Storing Empty Fuel Tank

[Robert4Winns]

I have emptied and removed the fuel tank from my boat in order to replace some rotten wood, which looks like it will be a bigger project than I thought. I'll have to start a restoration thread. I know the tank is full of vapors and could be explosive. It is a 19 gallon aluminum tank that goes between the stringers under the deck. Any suggestions on how to safely store it for a few months while I work on the boat?

 

[boat1010]

Re: Storing Empty Fuel Tank

If it were me, I would just duct tape the filler tube and store it outside upside down. I guess even if I were going to have it inside I would just duct tape it and store it that way. All the fuel should be out if you have the tank out of the boat. I have gas cans for the mowers and such in the garage and one doesn't have a cap on it and nothing has ever happened yet. Thats just my two cents worth.

 

[midnightmoonlight]

Re: Storing Empty Fuel Tank

Leave it open in the sun for a few days and there wont be much vapor left in it Then tape up the holes and store it away from open flames and sparks. I put them out in my shed

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Storing Empty Fuel Tank



Careful you don't seal it up so well that it collapses from the vacuum created when it gets cold. That's what happend to this tanker car. Ever see what happens to an empty plastic fuel can if it was sealed up while it was still warm out? This is an extreme example, but a quick search can produce hundreds of hits of similiar things happening. Leaving it open if its stored inside wont hurt anything.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Storing Empty Fuel Tank

Leaving it open if its stored inside wont hurt anything.

Ayuh,... Store it anywhere you want, Upside-down is Best, on an end is OK too...

 

[CRETE4U]

Re: Storing Empty Fuel Tank

If it were me, I would just duct tape the filler tube and store it outside upside down. I guess even if I were going to have it inside I would just duct tape it and store it that way. All the fuel should be out if you have the tank out of the boat. I have gas cans for the mowers and such in the garage and one doesn't have a cap on it and nothing has ever happened yet. Thats just my two cents worth.

That could be bad. Several years ago I had two mowers and some other gas engine equipment in a utility shed. We also had the washer and dryer there. One day my wife put clothes in the washer and went back in the house. Just as she got inside she heard a loud boom when the shed exploded and burned to the ground before the fire department could get here.