full tank vs. empty tank for storage

[45Auto]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Don't know about them, but your high school experience must have been VERY different from mine if you never kissed a girl!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

How many innocent horses must die before we can peacfully resolve this conflict!!!!!! God have mercy!!!!!

I look at it as, someone asked what time it was and now he's being told how the watch was made.......

 

[Biged007]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Did you have to drain any condensation out of the tanks for the spring refill Ed?

To answer your question No in fact I have looked into the tractor tanks and also my bike tanks because lets face it these are carbon steel tanks and will rust over night and to be honest with the addition of the (Fogging with WD-40 I was pleasantly surprised they were all dry and still had a film in them which the first load of gas took care of.
Folks this is my own personal experience and just meant to give another option to an age old argument believe me these type of threads are almost as bad as an oil thread
Ed

 

[MPII]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Store Tank Full with Stabil. Empty tank with 10% Ethonal is a bad idea.

 

[lenco12]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

yep.... empty would be preffered, and also how I store mine.

Do you own a motorcycle? It seems all the bikers say to keep the tank full in the off-season. I do for this very reason. I always wondered myself but was scared to argue with a bunch of bikers LOL

What causes tanks to rust if condensation is a myth?

 

[MPII]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

This article has a lot of usefull information. Take a look at it. Based on what I read in this article, I will store with nearly full tank.


http://www.ejmertaughboatworks.com/ethanol.pdf

 

[Mark42]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

This article has a lot of usefull information. Take a look at it. Based on what I read in this article, I will store with nearly full tank.


http://www.ejmertaughboatworks.com/ethanol.pdf

What should be done when storing boats with ethanol-blended fuels for extended periods?
When preparing to store a boat for extended periods of two months or more, it is best to completely remove all fuel from the tank. If it is difficult or not possible to remove the fuel, maintaining a full tank of fuel with a fuel stabilizer added to provide fuel stability and corrosion protection is recommended.......

Based on this information from the Mercury Marine article, I get the impression they want the tanks empty for long term storage.

 

[MPII]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Based on this information from the Mercury Marine article, I get the impression they want the tanks empty for long term storage.

Let me clarify.....I will be winterizing the boat in a couple of weeks. I have a rather large tank (for a BR) and it is 1/2 full as I was supposed to be out all last weekend and wasn't.

As the article says, its best to have the tank 100% empty, if possible. But it also says that if the tank has fuel, it might as well be "topped" off becuase that leaves less room for air movent, i.e., more moisture coming in and getting attracted to the Ethonal leaving you with phase separation at the begining of the season the following year.

So, in that case, my case, I am going to dump a bottle of stabalizer in it and top it off for the winter. This is better, IMO, than hand pumping out 35 gallons of fuel.

Sorry for the confusion, I wasn't clear.

 

[JustJason]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Wow.... lots of opinions here folks. I winterize about 125-150 boats a year and here's the deal.

I recommend stabil with evey fillup period. (as well as all the manufactors nowadays)

In the event you don't, I ask the customer to add thier own stabil to at least their last tank of gas, and run it as dry as possible. As far as the dosage, I tell them to just dump a whole bottle into whatever they have left.

Fuel spoils. That's not even a question. Up here, in Oct/Nov when you put it away, nobody knows if they will be taking there boat back out in March or late June.
In the event the fuel spoils, if there's just a little in the tank, less than 10%, you can usually get away with filling up with hi-test for the first tankfull and running the snot out of the boat. If you have a full tank of spoiled fuel, not only did you pay for fuel your now throwing in the trash, but it cost a ton of money and it's a pain in the arse to dispose of it all. It's just plain cheaper all around to leave the tanks as dry as you can.

 

[MPII]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Fuel spoils. That's not even a question. Up here, in Oct/Nov when you put it away, nobody knows if they will be taking there boat back out in March or late June.

Thanks for the confirmation! I just don't have any easy way of getting the rest of the fuel out and the reality is I won't be able to get back before winter to run it down, much to my dismay! SO, that leave's me with the option of pumping it out versus puring a bottle of stabil.

Did you read the article? The article talks about its better to be full then 1/2 full to cut down on the air movent through the vent. With air movement, I guess you get moisture.

Do you have an opinion on this?

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Hopefully your credentials for making such a sweeping statement are much better than your spelling and grammar!

Let me re state that guys. Sry......Some storage or marinas etc ask that the fuel tanks are empty because they are going on hangers high up on racks and do to the wieght and possabilities of leaks etc on other vessels they say empty....


The fact is we are always told by rule of thumb that the tank should be stored 95% full with stabil added and thats it! End of story .......


I personally keep my tanks empty and do not fog my carbs I just drain them.......


I do not like running old watery fuel ..... So Empty I keep them...


If I have a vessel that I can not get to the sender or empty the tanks etc...

Then full fuel to 95% then stabilizer


Before launching my vessels I take the fuel sender out and pump any fluids that are settled on the bottom out. I fill up and add treatment to the fuel that is suppposed to help in the add of ethenyol and water etc... That with my fuel water seperater makes me feel confident that theres no moisture going into my motor! Thats just me...


As far as my previous post it was very late or very early and i was prob half sleeping as i am half sleeping now. So Sry .............

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Thanks space boy! I hope your not a repeat affender with those pictures....

 

[JimS123]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

I personally keep my tanks empty and do not fog my carbs I just drain them.......

Carbs don't need to be fogged. The purpose of the procedure is to protect your engine's internal components from corrosion during long term storage. So, if you skip that step you have not winterized your engine.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

I am worried about condensation too but will these small polyethylene above the deck type tanks explode if you shut the vents completely off(while not in use and fuel remains in them) during hot weather? I read on the tank where it says to shut the vents "tight" when not in use. I just don't trust that advice LOL
I had a un-vented plastic gas can expand like a balloon in full hot sun light). Probably thinner plastic? Did not explode. Mine are not exposed to sun light. Still, 90+++ temps most of the time.
I have a I/O that is stored for 5 1/2 months during the winter. Usually left with 1/2 tank of 89 octane gas. I put Stabil in. I have done this for many years with no water in the fuel/water separator after first run

 

[18WCmerc]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

im currently replacing my floor. building an access door to fuel pump/fill tube. This will squash any of my issues in the future.

 

[Mark42]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

I am worried about condensation too but will these small polyethylene above the deck type tanks explode if you shut the vents completely off(while not in use and fuel remains in them) during hot weather? I read on the tank where it says to shut the vents "tight" when not in use. I just don't trust that advice LOL
I had a un-vented plastic gas can expand like a balloon in full hot sun light). Probably thinner plastic? Did not explode. Mine are not exposed to sun light. Still, 90+++ temps most of the time.
I have a I/O that is stored for 5 1/2 months during the winter. Usually left with 1/2 tank of 89 octane gas. I put Stabil in. I have done this for many years with no water in the fuel/water separator after first run

I left a 6 gallon tank out in the sun closed with about a gallon of gas in it. Darn thing expanded like a balloon, but did not split. Just opened the vent and let the pressure out. It went back to its normal shape.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

I left a 6 gallon tank out in the sun closed with about a gallon of gas in it. Darn thing expanded like a balloon, but did not split. Just opened the vent and let the pressure out. It went back to its normal shape.

So it is safe to leave a un-vented tank in the shade? My metal un vented tank started spewing out of the spout during hot humid weather. If you use the boat a few times a week and keep switching tanks then will condensation form over night with vented tanks?. I don't have a water fuel separator on my outboard. Sometime Most of them time I leave my leave the i/o boat with a half a tank for 5 days at a time. No problems with water being in it

 

[Mark42]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

A small tank like that won't be able to create enough condensation over night to worry about. And leaving it in the shade is fine too. Don't tighten the vent, just screw it closed until it barely seals, and then if pressure were to build, it will leak out the vent.

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

Carbs don't need to be fogged. The purpose of the procedure is to protect your engine's internal components from corrosion during long term storage. So, if you skip that step you have not winterized your engine.

I keep my boat in a heated garage! Thats why I don't bother fogging!

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: full tank vs. empty tank for storage

So it is safe to leave a un-vented tank in the shade? My metal un vented tank started spewing out of the spout during hot humid weather. If you use the boat a few times a week and keep switching tanks then will condensation form over night with vented tanks?. I don't have a water fuel separator on my outboard. Sometime Most of them time I leave my leave the i/o boat with a half a tank for 5 days at a time. No problems with water being in it

Im not 100% positive but I do think you should always have a vented fuel tank especailly on a boat.....