How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

[f_inscreenname]

I know about gas stabilazer but how much do you all leave in the tank? For many diffrent reasons I am sure everyone has there own level. So what are they and why?

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

The only 2 recmonded ways I know of are: empty (to prevent gas spoilage), or full (with stablizer, to prevent condensation).

 

[MFG197]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

full with stabilizer (no alcahol in gas)or<br /><br />empty, carbs, lines, filters dry<br /><br />to me its much easier to fill and stabil-ize

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

I leave it 3/4 full with stabil. In the spring, I fill with fresh gas and add a can of heat. Never a problem with this routine. I know people worry about condensation, but not much of that in a tank that is 3/4 full. Just gives me a chance to get fresh fuel in there.

 

[Capt. T]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

Full with stabilizer (or 1 bottle of heat to 10 gal. of gas). No problems in 20+ yrs.

 

[Texan_Ron]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

I have also have wondered this question not to sound dumb but define ( bottle of heat please )

 

[POINTER94]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

Everyone I know says all or nothing. If you don't completely fill it you can run the risk of getting bad gas and getting rust in your tank.<br /><br />FYI, I was told that if you don't use your boat for more than 2 weeks you may want to stabilize the gas in it. Todays gas is so bad that it will begin to break down after only 1 week. Therefore you are succeptable to all the nasty stuff that goes with water in the tank and poor performance.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

Pointer--where you gettin your gas? You don't know what bad gas is unless you bought the crap they sold back in the 70s "gas crisis."<br /><br />The unleaded blends of today are much, much more stable---at least the blends from the quality suppliers.

 

[merc 140 pontoon]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

Yeah, uh huh. http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/98/98_05.pdf

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

Merc 140----very effrective advertising---did you run out and buy a case of Mercury Quicksilver Stabilizer?<br /><br />Maybe you missed the line that said this is not happening in all areas of the supply chain.<br /><br />Ethanol fuels must not use this "detergent." I ran only 89 octane ethanol fuel for the past 12 years in the old Cobalt and never had a fuel related problem and never touched the carb---except to periodically check the fuel filter.<br /><br />Like I said, fuel from a reputable source is much more stable than it used to be.

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

I disagree with the statement that fuel now is more stable than of earlier years. <br /><br /> In all my reading (sorry no links) from my job (auto mechanic/small engine repair shop owner) the oppsite is true. <br /><br /> It is true that the blends (additive packages) are better, but the stability (aka shelf life) is less (as is the octane rating).

 

[Bondo]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

Mine are Always Full to the top, With Stabil added......<br />Then about January, I'll decide to tear into Something on the boat that requires Draining 36gals of Gas into the Queenies Jeep.....<br />The Up-side is, As Long as I can Find a boat launch with Open Water, I Can Go Fishing..........................

 

[proline2]

Re: How much gas do you leave in your boat over the winter?

This has nothing to do with boat gas tanks, but as far as stability goes: I left my wood splitter in the woods for the last two YEARS, without ever starting it or adding any stabilizer to it. It was uncovered and left to fend for itself in up to three feet of snow. I recently went to start it, ( it has a 5hp Tecumseh motor) and it fired up on the second pull. It needed a little extra gas from the primer bulb, but it ran very well, with two year old gas.