store your tanks empty.

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pdecat

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With all the problems with old gas because life doesn't go as planned IMO we need to change our strategy for winter storage. More and more people find themselves with tanks full of old gas.

I am more convinced than ever that gas boat tanks should be stored as close to empty as possible. The condensation everyone worries about may or may not happen but the ethanol surely separates.

The truly paranoid could put some tape over the vent openings.

How much simpler will it be to add a little fresh gas in spring and watch the water seperators, if you get to use the boat, than dealing with a hundred gallons of old gas??
 
Agreed!
I've done exactly that. My tanks are virtually empty. We don't suffer from ethanol problems to any real degree, I believe, like some do, because of the fuel we have in my marina...

But regardless, it makes more sense to me than topping off tanks, and then sitting for 6 months!
 
Use a stabilizer and the gas will be fine in the spring.
 
Unless you pump out ALL of the gas in the tank which for many of us is a very difficult proposition, the likelihood the winter condensation in a nearly empty metal tank will cause phase-separation of the remaining gallons of gasohol is much greater the less gas in the tank. Just running the tanks to very low level can be self-defeating.

After double-checking the fill caps o-ring seals integrity and lightly re-greasing them with silicone grease, I will still outside-winter-store my boat(shrink-wrapped) with full tanks of 1 level higher than normal octane of the usual Valv-tect E10 gas , plus a little extra Valv-tect just before last fill and very short run, for the longer storage period. The added stabilizer will be same brand to ensure good compatibility with what is already in the tank.

I use the boat a lot and always fill with Valv-tect stabilized gas so I know the all the stored gas will be good and fresh and was fully stabilized *while perfectly fresh*, not after deterioration. I expect to re-commission at least by May 1st but even if it was stored for a year or more I don't think I would be very concerned. Since switching to the mandated E10 in about 2002, I've never had a fuel quality boat problem yet and have never had to change my big Racors during the season due to bad fuel.

That said , if for some reason I found I couldn't use the boat next season I would probably try to take steps to ensure someone would. Of course if I'm fried by a bolt of lightning , frankly I'm not going to care about the boat. :D

As far as the continuing annual full vs empty debate, ..IF.. the gas was properly stabilized when completely fresh , and the fill caps are properly sealed and water is kept away from the top of the tanks, IMO and it's just an opinion, it still really comes down to personal preference unless you know the boat will be unused for more than a year .

Who's making the popcorn?
 
About 8 years ago, I took the engine maintenance class offered by the US Power Squadron. Our instructor was the owner of a small, but respected marine dealership. His take on the subject was store with as little as as possible. He said the quality of gas being made these days isn't anywhere as good as it was 20-30 years ago and the tiny bit of condensation that you might get wasn't near as bad as a tankfull of stale gas. Yes, stabilizer helps, but only for a short time and isn't the cure for stale gas.
 
You don't have to do anything to diesel.
 
Our small (110 slips) marina only offers high test, ethanol-free fuel at the gas dock. They don't even have diesel, a problem for some, but not many.
I always use stabilizer, as well anyway. I'd just prefer to fill with fresh fuel at spring launch (May) than tank-up before hibernation.
The marina sells fuel all winter long, to the area snow mobilers, so they continue to get fuel delivered all thru the boating off-season.
 
Pre ethanol; always topped off tanks. Afterwards, went with approx'ly 1/2 tank. Figured if phase separation; would only lose 1/2 of full tank. Ethanol sucks for soooo many reasons. Just think; 15% on it's way. Thank you Gov't !
 
The only reason I would fill up is to save money if fuel prices go up. My tanks are now 3/4 full, and that's how they will spend the winter.
 
Less then half. If I sell the boat in the spring, I don't want to give away full tanks so I'll think I'll wait.
 
I think you should fill them in case I decide to buy your boat.
 
I used to think that way, but when Sandy hit, I had gasoline avaiable to me, when the rest of the area had none. It came in handy .
 
quote:
Originally posted by Anchor Management

Less then half. If I sell the boat in the spring, I don't want to give away full tanks so I'll think I'll wait.

Click to expand...


Your selling already? Didn't you just get that!

My current mindset with the diesels is store close to empty with old filters in place. After first run out I am going to change filters and get fresh fuel. My volvo's have lots of water detection(electronic) sensors so there should be ample warning if water detected.

I used to fill and change filters for winter but I feel the opposite is better now.
 
IMO diesel is more stable than ethanol gas. Several year old diesel seems to work fine. I am not a fan of chemicals in fuel. I like the idea of storing with low diesel because later I can add a bit of fresh and run the mix through the filters until I can then fill up with fresh fuel.

Gas or diesel we always wonder what to do with our tanks. Did you ever consider what the marina does with the fuel in their tanks? Do they fill up or store empty? When you buy fuel in spring is it last years fuel or fresh from the distributor?
 
Your selling already? Didn't you just get that!

[/quote]
Not selling. Just kidding with my friends because they are always busting me. I average about 3 years but quite frankly, I will hold on to this one for longer.
 
My thoughts are that it is best to leave them near empty but either way will work if you take precautions in storing gas if that is your fuel.
There most common ways to get water in fuel is by far through the "O" rings in the fill cap area and by fill stations that pass poor fuel to you. Making sure that the fill station has working filters and a decent reputation for fuel and keeping new "O" rings installed and lubed are the best bet to prevent water in tanks.
For anyone who has been inside those larger gas/diesel storage tanks (2 - 5 million gallons) that we drive by in NY and NJ they will know about the amount of crud and water buildup in the bottom of the tanks. It would amaze you that it could be that deep and that large of a volume over time.
The amount of condensation that occurs and remains in our empty metal tanks is really very minimal so looking for other ways that water may enter the tanks is much more valuable.
If you are excessively worried about water accumulating in an empty metal container consider what our large prized engines appear to look like for that same water vapor. Do we not then worry much more about condensation forming in the engines through both exhaust and air intakes left open over the storage months?

Do not sweat your winter storage just do the prudent steps and begin the countdown till next season.
Hope this helps
 
When EtOH first came out, I would pump my tanks empty for the winter. One year I had about half tanks at the end of the season so I decided to fill up during the winter storage. I added stabilizer and never had an issue. Since then, I always store with over 3/4 full tanks. I don't cover the vents and never had a problem with my gas over the winter storage.
 
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