Hi i am intrested in making a seven seater Airboat and would like some help in choosing the correct engine. The problem i face is our country has switched to E 20 fuel. And i was looking at the duramax diesel engine from Marine Power USA. I have Checked out the Levitator LS 70 7.4 litre but it is manufactured to run on only E 10 fuel. Please do help me.
Airboat 7 Seater need help to choose engine
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kwanjangnihm
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Patriot Airboats. They have a diesel model and can export around the world. Patriot Airboat Corp - Built Texas Tough
Thankyou i have seen this video but would like to know how well has this engine performed and what are the long term usage problems that have occured.
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
The Levitator is a locked ECU you won't be able to modify for E20. You need an ethanol sensor and either an aftermarket ECU with custom tuning or a GM Flex Fuel engine ECU.
Most of our fuel in the US is E10. At some locations we can purchase 90 octane Recreational Fuel with no ethanol (E0) and there is also availability of E85, which is what the Flex Fuel engines from GM can run on (as well as E10 or E0).
Ethanol increases Octane with E85 pushing up to 110 Octane. The major issue with tuning is that the air/Fuel ratio changes with increasing Ethanol. With 85% Ethanol you need to be burning about 40% more vs. E10.
Ethanol also holds moisture and is corrosive. This is not a big issue for a vehicle that is driven every day, but it is problematic for something like a toy that sits for long periods. I have a car that sits in a trailer most of its life. It runs a Holley EFI ECU and has a GM flex fuel sensor installed along with an appropriate tune. I have run E85 in it, but it was not built to truly utilize E85 so the performance gains are limited. When its time to go back into the trailer, I get the tank near empty and pump out the rest. Then run enough non ethanol through it to clear out the fuel lines.
Include a "T" after the fuel filter, to a capped valve. When needed connect a hose to the "T" and run fuel pump to empty tank. Make sure to use high quality filtration with water removal.
Most of our fuel in the US is E10. At some locations we can purchase 90 octane Recreational Fuel with no ethanol (E0) and there is also availability of E85, which is what the Flex Fuel engines from GM can run on (as well as E10 or E0).
Ethanol increases Octane with E85 pushing up to 110 Octane. The major issue with tuning is that the air/Fuel ratio changes with increasing Ethanol. With 85% Ethanol you need to be burning about 40% more vs. E10.
Ethanol also holds moisture and is corrosive. This is not a big issue for a vehicle that is driven every day, but it is problematic for something like a toy that sits for long periods. I have a car that sits in a trailer most of its life. It runs a Holley EFI ECU and has a GM flex fuel sensor installed along with an appropriate tune. I have run E85 in it, but it was not built to truly utilize E85 so the performance gains are limited. When its time to go back into the trailer, I get the tank near empty and pump out the rest. Then run enough non ethanol through it to clear out the fuel lines.
Include a "T" after the fuel filter, to a capped valve. When needed connect a hose to the "T" and run fuel pump to empty tank. Make sure to use high quality filtration with water removal.
Slidin Gator
Well-known member
No one knows, the Duramax video is only 1 year old, showing Prototype #1.
I have no doubt about the fuel consumption and noise claims. Durability is most definitely on the list of Diesel possibilities, but it will take years on a stable tune to confirm. The weight comparison in the video is vs. a Big Block, the 6.6 Duramax is north of 800 lbs fully outfitted. They admit as much when stating the hull is 6" wider.
One claim in the video is flat torque curve, 1,000 ft-lbs to 3,300 RPM. That would be 628 Hp (vs. 470 Hp OEM specs 2024+). With all the bugs worked out for an honest 600 Hp it makes for an intriguing platform for large, tour/TEXAS sized boats. It would sink my hulls.
The last thing I would ever do is order a 1st gen (post prototype) anything and have it shipped to the other side of the world. Maybe for fun, not as a business plan.
Aeon
Well-known member
for what a diesel motor would cost you can build a beast of a big block chevy. Anyone can put together a motor for you just use the holley hp system or something like it and tune the motor to use E20. I think the HP ecu can deal with fluctuations in E levels as well.
For sure stay away from any proprietary systems like levitator. Tell your builder what you are going to use the motor for and fuel you will be running.
If you want a LS based motor i can recommend Turn Key Engine Supply | High Performance Crate Engines you can build a LSX that would fit your needs.
pick the motor you want and HP, call Sensenich Airboat | Sensenich Propellers
ask what reduction ratio and what prop to use. call ox box Facebook and order the reduction box.
ps make sure every part in your fuel system is made for e20. GO OVER WHAT PUMPS TO USE WITH YOUR BUILDER! Use forever hoses aka Teflon for everything. Any rubber that comes into contact with e20 will die a horrible death
For sure stay away from any proprietary systems like levitator. Tell your builder what you are going to use the motor for and fuel you will be running.
If you want a LS based motor i can recommend Turn Key Engine Supply | High Performance Crate Engines you can build a LSX that would fit your needs.
pick the motor you want and HP, call Sensenich Airboat | Sensenich Propellers
ask what reduction ratio and what prop to use. call ox box Facebook and order the reduction box.
ps make sure every part in your fuel system is made for e20. GO OVER WHAT PUMPS TO USE WITH YOUR BUILDER! Use forever hoses aka Teflon for everything. Any rubber that comes into contact with e20 will die a horrible death
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