mrtopknight
New Member
Sometimes I go a couple of months without running my boat. How long will the gas stay fresh, and what can you do to keep it fresh?
Keeping your fuel fresh
- Thread starter mrtopknight
- Start date
- Oct 3, 2006
- 1,985
- Boat Info
- 2004 - 220 Sundeck
- Engines
- 5.0L w/Bravo 3 Drive
Either "Sta-Bil" or "SeaFoam" products added to the gas tank will hold the fuel over for a while. 
Shame on you for not taking that pretty SeaRay out for a couple months at a time :lol:. Since I've got 189+ hours on my 240 Since March of 06 have not had to use anything in the gas on it yet. Boy am I glad gas prices are going down. I do use "Sta-Bil" in the jet skies when I put them up for the winter and never had a problem yet. I'm also one of the keep it full when you lay it up guys. Just had to do the Winterize of them last week :cry:
I do use "Sta-Bil" in the jet skies when I put them up for the winter and never had a problem yet. I'm also one of the keep it full when you lay it up guys. Just had to do the Winterize of them last week :cry:
mrtopknight
New Member
Thanks guys!! I guess I will go with Sta-Bil if it sites for more than a month or so. I'm taking her out this weekend :lol:
mrsrobinson
Well-Known Member
Sta-Bil is your best friend. Per the experts, E10 (10% ethanol fuel) fuel starts to break down as soon as it leaves the refinery and is good for only 60-90 days.
lakejumper
New Member
I put Sta-bil in for the winter and keep in storage for 6 months. I keep the tank full to prevent condensation. It starts right up in the spring. I know... I'm in California and should be using her in the winter! I
Alex D
Active Member
I vote for stabil too :thumbsup:
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,185
- Boat Info
- This is listed in my signature
- Engines
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Stabil is supposed to keep fuel fresh for 12-18 months. It will not keep e10 fresh for that long because e10 loses its octane over 60-90 days and stabil has no effect on octane. It keeps the gas from varnishing and sludging up. If you go through fuel every 2-3 months you probably need no fuel freshners. We go through a lot of gas but our boat runs on October gas until the following July. Then it's a tank every 3-5 days until early August when we use only 2-3 tanks until October. Our fuel filters show very little crude when changed in October. We do add stabil in October to get us to the April launch date. I think you can overdo the treatment. It causes no harm, but you could spend the money on something that is more fun. :smt001
What happens if you use to much Stabil?
sbw1
Well-Known Member
- Oct 10, 2006
- 8,185
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If by too much you mean you add a little too much (5-10% say) you end up with smelly exhaust. Not sure what would happen if you really overdo it although you would probably lower the octane and get less miliage if you have computerized fuel management. Our exhaust is a little stinky until we start cruising and going through fuel. Then the smells go away.
Alex D
Active Member
STABIL recommends to double the standard rate for long term storage, like one year or beyond. Based on that it seems that it's hard to overdo it with stabil.
lakeman
New Member
winterize ?
We winterized our 89' 340 Dancer yesterday........... I walked to the service panel and flipped the switch marked "bilge heater"........sorry I could'nt help it
We winterized our 89' 340 Dancer yesterday........... I walked to the service panel and flipped the switch marked "bilge heater"........sorry I could'nt help it
Alex D
Active Member
Hope you also checked that it actually works after sitting in there all summer :grin:
lakeman
New Member
bilge heater
The heater comes with a spray, to test t-stat each season, although the weather usually doesn't present a problem.
The heater comes with a spray, to test t-stat each season, although the weather usually doesn't present a problem.
I like Sea foam. You also get a cleaning when you use it. Make sure to run it after you put it in. This will mix it up in the tank and assure you get it up in the lines/carb or injectors.
Sea Foam is also one of the few fuel system cleaners I have found to work VERY VERY Well. It goes in everything I own over the winter.
Sea Foam is also one of the few fuel system cleaners I have found to work VERY VERY Well. It goes in everything I own over the winter.
Searay Jim
Member
I've always used the rule of thumb that octane rating starts dropping and drops about 1 every 45-60 days. Mine is more octane sensitive so I put her up with about 1/4 tank then add 93 octane before running then next time. If it's a rogue visit to the lake suring the wimter I'll probably only add about 1/4 to 1/2 tank and take it easy if it's been sitting for 2+ months. In spring I'll top it off with 93 and still take it easy until the 2nd fill with fresh 93 octane. From there I try not to keep it full unless I kow I'l be buring that gas within a month. Generally I keep it about 1/2 ro 3/4 full and top it off more often.
As for winter, I put her away already but didn't bother doing anything with the fuel. I planned on adding Stabil and may still pull her out and add 10-15 gallons of 93 and some Stabil if it looks like she'll be resting for a while. It's already been 3 months (Labor Day) since we had her out. :smt089 When I brought her home to change oil and drain the block, even sitting that long and it being upper 40's, she fired right up! :smt001 I feel better if I at least fire her up once a month or so just to keep the fuel moving. It also helps get her warmed up and stay warmer before a really cold night.
As for winter, I put her away already but didn't bother doing anything with the fuel. I planned on adding Stabil and may still pull her out and add 10-15 gallons of 93 and some Stabil if it looks like she'll be resting for a while. It's already been 3 months (Labor Day) since we had her out. :smt089 When I brought her home to change oil and drain the block, even sitting that long and it being upper 40's, she fired right up! :smt001 I feel better if I at least fire her up once a month or so just to keep the fuel moving. It also helps get her warmed up and stay warmer before a really cold night.
