how long fuel can be left in tank?

[Rkrough]

I haven't started my boat in 11 months. I have about 8 gallons of premix left (10% ethanol pump gas) in the bilge tank without stabilizer. Can I use it? or should I drain it ? Motor is a '87 60hp Johnson. I do have a canister type water separating filter in the fuel line.

 

[Daviet]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

If it were me, I would pump it out and start with fresh fuel.
Can you get gas without ethanol in it, I would use it if it is available.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

Give it a sniff. If it smells good, I would mix it with some fresh fuel and burn it.

 

[hall832]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

i have seen ethanol destroy fuel systems in much less time.

 

[schematic]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

I haven't started my boat in 11 months. I have about 8 gallons of premix left (10% ethanol pump gas) in the bilge tank without stabilizer. Can I use it? or should I drain it ? Motor is a '87 60hp Johnson. I do have a canister type water separating filter in the fuel line.

Before moving the boat around, disconnect the fuel line from the engine and pull off a quart of fuel. If water or pure alcohol present.....drain until gone. use the rest if it smells OK.

IMO

 

[Rkrough]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

Thanks for the replies and advice The fuel looked ok, smelled ok, but I chickened out and siphoned it all out. It still looked fine so I poured it in my old Bolens tractor which will run on most anything that will ignite

 

[Daviet]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

I think you chose wisely.

 

[jrs_diesel]

Re: how long fuel can be left in tank?

I have an Echo weedeater that has its own gas can (air cooled two stroke oil), 1 gallon. Since I have a smaller yard, I don't through that gas quick at all. My current record for gas in that can was 4 years (filled in 2007, completely empty in late spring 2011), and kept in an outdoor shed. It was filled with E10 and a bottle of Echo oil for a 50:1 mix.

Funny thing is that weedeater always starts easy and ran well even with the old gas. Spark plug doesn't show any wear or any abnormal amount of deposits. That gas can is about half full now (filled in 2011), and the weedeater is still going strong.

I go through outboard gas ( E10 and Evinrude XD50, mixed 50:1) a bit quicker but I've used gas nearly 2 years old with no ill effect.

I think keeping the carbs dry is more beneficial than worrying how old the gas is. I always run my carbs dry if the motor is going to sit around more than a week. The weedeater makes it easy for me, diaphram carb that drains back to the tank when it's not running. The outboards I have to run with the fuel disconnected until it dies.

Also, whenever I fill any of my gas cans, they get the proper dose of Marine Stabil