Sitting Boat, Sitting Fuel

[Pirate0408]

Repowering my 1979 22-2 in the next week with another 200 hp 2-stroke.  Boat has been stored/sitting since May of 2011 with approx. 1/3 tank of fuel (87 Octane w/ pre-mix at 50:1 ratio) with added ethanol treatment/stabilizer at the time fuel was added the last time (May 2011).

Thoughts on whether or not I should pump out and dispose of the fuel mixture, or add fresh and keep on getting it?  Obviously, I'll replace the fuel filter before the re-power is installed, but just wondering if it will be best to take it one step further....

[gman 82 aquasport]

If your talking 10-15 gallons, I'd consider pumping it out...Was the gas 10% ethanol or good gas? If good gas and you used stabilzer and ethanol treatment, might consider just putting some high test gas in it, just a thought. the big problem with ethanol/gas is if it's not full it can cause condonsation in the tank and seperation of the gas/oil mix.

[seabob4]

Condensation, with any type of gas, is the real issue.  But, I will say this.  I have worked on boats where treated fuel (either Sta-Bil or Startron) has sat for almost 2 years...and has been fine.

Regardless of the source of fuel these days, ALWAYS treat!  It's cheap insurance...

[wingtime]

If it is ethanol I'd get rid of it.  Pump some out and see what it smells/looks like.  You did one thing right and that was adding stabilizer.  The bad thing you did is the ethanol and 1/3 of a tank.  Plenty of airspace for condensation and water for the ethanol to adsorb.  Either have a full tank or drain it for storage.   I don't care what they say no stabilizer is going to stop phase separation of the E10 fuel.  Just like Italian salad dressing the ethanol is not soluble in gasoline so they will separate over time.   Even more so since the alcohol will adsorb water.  I have noticed premixed fuel holds up a tad better.... but your about 9 months past the shelf life of the fuel.

I just went through this with a boat I just bought.  Just over 1/3 of a tank of ethanol with stabilizer in it.  It was just about a year old.  The fuel looked dark when I drained it but in 10 minutes it turned cloudy...  phase separation.  I had to have the tank cleaned and drained off about 60 gallons of bad fuel.  If you can get it use only non ethanol fuel.  For station s near you got to pure-gas.org.

[seabob4]

Bruce is correct in keeping a full tank, thus minimizing condensation.  Less air means less free moisture available for the ethanol to accept (it is hygroscopic, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygroscopy), and, therefore, the more free moisture available, the greater propensity for said moisture to be absorbed...

Plain and simple, Ethanol sucks.  And with the soon to be put upon us E-15, even E-20...well, chit! :evil:  :evil:

[John Jones]

Get rid of it.  I nearly ruined my generator with phase separated gas.  It had Stabil & Sea Foam in it but I let it sit too long.

[Pirate0408]

Thanks for the tips.  I'm about 99% sure I'm good on the ethanol-free gas, but I'm going to pump some out and check it myself, as I can't remember whether or not I had some E-10 in the tank before the last time I added fuel before the last tryp in May.  I spoke to the mechanic that will be swapping the engines for me and he reccomended adding some high test and a slightly-greater-oil rich-mix than normal.

[gran398]

Aubrey,

If last May....and the fuel in place is non-ethanol:

Would go with your mechanic's suggestion.

Otherwise, and if in doubt...go with the safe recommendations here.

OT...as a Carolinian, we welcome you as a participant in the Octoberfest Aquasport Reunion this fall.

[kraw2]

I don't know if this would help but I made a fuel polisher with a 12v fuel pump that pumps fuel thru a Racor water seperating filter and back into the tank. I made the suction hose long so you can get way back into the fuel tank. It has worked great for allot of people including me.

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... G_0055.jpg

[John Jones]

I don't know if this would help but I made a fuel polisher with a 12v fuel pump that pumps fuel thru a Racor water seperating filter and back into the tank. I made the suction hose long so you can get way back into the fuel tank. It has worked great for allot of people including me.

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa3 ... G_0055.jpg

I was going to do that with mine but I loaned my son my 12v fuel pump over a year ago and he has not returned it.  It will not fix phase-separated fuel but it will clean out the water EXCEPT for whatever fuel/water/crud that is left in the bottom of the tank.