be found everywhere because of the humidity in the air (condensation) or because jet skis function in a wet environment. Water always manages to get into things and gets along well with the ethanol in the fuel.

Keep your jet ski fully or almost entirely fueled if you’re storing it for the winter. I lean toward keeping the gas tank stabilizer-filled and practically empty (one to two bars) for winter storage.

Since you can’t stop the water, I prefer a small amount of dirty gas to an entire tank. Furthermore, some storage facilities ask that you keep your boat close to being empty for safety reasons.

I support the storage options because my jet ski is close to my house, and I prefer to keep it there unoccupied. Jet ski and boat gas caps are simple to open, and because they carry a lot of gas, I don’t want them to be a target for gas thieves.

Additionally, no additive can restore faulty gas; the only solution is to use new gas. So, when the season begins, I fill up my jet ski with new 93-octane gas to give the fuel some life again.

Pick one and stick with it; do not switch between ethanol-free and ethanol-containing fuel. Switching between the two is more likely to cause phase separation, especially when coming out of storage, and result in poor gas.

What Gas Is Best For A Jet Ski?

Although premium (91/93 octane) fuel works best for jet skis, regular (87 octane) will work just as well for non-supercharged models. Although premium gas will give your jet ski maximum performance, it won’t hurt to use normal in a non-supercharged jet ski. Even with premium gas, you must stay under 10% ethanol.

Your jet ski’s recommended fuel type will be listed on a sticker next to the gas cap. Although some manufacturers will claim that you can use standard fuel, running premium fuel will give your jet ski superior performance, especially if it’s supercharged.

Is Ethanol Gas More Environmentally Friendly?

The promotion of ethanol fuel stemmed from the fact that it oxygenated the fuel and reduced air pollution from hydrocarbon emissions. It is a win-win situation as it also aims to diminish the use of fossil fuels.

The solution is less evident now that more time has elapsed and fresh investigations have been conducted. This film illustrates the findings, the rationale behind utilizing ethanol gas, and how we might have made mistakes.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude, “Should I Use Ethanol-Free Gas In My Jet Ski?” Even though several models suggest that this is not the ideal fuel, many individuals continue to use gasoline that contains ethanol. 

According to West Marine, ethanol is an additive that is increasingly hard to acquire and is used in many different kinds of fuel. Most gas stations utilize ethanol-containing fuel, although they may also offer ethanol-free fuel at the pumps in octane values.

Although some users continue to mix ethanol into their fuel, finding or creating ethanol-free alternatives is still possible. It would help if you chose the latter between ethanol and ethanol-free at the petrol station.

You’ll be able to keep your equipment in good condition for longer. Although there should be little difference, following the manufacturer’s recommendations for your particular model is always advisable.

Frequently Asked Questions