Formula X-2

[Willhuntforfood]

Hey Guys,

Finally have time for an update on my 19-6.  After $700 worth of repair bills, fuel polishing (removed 16oz of water from 10 gallons), racor replacement, motor backflush (small pieces of the water pump impeller in compartment) and both carbs removed and cleaned along with choke and fuel filter, we have been on the water and having fun!

Has anyone ever used Formula X-2 http://www.formulax2.com/?

All my problems were bad fuel related.  Previous owner said he was using Startron but from what the shop said, maybe not.  I have used Startron with good success but saw this product on Ship Shape and was wondering if anyone had any feed back on it.

Thanks
WHFF

[Circle Hooked]

Looks interesting,i wish they would have used startron instead of stabil for the test though.

[RickK]

jeez, so much for stabil....

[flounderpounder225]

Looks interesting,i wish they would have used startron instead of stabil for the test though.

I DID, yesterday after seeing the video.  Guess what, the water I added to the new gas in a clear glass remained on the bottom of the glass with the Startron mixed in??  I would like to do the X2 stuff for myself to make sure there was no FM going on there??

[Capt. Bob]

The easiest way to tell if it will make water "disappear" is to read the ingredients. If it contains alcohol, the water will vanish.

Your Startron product may contain mineral oil (like Sea Foam does).
The real test is to actually have fuel that has reached its saturation level and actually separated (think phase) and see what happens then. All that X2 test shows is that their product will mix with water. I'd bet (know) it would do the exact same thing with non-ethanol fuel.

[Willhuntforfood]

I spoke to my marina and mechanic and they said the same thing, it might mix with new gas but it is usually separated gas that causes the problems.  Thanks for doing the startron test, good info to have.  

Guess I might have to do a 28+ day test with some Egas?

Thanks for the comments!

[Capt Matt]

Every try K100?
It bonds around the water and lets the engine burn it.
I've been running it for 2 yrs with no fuel issues
Capt Matt

[seabob4]

...stuff for myself to make sure there was no FM going on there??

Ain't heard that in a while...

[Capt. Bob]

Every try K100?
It bonds around the water and lets the engine burn it.
Capt Matt

Take a look at the bottle and check the ingredients. I'll bet that some form of alcohol is the "secret".

Ethanol does the same thing in the fuel (say E-10) that we use. Water that enters the fuel is "bonded" (marketing term?) by the ethanol and ignites with the fuel. If the fuel is somehow contaminated with enough water to a point where the ethanol has reached saturation (think absorbed) phase separation occurs. This mixture of water and ethanol will burn. So will the fuel it has separated from but that fuel is of a lower octane grade (without the ethanol) so neither is very good for your motor, performance wise. When even more water is added, it sinks below the gas layer and the water/ethanol mix layer.

A good water/fuel filter removes this layer of water but not the E-10/water mix.
Logic would then dictate that the fuel treatment acts by adding more alcohol to the fuel mixture, thus allowing more water to be absorbed before phase separation occurs. Kinda sounds like running (depending on the amount added) E -11, 12 13 etc.

Pre E-10 days saw the promotion of "fuel treatments and "dryers" to be added at the start of the season or if one suspected water contamination. I used one OMC made once every year. It contained alcohol to "bond" or "remove" (sorry, the water is still there), i.e. dry the gas out.

Where are the chemical engineers on this Forum to prove I'm an idiot, or is that really necessary

[flounderpounder225]

...stuff for myself to make sure there was no FM going on there??

Ain't heard that in a while...

Just as in Marine Maintenance, so is Aviation Maintenance, and I have seen a lot of FM in troubleshooting gremlins in my day.. one minute it's there.. next it's gone....

BTW Bob, started ripping some wires out tonight to do some rewiring of the helm feed... sure would have been nice to know they used the same harness for the Explorer with the FWD bilge, baffled me to see a 14 AWG Brown w/red trace disappear into the rigging tube at the stern, and not come out with the main harness under the console...   finally found it all wrapped up and stuffed with the connector   FM....

[billatstarbrite]

I'm Bill at Star brite - we manufacture Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment. Becasue this post has comments about Star Tron, I was advised to check out this thread by one of our rep groups. I am not trying to sell our product or knock anybody else's product, but I do want to correct a few comments. Yes, I asked the moderators for permsission to chime in, so here goes:

"The easiest way to tell if it will make water "disappear" is to read the ingredients. If it contains alcohol, the water will vanish."

Alcohol absolutely, positively CANNOT make water "vanish" - the water is still there, but is now encapsulated/emulsified. You may not see it, but it is still there. Let it sit long enough and it will separate back out.  Emulsified fuel has been assoicated with carbon deposits and rough engine performance, which is partly why the DOD and FAA forbid the use of emulsifiers in aviation fuel. Gravity is very unforgiving.
Also, adding more alcohol to E10 only makes it worse - it converts E10 to E20 or who knows what depending on how much you add. In no way is it a good thing to do. We don't like E10 so why would we make it worse?  You can't make water burn, either. You can, however, break water clumps apart into tiny particles that can be vaporized along with the fuel charge as the engine operates.

"Your Startron product may contain mineral oil (like Sea Foam does)."
Not so much - Star Tron has as its base a highly refined petroleum distillate, used as a suspension for the active-ingredient enzyme blend. The enzymes do 100% of the work. We put it in a fuel base in order to make sure it cannot be overdosed and that it keeps you rfuel within the engine manufacturers' specifications. Adding a non-fuel to fuel can take it out of spec and could lead to warranty issues.  There is no mineral oil or alcohol in Star Tron. Just enzymes in a fuel base.

[Circle Hooked]

Thanks for the post Bill,i learned a few things from it  

[billatstarbrite]

The simple truth is that water won't burn, no matter what you wrap it in. Adding more alcohol to E10 is not a good idea and won't do anything good for your engine. It's a slick marketing tool to make the water seem to go away, but it's just a trick. Some of these treatments use ethanol, some use methanol, others use

Check the MSDS of any additive before you put it into your gas tank. Use Google or Wikipedia if you're not sure what an ingredient is, or what it does.

[fitz73222]

Not to make a pitch for Star Tron but I guess I will. I've been using it for 2 years now and in everything that has pistons in it. My cylinder index is around 40 (number of active cylinders in the household) ; thats for running engines! I have not had a fuel related issue since I've been using this; including engines that sat for months with open vent fuel systems. Historically, particularly yard equipment over winter and generators would always have start up and running quality issues after sitting for a couple of months including carb and pump diaphragm issues using Brand X stabilizer. This product works and I am sticking with it!

[flounderpounder225]

X2   on the Startron