Accessories

The Watercraft Superstore also sells the fuel stabilizer Sta-Bil. Ethanol in gasoline is creating problems for jet skis. As the ethanol and gasoline start to separate over time, ethanol goes to the bottom of the tank. If there's water there (which is not unusual in a jet ski) or if water vapor gets in through the vent, the ethanol absorbs it. Before long, you've got a clump of watery ethanol at the bottom of the tank, where the fuel pickup is located. When you crank up the motor, the crud is sucked into the carburetor or injectors and plugs things up. The next thing you hear is pop, pop, splutter,
sigh . . .

That's not all. Ethanol is a solvent, so when it gets into older fuel systems it can clean out the gunk and varnish that's accumulated over the years and send it upstream to clog tiny fuel delivery apertures as well. It also breaks down rubber gaskets and can turn old fiberglass tanks to mush.

So what to do? Add fuel stabilizer to every tank when you fill up, unless you're going to burn up the tank within a week or so. The most popular stabilizer is Sta-Bil. Sta-bil helps keep ethanol from separating, and as a result keeps the water that gets absorbed in the fuel from accumulating in troublesome concentrations at the bottom of the tank