Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

[pbolden]

Hello everyone,

I am sure that this has been asked a thousand times so I apologize in advance as I couldn't find any specific threads.

What is the current wisdom as to how much gas to leave in your tank over the winter? My o/b will be cold stored inside. I'm on Ohio's north coast.

Thanks,
Paul Bolden

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Break out the Pop Corn. The argument is about to start.

I vote, "As little as possible!"

The small amount of "Old Gas" just mixes in with the fresh gas in the spring.

The urban myth is that the Ethanol in the gas "Magically" attracts all the water out of the air.
This has been repeated so many times, it is treated like some kind of fact.
I have been doing an experiment for almost a year 50 mile East of you and it just doesn't happen.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

You are going to get a wide range of opinions on this one! Merc advises draining the tank as #1 option, and filling it as #2. Personally, I fill mine to the top and, of course, add stabilizer.

 

[gbap]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

For the last several years I have had varying amounts of fuel in the tank, and neither amount seemd to be any better or any worse than the other. Not very scientific though.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Hey pbolden I hope this is helping three responses and three different opinions already LOL

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

I drain mine and seal the vent and put the gas in my truck.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Hey pbolden I hope this is helping three responses and three different opinions already LOL

While I Say, "As little as possible!"; I also agree it doesn't matter.
Either way will be just fine.

So depending on how you read it. We are all in agreement.
Full or Empty? Flip a coin, no wrong answer!

The OP, or at least his boat, is at Put-in-Bay. Also known as South Bass Island.
The extra fuel could be a spare emergency supply for when he get weathered in.
It gets mighty lonely out in the middle of lake Erie in February.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

You are going to get a wide range of opinions on this one! Merc advises draining the tank as #1 option, and filling it as #2. Personally, I fill mine to the top and, of course, add stabilizer.

+1 on full tank with stabil

 

[pdgs]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Hello everyone,

I am sure that this has been asked a thousand times so I apologize in advance as I couldn't find any specific threads.

What is the current wisdom as to how much gas to leave in your tank over the winter? My o/b will be cold stored inside. I'm on Ohio's north coast.

Thanks,
Paul Bolden

I'm going to settle this once and for all..

If gas prices are down, fill it, if they're up leave it empty.

There.. done deal.. Probably just about as good an answer as you're gonna get too.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

I used to fill the metal 35 litre tank on my R1150GSA and add stabilizer but even then I was draining water every spring. So for the last few years I keep as little fuel in it as possible and have no trouble with water. I don't need that tank rusting.
The boat tank is not metal so I am doing the same thing. As little fuel as possible with stabilizer.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

You could take advantage of both beliefs by filling the tank (add stabil) for storage. When you get the craft out of storage drain the tank and refill with fresh gas and put the storage gas in your vehicle. Only downside is that if the gas goes bad over the winter you will probably break down on the way to the lake.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Couldn't find specific threads? Look at the bottom of the page under "similar threads".

Did someone mention popcorn!

I leave no more than 1/2 tank. That way I can top it off with fresh in the spring. Of course, I add stabilizer, Seafoam. Some use Stabil(another debate). I use premium to try and maintain the octane level over winter. It drops over time(still another debate).

Good luck......:facepalm:

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

I prefer to simply run the boat all winter....

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

I prefer to leave my first tank of spring at the gas station, not in the boat where it could potentially go bad. (in other words, as empty as possible + stabil. I don't go out of my way to run it dry though)

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

I have always heard that an empty tank encourages condensation and a full tank prevents the same. I plan on filling my tank and adding stabilizer. Don't think I will have a problem next season with stale gas as that's what stabilizer prevents.

 

[JEBar]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

+ another 1 for full .... reason is simple, I've always done it that way .... the fuel in the tank is straight gas (no alcohol) along with Sea Foam and Sta-bil .... when I get paranoid about it over the winter (yep, that does happen) I usually go out and buy a few bottles of octane booster which are added prior to the first outing ....

overkill, without question but it has served me well for over 50 years and this old dog has no interest in learning new tricks (unless I become convinced they work better :facepalm

Jim

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Fortunately, the typical relative humidity at 9,000 feet elevation through the winter is maybe 20% and often 5%. There's not enough moisture in the air to cause condensation problems.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Empty is the new full.

The adage of full is from days of $2 gas prices, etc. now it does not make sense to leave $400-$600 of fuel in the boat for the winter.

So, I go as empty as possible. . . Sometimes I pump out the gas and give it to the cars.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

Whatever is left in tank at the end of the season I stabilize and leave it. Occasionally (every 2-3 years) siphon gas off the bottom of the tank to check for phase seperation and water. Pour that stuff off. Use a water seperator.

There is no clear advantage to filling tank, nor of emptying it.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Winter storage, how much gas in tank?

For the last several years I have had varying amounts of fuel in the tank, and neither amount seemd to be any better or any worse than the other. Not very scientific though.

+1. I winterize with whatever's in the tank on the day it's hauled. The only thing I do is add Sta-Bil and make sure it runs through the entire fuel system before I shut the engines down. Never had an issue.