Fill tank for storage, or Store Empty

[larrytbull]

I always thought for gas engines winterizing you should fill tank. Was bored the other day and read the West Marine Winterizing check list and they said empty tank for gas engines, fill tank for diesel.

Thoughts?

 

[FYN409]

Most are recommending you keep gasoline as low in the tank as possible. This is because of the ethanol that is in a lot of the gas these days. The ethanol absorbs water out of the air, the theory is more gas=more ethanol=more water. Car fuel tanks are sealed for the most part, where as boat tanks are vented to the atmosphere so there is more air exchange and more chance to absorb water.

 

[CAMELLA]

The marina where I winterize my boat requires the gas tanks to be full.

 

[sbw1]

No e10 here. We store full.

 

[Bridog]

Our marina says full. Besides, you never know what gas prices are going to be in the Spring.

 

[Sundancer]

No e10, fill them. If there is e10 empty them! I've never really paid attention to filling or emptying the tanks. I've usually left them empty and then filled with fresh fuel in the spring. We have a very dry climate here so that probably helps. In 22 years of boat ownership, I've never had a fuel related problem with a boat I've stored over the winter. Add Stabil and make sure you run it through the carbs and you're good to go.

 

[Sundancer]

Keep in mind that the "fresh" fuel you get in the spring, has likely been sitting in the marina's tanks over the winter also.
I will say though, that the only time I have had fuel problems was after storing with the tanks full, and e10 in the tank. Stabil did nothing to prevent the phase separation that occurred. (this was before they introduced the ethanol treatment product)

I wish they would just do away with e10 for marine use completely, but that'll never happen......damn hippies

Who buys fuel at the marina? We TRAILER the 300 DA every weekend!! :grin:

I agree, I wish they would get rid of the e10 and give folks the option to buy whatever you want to pay for! Damn hippies is right!!

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

I always thought for gas engines winterizing you should fill tank. Was bored the other day and read the West Marine Winterizing check list and they said empty tank for gas engines, fill tank for diesel.

Thoughts?

Mine: Empty or as close to empty as I can get... Also add stabil... and tape over the vent to minimize water from our rainy winters. Keep it empty Especially now that e10 is all over the place and it is not good to store over 3 months (if it was fresh when you bought it).

As far as buying from a marina where gas was sitting over the winter, doesn't the fuel get drawn from near the bottom of the tank and not the bottom itself? If that is the case then, you should not get water that separated out? Or am I wrong on that?

I know my in ground oil tank sits in the ground at an angle to allow water, etc to sit near the bottom. I only have about 900 gallons out of a 1000 gallon tank that is useable. :huh:

 

[bw76273]

No e10 at our Marina but I start running Sta-bil Sept. 1st and try to keep the tank full as possible. Also, be sure to run the generator awhile so the treated fuel gets to it also.

 

[Lazy Daze]

As far as buying from a marina where gas was sitting over the winter, doesn't the fuel get drawn from near the bottom of the tank and not the bottom itself? If that is the case then, you should not get water that separated out? Or am I wrong on that?

You're right, and, of course, it depends on how much separation happens (if any at all). But, the other downfall to phase separation is that the ethanol is used as the octane improver. So in this example, you would now be filling up with gas that is of a lower octane.

How likely is either of these scenarios in reality? I don't know. But those are the two main problems -- you either get water in your tank, or gas with not enough octane.

I'm still not completely sure what to do with my tank over the winter or which method is best. So far, over the past winters, I have been treating it and keeping it full. Knock on wood...:smt001

 

[jff]

Diesel was mentioned at the beginning of the thread - I'm curious, does everyone agree that for diesel it's best to keep the tank full over the winter? I read somewhere that doing this reduces moisture, not sure if that's true.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[K-9]

:smt001empty with a good fogging.:smt001

I always thought for gas engines winterizing you should fill tank. Was bored the other day and read the West Marine Winterizing check list and they said empty tank for gas engines, fill tank for diesel.

Thoughts?

 

[JV II]

Most are recommending you keep gasoline as low in the tank as possible. This is because of the ethanol that is in a lot of the gas these days. The ethanol absorbs water out of the air, the theory is more gas=more ethanol=more water. Car fuel tanks are sealed for the most part, where as boat tanks are vented to the atmosphere so there is more air exchange and more chance to absorb water.

There are many differing opinions on this. You need to hear the rationale on all of the opinions and make a decision based on your circumstances. Many of the posts here have given their rationale, which all have merit.

I would disagree with this post, however. I have not seen that most are recommending to store empty. I agree that Ethanol absorbs water out of the air. That fact supports storing tanks full as there is less air in the tank. A vented full tank has less exposure to air than near empty tank. An empty tank will condense water on the walls as the temperature swings. That will drop into your remaining fuel and result in a higher concentration of water in your fuel than if your tank was full. Don't forget that metal tanks will also corrode when exposed to the moist air. A good stabilizer will minimize phase separation and corrosion. Six months is not a long time, especially when using stabilizer. I would also argue that the fuel you buy in the fall is "'fresher" and less expensive.

My recommendation is to top it off and add the appropriate amount of Stabil or Startron.

 

[JV II]

I wish they would just do away with e10 for marine use completely, but that'll never happen......damn hippies

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_78o4RFwTM[/youtube]

 

[Jack F]

[youtube]j_78o4RFwTM[/youtube]

I hope no one was hurt, but they are stupid morons.

 

[wish2fish]

It is the air space that allows condensation. Store with full tanks and stabilizer!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Something else I just remembered. I believe the recommendation to keep the tanks full is more important when you have an aluminum tank as the aluminum will cause more condensation than a polyethylene tank. That being said, I'll still be keeping my poly tank full. I'll stick with what's worked for me over the years.

Besides, that makes sense (what some of you are saying) about it being the amount of gas (or lack of) in the tank that is going to cause the condensation - not the fact that the tank is vented to the atmosphere. I mean, whether the tank is full or the tank is empty, it's still vented. But, by having less gas in the tank, the potential for greater temperature variation within the tank is increased.

Treat the gas with Startron or Marine Stabil to combat the potential problems with E-10. CRC has recently come out with their own "E10" stabilizer, too.

Diesel: Keep it full, too. Use a good anti-gel/anti-microbial, as well.

 

[Banagy]

I add e-10 stable and fill the tank. Never had a problem. The boat is store in a 30 x 60 unheated pole barn during the winter, so that in January I can wish the ice and snow would melt and we can be on the water again in the mid 80's.

 

[Jack F]

My Mercruiser Manual says:
Preparing your power package for storage.
FUEL TANKS

1. Fill the fuel tanks with fresh gasoline (that does not contain alcohol) and a sufficient amount of Mercury fuel system treatment and
stabilizer to treat the gasoline.

2. If the boat is to be placed in storage with fuel containing alcohol in the fuel tanks (if fuel without alcohol is not available):
Fuel tanks should be drained as low as possible and quicksilver gasoline stabilizer for marine engines added to any fuel remaining in the
tank.

 

[JV II]

My Mercruiser Manual says:
Preparing your power package for storage.
FUEL TANKS

1. Fill the fuel tanks with fresh gasoline (that does not contain alcohol) and a sufficient amount of Mercury fuel system treatment and
stabilizer to treat the gasoline.

2. If the boat is to be placed in storage with fuel containing alcohol in the fuel tanks (if fuel without alcohol is not available):
Fuel tanks should be drained as low as possible and quicksilver gasoline stabilizer for marine engines added to any fuel remaining in the
tank.

They have to say something, so you get a one size fits all answer. There are too many variables to accept that answer: dry climate/wet climate, temp constant/temp variable, inside/outside storage, metal/plastic tanks, short/long term storage.