Fill tank for storage, or Store Empty

[knot-sure]

Since E10 will absorb moisture in your fuel tanks the ideal situation for winter storage is to completely fill the tanks and add some fuel stablizer for added protection. An empty tank creates more condensation in the tank and the ethanol attacks the water that could lead to "phase separation" . Once you get into this situation the fuel needs to be discarded. E10 is an awful motor fuel for boaters. PS the oil industry hates it too!

 

[boatrboy]

IMO - full with Stabil works for me. I think there was a poll about this but I can't find it now. It think it asked if anyone had problems storing a boat with ethanol.

I have had both carburated and fuel injected boats for about 10 years now and fill them (e-10 because thats what is everywhere around here). Winterize in October and start them up in May - never had a problem.

 

[Jack F]

I scheduled my winterizing and storage with the dealer and asked about this, they said as empty as possible if not 7/8th full, they will treat the fuel.

 

[Boatingnut]

I store with a quarter tank or less, always have. I treat the fuel with Pri-D, and I have never had a problem. Did the same with gasoline powered boats. Never had a problem. Condensation is not an issue, unless you have HUGE temperature changes in a very short period of time. Do your tanks sweat in the summer? No, so why would they in the winter? Besides, don't need the extra weight while up on the cradle...... Just my opinion.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Just an FYI: sweating used to be more prevalent when tanks were made out of aluminum (some still are). With the popular use of Poly-E, the sweating issue is less of a concern.

 

[Boatingnut]

Just an FYI: sweating used to be more prevalent when tanks were made out of aluminum (some still are). With the popular use of Poly-E, the sweating issue is less of a concern.

Out of [FONT=Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial]curiosity, have you ever seen a tank actually condense/sweat? They will condense/sweat on the outside as much as the inside, and I have never seen that. Ever. I've always been a Midwest boater, so we have the temperature extremes. Most water makes its way into the tanks via bad fill o-rings, poorly designed vents, etc.


[/FONT]

 

[JV II]

Just an FYI: sweating used to be more prevalent when tanks were made out of aluminum (some still are). With the popular use of Poly-E, the sweating issue is less of a concern.

All the big Sundancers have aluminum tanks.

 

[JV II]

Out of [FONT=Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial]curiosity, have you ever seen a tank actually condense/sweat? They will condense/sweat on the outside as much as the inside, and I have never seen that. Ever. I've always been a Midwest boater, so we have the temperature extremes. Most water makes its way into the tanks via bad fill o-rings, poorly designed vents, etc. [/FONT]

No. You can't see the inside of the tank. I disagree, they will condense more on the inside than on the outside. What happend to that video. I can't find it anywhere.

 

[Boatingnut]

Are you looking for the You Tube video that shows water forming in ethanol fuel? If so, remember my post is discussing diesel fuel, not gasoline......

 

[Lazy Daze]

Never seen it on the inside (kind of hard to do). But, I absolutely have seen it on the outside.

I sort of thought the bigger boats might still have aluminum, but wasn't sure - thanks, Mike.

Used to be all boats had either aluminum or, even worse, fiberglass. The poly is nice in some ways (like helping to eliminate sweating), but they're a pain to try to fix.

The fiberglass glass ones do not get along with ethanol - the E will eat away at it. :wow:

 

[Groucho]

Based on the posts...I'm gonna fill mine half way!

Not really, always full and run the Stabil through.

I now see West Marine has a marine version...anyone use it?

 

[sbw1]

The fiberglass glass ones do not get along with ethanol - the E will eat away at it. :wow:

This is not true with newer resins. Tiara still builds fiberglass tanks. Most of the underground steel storage tanks at gas stations around here have been dug up and replaced with fiberglass tanks.

 

[Lazy Daze]

This is not true with newer resins. Tiara still builds fiberglass tanks. Most of the underground steel storage tanks at gas stations around here have been dug up and replaced with fiberglass tanks.

I guess it would only be "fiberglass" or "glass"... not "fiberglass glass", huh?:smt101

Do you know what specifically is different? In other words, what resins are compatible?


Everyone: Keep in mind that regular Stabil (red) does nothing for E10. You want the Marine Stabil (greenish) or Startron. CRC just came out with a new E10 stabilizer, also (it's red).

West Marine? I highly doubt they actually make anything themselves.

 

[boatrboy]

Alot of reading here...

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2047

 

[JV II]

This is not true with newer resins. Tiara still builds fiberglass tanks. Most of the underground steel storage tanks at gas stations around here have been dug up and replaced with fiberglass tanks.

I predicted you would chime in on that.

 

[JV II]

Are you looking for the You Tube video that shows water forming in ethanol fuel? If so, remember my post is discussing diesel fuel, not gasoline......

That's the one.

I agree, if I had diesel, I would store empty, more to prevent growth and gelling.

But, the original poster was asking about gasoline.

 

[Boatingnut]

That's the one.

I agree, if I had diesel, I would store empty, more to prevent growth and gelling.

But, the original poster was asking about gasoline.

Sorry for the confusion. I meant to comment on post #13:

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

 

[sbw1]

Do you know what specifically is different? In other words, what resins are compatible?/QUOTE]

I don't know the specifics but underground fiberglass tanks at gas stations have been in use here for several years. I did speak with Tiara recently to see if anything has changed and they are still building their tanks the same way as in 2004 and have no plans to change for the forseeable future.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Do you know what specifically is different? In other words, what resins are compatible?/QUOTE]

I don't know the specifics but underground fiberglass tanks at gas stations have been in use here for several years. I did speak with Tiara recently to see if anything has changed and they are still building their tanks the same way as in 2004 and have no plans to change for the forseeable future.

I wonder if they're just counting on the fuel filter to catch the contaminants? :huh:

Most of the problems that I've seen/heard/read about have been in regards to older tanks, but it wasn't too hard (google search) to find people that had problems with newer tanks, as well. Although, I didn't come across anyone with a Tiara that had a problem... :smt001 Just kidding with 'ya, you know!

 

[sbw1]

I wonder if they're just counting on the fuel filter to catch the contaminants?

I believe their position is the tanks don't break down. I look at the contents of my fuel filters every year and never see anything but clean gasoline when I pour the fuel into a clean container.

I try to avoid e10 at all costs, but probably pick some up from time to time in Wisconsin. Still no issues. There are a lot of Tiaras running around the New York City area where e10 is the norm. Still no tank issues according the the company.

Getting back on topic, we do store full with Stabil and run that through all the systems (mains/genny). We will anchor out tomorrow and on the way home I will top off for the season. Boat will be lived on one final week end and then be serviced and stored. It will be 90%+ full of fuel---just enough to keep the tank from overflowing through the vents during the warm up in heated storage.