keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

[simple]

I've heard some people filling up right before they put their boat in storage. They claim that this will help reduce condensation. I can understand this theory in a car, as you don't want your fuel line to get frozen and get stuck somewhere, but with a boat it's just sitting there. Why would you care if condensation builds up or not.

 

[cuzner]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

You don,t want water hanging around in your tank.. not just to prevent lines from freezing, you don't want it in your gas when it gets to your engine.A full tank with stabil in is the best way to go.<br /><br /><br /> Jim

 

[bomar76]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

You won't care untill you are out on the water next season and all that moisture (water) that has condensed out of the air in the empty fuel tank cloggs the fuel/water seperator, enters the carb or injection system, and leaves you SOL.<br /><br />The next day you will be on iboats posting about the strange odd misfiring, sputtering, engine dieing for-no-reason-at-all problems and it can't be the fuel cause you just filled it up.<br /><br />Posters will suggest water in fuel, you will go through all sorts of carb (or injector), timing, spark plug, ignition interupter, fuel pump, etc scenarios when it will turn out to be all the water in the fuel that formed in the empty tank.

 

[simple]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Originally posted by bomar76:<br /> You won't care untill you are out on the water next season and all that moisture (water) that has condensed out of the air in the empty fuel tank cloggs the fuel/water seperator, enters the carb or injection system, and leaves you SOL.<br />

What if I don't have a fuel/water seperator? Still bad?

 

[Bondo]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

What if I don't have a fuel/water seperator? Still bad?

Ayah..........<br />That means that All that Crap ends up In the Carb......

 

[islandboat]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Install a good water seperator. You never know when you might pick a load of bad fuel. Always use stabil or Sea Foam additive when storing more than a few weeks. The new "oxygenated" automotive fuel will not last long without something to "preserve" it. It's like opening a can of coke and letting it sit overnight. Low octane or water can really damage an outboard.

 

[cc lancer]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

And Chevron says:<br />"Most gasoline is used within a week or two of purchase. But there are occasions when gasoline is kept longer. Examples are gasoline stored to fuel small-engine equipment or to provide a backup supply for a vehicle. Also gasoline left in the tank of a boat stored for the winter or a snowmobile stored for the summer. <br /><br />Chevron recommends that gasoline not be stored unnecessarily. A supply that won't be needed for several months should be used and replenished when the need reoccurs. Gasoline that is in good condition can be added to the fuel tank of a gasoline-fueled car or truck. (Don't dispose of gasoline-oil mixtures for two-stroke-cycle engines in this way.) "<br />--------------------------------------------------<br />But unless you use a stabilizer that contains Methyl Alcohol, you will probably have water in your tank. And you definitely need a water separator.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Simple – take a look at the Racor line of products for marine fuel/water separators. They are one of the most common on the market so replacement elements and 3-rd party filter elements are available everywhere. Btw, you should be carrying a spare fuel/water filter element whenever you take the boat out. Do not buy/install one of those little glass in-line filters. I highly recommend you have something that looks like a screw-on oil filter in-line with your fuel system. Some have a see thru plastic bowl on the bottom so you can monitor the water removed and know when to replace the filter element. All of the screw-on fuel filters are really good at coalescing (removing water) so depending on the conditions of where you are, the reserve capacity of the filter unit is a consideration for the amount of water it will retain. There are a couple other manf of these quality filters but Racor is available everywhere.<br /><br />I don’t know why those little glass filters are even sold at marine supply stores. USCG regs say glass cannot be used as part of the filtering unit for marine applications. Hence the plastic see-thru bowls.<br /><br /> http://www.parker.com/EAD/displayCa...109&catid=3426&catdesc=MARINE GASOLINE SERIES <br /><br />Huge savings on Racor marine fuel filters on Ebay. There is a guy in Wisconsin and one in Florida that always has their Racor stuff there. I cannot recommend the guy in Modesto California (also the home of Racor) for reasons I won’t go into here, tho he probably sells more Racor product than anyone else on Ebay.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Seems everyone does it different, My Bass boat has a (Plastic) tank, I dont think they condense water as badly. I leave it about half full or even less, No stablizer, then in the spring I fill it full with 89 octain and have never had a problem. I use the 87 from then on. My boat sits for about 4 months.<br /><br />I have a water separator in it also, and have never had anything show up in it.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Partially filled tank = more air space = more volume of air to condense water out of. Therefore, the theory is that a full tank will result in less water in the tank.<br /><br />The water will sink to the bottom and be sucked out by the fuel pick up. It could then cause bad performance or failure. <br /><br />A water separating filter is essential (imho) with any built in tank, and a "why not" sort of deal with portable tanks. I get water out of my separating filters all the time. They need to be drained (if drainable type) and/or replaced regularly. I have built in metal tanks and they get condensation summer and winter, even if I keep them filled (less when filled, but some).

 

[18rabbit]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

LubeDude – I have never had a problem with water in fuel either. Have left the metal 200gal tank 1/4-full for several months, over the winter. No sign of water in the filters. I think it depends on how much of a temp change and how quickly it changes. Not so much of a problem on the left coast. Simple is in the WI state, maybe more of an issue there?

 

[cuzner]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Best way to solve a problem is to prevent it.I know plenty of people who don't keep their tanks full or add treatment for the winter.But your going to use the fuel anyway and a couple of bucks for the treatment MAY save a problem next year ... why not do it ? just my opinion guys<br /><br /><br /> Jim

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Love the '..best way to solve a problem is to prevent it.' comment. <br /><br />Facts: <br /><br />Moisture has to be in the air before it can condense out. Temperature has to drop before any moisture present will condense out, otherwise it continues to remain in suspension.<br /><br />The air in a fuel tank only changes during layup if the tank is open to atmosphere - in other words, if the vents are left open. If the tank is warm before layup, and the vents are closed in this condition, then minimum moisture remains in the tank air. Only that amount of moisture, and no more, can possibly condense during layup. We're talking a few droplets here. <br /><br />A partial solution to this, which is not a big problem anyway, is to close the vents with the tank warm, leave them closed all layup, and see that the tank is warm before opening them next year.<br /><br />Fuel itself has hygroscopic qualities, which means that the liquid gas can absorb water. That's one of the main reasons for having a water separator. So another solution is to drain the tank completely, close it up tight, vent it on a warm day just before refilling with fresh fuel ready for the first trip of the new season.<br /><br />Ciao

 

[POINTER94]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

Wisconsin is very humid in the summer, and very dry during the winter. I always fill the tank and over stabilize it. With gas prices the way they are I can't imagine short of family emergency why you wouldn't fill the tank this year. The payback should make itself apparent in the spring.<br /><br />There is no way I would leave a boat sit for a protracted period in the summer without filling and stabilizing. Two weeks and most of todays shotty fuel begins to breakdown, its cheap insurance and the amount of moisture in the air can enter threw the vent and condensate real quick. If you live near lake michigan check the dew on your windshield almost every morning, where do you think that goes which regards to your gas tank. <br /><br />Winters, the humidity is low and if you store a ways on shore there is far less condensation. Thats why lotion sells just behind brandy here in the state during the winter.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: keeping fuel tank full or empty during winter

A full tank with Stabilizer in it and the fuel system is money in the bank twice. By next spring the $2.00 gas will be $2.50, and repairs for water in the system will go up equally.