Storing OMC tanks for winter.

[David Young]

I have two OMC 6 gallon metal gas tanks. I was wondering is it best to store these with gas and oil or without gas and oil in them for the winter. Just curious on what others do

 

[Scott Danforth]

Empty, used to dump the fuel into chainsaws, ice sugars and weed whacker at end of season

 

[southkogs]

How long do you store for? Normally, I'd agree with Scott - but my boat is generally only off the water about 3 months. If it's in the garage and relatively warm most of the time, I'd be tempted to just leave it in the tank. I typically try to run my tank dry at the end of the season, but I will leave the residual in mine while it sits for the winter.

 

[StarTed]

I have 2 ways that I prefer to store fuel tanks.

1. The preferred way is empty.

2. The alternate way is full to the top and stabilized.

Both ways seem to work for me but the old fuel doesn't seem to run quite as strong the next year to me. I don't seem to have problems either way.

 

[David Young]

Our winters in Tennessee are only 3 or 4 months. I have one tank full and will try to take our boat out again before it gets too cold. My boat is 39 years old and I don't know if the tanks came with the boat or not but they look good, with no dents and the paint on them still looks nice. I looked inside the empty tank and it looks like new, not one speck of rust or anything. Nice and clean, looks like galvanized steel inside?

Thank you all for answering my question

 

[JimS123]

I currently have 3 OMC metal tanks. One is a 1953, the other a 1964, and the last a 1984. They are stored in their respective boats in the garage. The Garage is cold (not heated) in a northern climate.

I stabilize the gas, run it through the engine and then run the fuel out of the engine by pulling the plug. Since the caps are on the tanks I don't particularly worry about condensation since the vents are pressure regulated. Al tanks are maybe half full.

All 3 tanks are pristine inside with no rust. In the Spring (after ~5 months of Winter) the engines all start up fine with no hint of bad fuel. Been doing that since 1968, based on Grandpa's recommendations, who had done the same thing thing the 1940's.

 

[airshot]

Back when I had portable tanks my OB were all 2 stroke and you had to mix the oil and gas. When the end of the season arrived I would pour out any remaining fuel then add a pint of 2 stroke oil and slosh it around inside the tank to coat it very well with that oil. Never has a condensation or a rust issue in all those years. 2 cycle oil was cheap enough to slop a little around inside the tank to keep it rust free.

 

[mla2ofus]

Another good thing to do is not store it so the sun hits it causing wild temperature fluctuations which will draw in and condense moisture.
Mike

 

[David Young]

I store them in my 'little' tool shed. No sun or heat. That is a good idea about sloshing around some 2 stroke oil to coat the inside. I think I'll do that

 

[racerone]

Facts-------The old metal tanks are the best.-Those tanks have 2 wee pins.-When hose is not attached the tank is SEALED.-----No air can get in or out.-When hose is attached the 2 wee pins are pushed in and one opens a valve to let fuel out.----One pin opens a valve to let air in / out.----If it has never been done you can replace the o-rings on these 2 wee valves / pins.----Store with hose off the tank so no moisture gets in !!

 

[David Young]

When I first got my boat one of the gas tanks was leaking gas out of the fitting, not the big gasket. I almost threw it away but started searching on how to rebuild the tank. For around $40 I got all the parts needed, now it works perfect. The O ring was torn causing gas to leak out

 

[JimS123]

Yeah, sometimes old technology beats the %$#@ out of the new stuff. I wouldn't own a plastic tank if you gave it to me.

As I stated before my 3 daily driver metal tanks are all pristine. I did have an issue with the floats for the gauges. The old laquer coating on the cork float eventually dissolves in the E10. The fix is quick and costs only a buck. A neoprene rubber cork lasts for years.

Additionally, I have many other old tanks in my OB collection, plus many motors with built-in tanks. For long term storage when mothballing these tanks I DO add a dash of 2-cyle oil to coat the insides. But to do that to a motor you intend to use again in the Spring would be overkill. A waste of gas and oil.