removing gas smell

[Martian]

I put my boat in the garage without the gas tank, now the garage smells of gas.

I could winterize it and put it outside (winter temp will be -4F to 10f for a couple of months) but do not know if inside is a better option.

Having the boat/motor in the garage keeps it out of the way but I really cannot live with the gas fumes in there. Does anyone have any experience with this situation?

thanks for reading. Let me also say that this forum is great, excellent info. I hope to be able to contribute in the future.

Martian

 

[Don S]

Re: removing gas smell

Moving to Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics)

 

[Martian]

Re: removing gas smell

I should add a bit more to this. The boat is a basic aluminum with no interior so I am thinking the smell is not coming from it.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: removing gas smell

I've been storing my boat in the garage along with my mowers, the snow plow, motorcyle and 5 gal gas cans. The only time I ever get gas fumes is if I get some spillage on the floor. Also my wifes parks her car in there 7 days a week never had an issue with gas fumes, I would say you have something leaking fuel somewhere, did you remove the fuel hose from your boat along with the can, if not it may be seeping back from the carburetor.

 

[Boatist]

Re: removing gas smell

You can take it back out side and put on muffs. Check for gas fumes and run the blower if you have one. Fire up the motor then remove the gas can and hose and let the motor run until the carb runs dry on fuel. Leave outside another couple of hours then move back inside. While out side if have running water spray water into the prop / exhaust area. This may help to clean up some of the unburned fuel and oil in the exhaust. If you have hot water even better. After that if you have fuel smell need to check the bilge and see if anything in there. Your best fume detector is your nose so try and track down the sourse of the smell.
Good Luck

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: removing gas smell

Are you sure the smell is coming from the boat?? Where did you put the gas tank that you removed from the boat.Is it closed including the vent?? Charlie

 

[Martian]

Re: removing gas smell

The gas can is far removed.

I will let the engine run and wipe down the whole things.

thanks guys.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: removing gas smell

if it is a 2 stroke, its not exactly wise to run it out of gas, as when it runs out of gas, it runs out of oil... which is never good.

also, depending on the outside temp, HOT water will actually freeze faster than cold water. just fyi.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: removing gas smell

I get the gas fume smell in my garage whenever I mow the lawn with my riding mower then park it in the garage... the gas line on it is cracking and has a slow leak. Once all the gas has evaporated, then it stops smelling. In the meantime I open the garage door at least twice a day to air it out and make sure that there's not enough fumes to ignite. I really should fix that gas line though. Anyway, back to your issue, if you took the gas tank out, you had to disconnect it somewhere, right? There's probably gas in the rest of the line that is evaporating. Air out the garage frequently or park it outside for a week or so until it all evaporates away, then bring it in. My biggest worry was always that the garage would expode.