Fuel hose connected/not connected while trailering?

[alanfox55]

In the short time I've been boating I have always connected the fuel hose to my motor and portable fuel tank before leaving for the lake, which is only five miles away, and disconnecting when I got home. I never gave it a second thought until yesterday when I was leaving the lake. I have a long move from Texas to Michigan coming up in my near future and know I wouldn't hook up but does it matter on my short trip to the lake? Is there a reason other than convenience why I shouldn't? I'm also using a fuel/water separator if that makes any difference. Thanks

 

[roscoe]

disconnect it.

Tank full of gas, It get warmer outside or boat is sitting in the sun.
Gas and air in tank expand in the heat.
Pressure builds up.
Escape route is through the fuel line and into the engine.

One engine I have will take in this excess fuel and flood the engine making it very hard to start once I get to the lake.
The other engine which is larger, and tilted up, will leak gas all over the place.

You are probably ok for a short distance or time, but I find it better to connect fuel line during prelaunch routine.

 

[GA_Boater]

I hook up my tank as part of my pre-launch in the prep area at the ramp. And disconnect as soon as I load on the trailer with the motor idling while I winch her up. The motor stops long before the bow reaches the bowstop.

One of my tanks is a plastic EPA tank and it swells up like a watermelon. The pressure does flood the motor if there is any gas in the tank while trailering or between trips. It's OK on the lake as long as I loosen the cap a little if I sit for a while.

 

[alanfox55]

Good info thanks. It's something I've not read about, not on the forum,two owners and two service manuals. I always put a non EPA manual cap on all my outboard tanks and non EPA funnel kits with a manual vent on all my other gas tanks but don't tell anyone lest the EPA police come get me and send me to a reeducation camp.

 

[82rude]

I leave mine connected all summer come rain or shine .Ive never had an issue ever.Well not totally true.One time I forgot to leave the vent plug open on top of the camp and my 60 Evinrude etec had enough fuel pump sucking power to crush the poor plastic 12 gallon fuel tank in half.So now the vent is always opened.

 

[82rude]

Canadian tire sells these now .http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/scepter-gas-can-20-l-0283052p.html#srp

 

[Sea Rider]

If there's a fresh water flushing facility at the boat ramp, could flush engine with muffs at idle or fast idle rpm till engine dies of fuel starvation while combo sits on trailer, that way will not need to flush engine at home. Disconnect fuel hose from tank or engine side, you decide.

Happy Boating

 

[alanfox55]

#1 I put on all my gas cans and #2 on my outboard tanks.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CYNDNM...colid=4VWWL3VCPUVV&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CYNDNM8/ref=cm_wl_huc_continue

 

[82rude]

Both my 12g tanks came with number 2

 

[alanfox55]

Both my 12g tanks came with number 2

Hm are they recent new tanks or older tanks?

 

[82rude]

Ones new last year other is older but still within epa tank regs but mine are Canadian which maybe makes a diff?Unless transport Canada follows along with epa requirements they have no say or jurisdiction here .That's not to say csa approved is not good in some cases their more restrictive than usa regulators Ive yet to meet one person that likes those stupid epa tanks.

 

[alanfox55]

Read the reviews of the spout and cap and you'll get an earful of condemnation for the EPA crap tanks that don't work and these replacement parts that fixes the problem. All that being said seems as though it's been established that if you use an EPA tank disconnect the fuel hose after using,vented tank don't need to but I think regardless of the tanks I'll be disconnecting for now on.