Gas in tank or NOT?

[ROBDOG1]

I have 4.3 v6 Merc IO

Should I leave the gas tank empty or should I fill it up and treat it for winter.

We live in North Carolina and it gets a little cold some times.

Thanks for all your Help

 

[scoflaw]

Re: Gas in tank or NOT?

Word is, if you have ethenol in your fuel, empty is better

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Gas in tank or NOT?

Empty.

 

[schankla]

Re: Gas in tank or NOT?

I always treat my tank with stabil and now the new ethonal stabil and then fill it full with premium fuel. An empty tank will have air in it and air equals moisture. Fill it full.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gas in tank or NOT?

This is a common question on both IO and Outboard threads. I'm going to move this over to Boat Questions and Topics because it will recieve answers from both sides, and it doesn't really matter what engine, what the fuel does is the same for both.

 

[Philster]

Re: Gas in tank or NOT?

Since the condensation issue is a just a myth, go ahead and have it sit empty, if possible. If not, treatment with Stabil is fine if you are storing the gas in the tank.

Empty is good. If that's not possible, then treat it. Now, can it be any easier than that?

If you lose any sleep over this or let the debate last, you are a glutton for punishment. I then suggest you open an 'which oil is best thread' and debate whether Four Winns is better than Chaparral. Might as well ask if Bayliners are good boats, too.

.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Gas in tank or NOT?

the amount of air between a full/empty tank makes zero difference. First, unless you can actually fill it 100% full, there is going to be just as much surface contact with gasoline between an empty or full tank. Also, boat tanks are vented! There is a constant supply of air (aka humidity) for the gas already.

personally, i prefer as low as possible, but I'm not going out of my way to empty it. Less gas to steal if someone decides to during winter, and less to potentially go bad, although I've never actually had that happen.