Old Gas

[noahsinclair]

Im purchasing a boat that has 3/4 full fuel tank (gas), its been sitting for about 13 months. The previous owner started the boat up with that fuel, is that bad (It did start right up)? Im assuming I want to syphon that fuel out of the tank? Whats the best method?

 

[Old Ironmaker]

How much fuel are we talking about and was it treated with a phase separator such as 2 plus 4 or Stabil? Since we have a rather short boating season up here in Ontario my full tank may sit from October to May but it is treated with a good quality fuel treatment.

 

[fhhuber]

Gasoline is either good or bad... no in between. When its bad the engine isn't going to run.

 

[Silvertip]

Fill it up with fresh fuel and run it. No need to drain it unless a sample turns up water.

 

[redneck joe]

Run it out, fill up new, add some seafoam once and happy boating. Double the recipe on the seafom.

 

[David Young]

I had gas sit in a car i had 15 years ago, for '4 years'. Nothing was added to the gas to keep it from going bad. The car ran fine for the whole tank. Just saying.....

 

[SkaterRace]

If it started up fine I would run it out for what its worth. You can remove it and put fresh in if you want but seems like a waste of gas to me.

 

[noahsinclair]

Hey thanks guys!! The previous owner stated it was treated and he tested it and it was fine. He did say he used fuel treatment of some sort and I heard it run for 20 minutes and it sounded great from what I can tell. Gauge says 3/4 full on a 66 gallon tank so hopefully all is good and I get to use that gas. Its for a skipjack 20 open i/o with a Volvo Penta 305 / penta OD 290

 

[Old Ironmaker]

You are good to go. Have fun.

 

[LSU]

Just dug my boat out of storage. It had been laid up for 3 years. I'd put Stabil and Seafoam. Didn't intend for it to lay up but that's another topic.

Put fresh gas it and it ran fine. I think you're good. Run most of it out and add fresh.

 

[Captain Caveman]

You have a great excuse to use on your wife, "Honey, the guys on the boating forum suggested that I run the gas out of this thing. I won't be back until I've run 50 gallons out of that tank!"

 

[Davetowz]

You have a great excuse to use on your wife, "Honey, the guys on the boating forum suggested that I run the gas out of this thing. I won't be back until I've run 50 gallons out of that tank!"

Now that sounds like a plan!

 

[noahsinclair]

Today's the day! I told my better half I have to use this fuel asap, here we go....

 

[redneck joe]

Report please

 

[R055]

Hasn't replied, must of gotten stranded after the fuel filter got full of water

 

[noahsinclair]

Report please

Sorry, I ended up getting a slip for the night because I didn't want to take her out of the water. Luckily I didn't have a sleeping bag or I would of never made it home for the night. So I ran it for about 9 total hours, just over half the tank and all went well. I didn't have to use vessel assist and that's always a plus! I got some seafom and will fill up tank next time I take out and put both bottles in as you guys directed, correct? Pretty happy to burn someone else's fuel, and glad I didn't waste it! I probably should get a new fuel filter as the one I have was installed in '14 than for the last year just sat at storage.

 

[redneck joe]

Good deal and I hear you on the sleeping bag.

Opinions vary quite a bit on the seafoam but if it was mine id run one tank of double the dose and call it good.