Gas treatment for storage

[mnewb1]

The boating season is coming to a close in Michigan. Our in and out service ends on 9/15/10. The boat will be stored through the winter in it's rack in a heated building.

What is the best gas stabilizer for the winter?

Stabil or dry gas and how much per gallon do you use?

 

[jfadool]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

Use any stabilizer that you want, they all have about the same stuff in them. Just follow the directions on the bottle.

Or drain the tank/tanks and fill up the truck.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

Dry gas, if your referring to the normal product I see on the shelf, has nothing to do with storing gas, all it is alcohol to help remove water from the system.

 

[arks]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

I've used Sta-Bil for 20+ years. 1 oz treats 2 1/2 gallons but it doesn't hurt to use more. Make sure you treat the gas and THEN run the engine so the stabilized gas is throughout the fuel system.

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

One thing I'm used to seeing in car forums for people with "summer only" cars that I haven't seen here, is the suggestion to always store it with a totally full gas tank. Reasoning behind it is the less empty space in a tank, the less room for condensation to form, which also means the less possible water in the tank the next spring when you get it back out again.

Has that been mentioned here before? (I'm new here at iboats obviously) Or do boaters have a reason against doing this? I'd be curious to here why not if there is.

 

[arks]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

I've tried it both ways and to be honest haven't had a problem leaving them empty or full. I think the geographic area and relative humidity has a lot to do with the decision.
When I leave my tanks dry I test 'em in the spring with water-sensing putty on a stick before filling up.
OTOH, if you want to minimize condensation by leaving the tank full, make sure it's not completely topped off because the gas will expand and could burp out the vent.
I ruined a perfectly good bootstripe that way.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

red stabil. directions on the bottle. full tank of fuel... so far, i've never had any issues after a 6 month round abouts lay up.. + full winterization.. full blown winter here. dead winter over night lows @ -10F (+ or -) w/snow, sustained for days + wind chill.

 

[mnewb1]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

thanks all.

 

[Ronder]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

Sea foam

 

[JoLin]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

red stabil. directions on the bottle. full tank of fuel... so far, i've never had any issues after a 6 month round abouts lay up.. + full winterization.. full blown winter here. dead winter over night lows @ -10F (+ or -) w/snow, sustained for days + wind chill.

I've used Sta-Bil for years, as many others do. It's a well-proven product. I treat all the fuel that goes in my boat with it.

Yesterday I switched to the Sta-Bil Marine formula. It's generally cheaper to use. 1 oz. per 10 gallons for normal use (vs. 4 x that amount for the 'red'), and 1 oz. per 5 gallons for storage up to a year.

My .02

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Gas treatment for storage

I use the regular Stabil product, at the quantity indicated on the package.
I was using Mercury's stabilizer, but it's a bit spendy and I have Stabil around anyway, for the pressure washer, snowblower, lawn mower, weed wacker, etc.... It's relatively inexpensive, and seems to do the job.
I put it in the fogging mix as well, so the boats entire fuel system has treated fuel. The gas sold at our marina is ethanol free, so I don't need to use the ethanol specific stabilizers.