Old Fuel

[Solittle]

I have been an outboard guy for 30 years and always been concerned about old fuel. As I go by these huge marinas in south Florida I see row after row of trawlers, coastal cruisers and huge yachts of all types just tied up. I know many, if not most, have not been moved in months and some for years. I would guess that most have fuel tanks of 300+ gal.<br /><br />I would like to hear from owners, both gas and diesel, what they do to keep from fouling their engines with the old fuel when they do try to go out.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Old Fuel

There are many products to stabilize different types of fuel. Diesel for example can contain bacteria, fungi and sludge so there are chemicals to help remedy that.. I run gas so if I plan on letting a boat sit for a while I'll always run off as much fuel as I can or use a fuel stabilizer before storage.. Then start with a full tank of fresh 93 octane and fresh fuel filters when I'm ready to go again.. Some of the really big guys use a company that has a machine that pumps out the tanks and filters their fuel "mostly diesel" while their changing oil & doing other regular maintinance... It's a neat operation..

 

[Solittle]

Re: Old Fuel

B.J.B. My one experience with really bad fuel was with a 28' gas I/O rig I had bought. I finally had to get it pumped out. What came out looked like brown orange juice and smelled like stale turpentine. No amount of additive or filters would have helped. I can't imagine having to deal with 400 gal of the stuff. Yet I see boat after boat just sitting - and me wishing that the keys were in MY pocket.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Old Fuel

Solittle thats why you use the stabilizer BEFORE ya store it.. The brown O.J. turpentine sounds YUMMY... QUIT WISHIN & GO FISHIN..

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Old Fuel

there are companies that will remove and filter<br />the fuel and allow you to clean the tank in the<br />meantime. some folks only want new fuel after<br />cleaning and you can buy their recycled fuel at<br />a good discount. it can also go back to the refinery<br />to be filtered and then re-sold. I know this for <br />a fact on diesel and assume it's the same with<br />regular petrol.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Old Fuel

I have read in the trades that unleaded gas is considered to be "fresh" for only about 3 months after the normal sale date. You are right to be concerned because I'm sure we have all seen the results of varnished-up, watery gas. Stabilizer is the thing if you're not sure how long before you use the tank up. They claim it's good for a year, but I'm not too sure.