E0 - gasoline with no ethanol and no clean benefits or higher octane, aka a stale fiberless brownie (essentially something that isn’t the best for you and doesn’t provide any nutrition for your car without the decency of tasting good) is nationally averaging at $2.88. Remember, most gas currently being sold is E10 (gas with 10% ethanol) so E0 is hard to come by and not regularly available at most gas stations.

When that photo was taken in Alexandria, VA, the highest price for E10 was $2.89. So, not only do you not get the benefits that come with E10, you get ripped off when you buy E0. But apparently some boaters were so terrified they opted to pay a premium for a fuel with no premium qualities.

Mind Blown.

Let’s look at this issue closer and see if those boaters were on to something or just being paranoid from the barrage of lies (courtesy of Big Oil) on marine engines.

Mercury Marine, one of the world's largest manufacturers of smaller marine boat engines, with a slew of scientists and research on their side, recently hosted a webinar to clear up some myths on ethanol. One of the biggest myths being propagated is that ethanol will slowly erode the inner mechanisms of a marine engine.

But according to Mercury Marine : "After the transition period from E0, E10 may actually be a superior marine fuel as it tends to keep low levels of water moving through the fuel system, keeping the system dry.”

Also from Mercury Marine : “Fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol are considered acceptable for use in Mercury engines.”

And if that wasn’t enough, here’s more : “For over a decade, marine engines have been engineered to handle E10 gasoline.”

And then my personal favorite quote : " Completely fill the tank with E10 fuel to maximize the amount of ethanol in the tank to absorb any water present.”

Woah, using bold letters must mean it’s important.

Here’s a shout out to Mercury Marine for setting the record straight. When BOAT MAKERS are saying E10 is perfectly harmless I, a non-boat maker, shall listen.

In conclusion; don’t be ignorant, don’t get ripped off, and don’t go out of your way to purchase an inferior and obsolete fuel when your friendly neighborhood E10 was the inexpensive correct solution all along.

By Mackenzie Zimmerman