Thread: Question about built in gas tanks

Stabil!

Originally Posted by trobin

Stabil!

Yep, I already use Stabil along with another fuel additive that my brother suggested.

A can of seafoam at the beginning and end of the season is what I use.... But my boat has always been run atleast twice a month durning the winter months

Pastor, I don't really believe you will ever have a condensation problem in this part of the country. A lot of it has to do with extreme temp differentials and long term storage. I would suggest if you are going to store for a couple of months or more that you fill tank and treat with Stabil. I run mine down then fill. I have run boats all my adult life in all kinds of climates and never had a condensation problem. If you are worried go to walmart and get one of those screw on water filters with the base and install it in your fuel line close to the motor as you can. Then change that filter once a year. Your biggest problem is age of gas when it comes to ethanol gas. It breaks down and causes what is called phase separation. That's when the moisture shows up. Believe it or not your gas has a certain amount of moisture in it all the time. It's just mixed really well and will not hurt anything until it starts to seperate. All that said to say this, run it down as far as your comfortable with then add make up gas.

I run mine so much I don't have to worry about it.....I do use an additive to clean the engine....never use with stabil......if I were going to store it for a long time, I would....

another important thing to do is charge your trolling batteries immediately after getting home....took me a long time to learn this....

Ethanol ( alcohol) is hygroscopic meaning it attracts water.............. This is much more of a problem than the unlikely event of condensation....Ethanol blended fuels will start to breakdown in 90 day's under optimum conditions and can start in as little as 30 day's............

In my opinion If a person plans to winterize their boat for several months I would recommend running out the ethanol fuel and filling with ethanol free fuel.........

With today's fuels every boat can benefit from a water separator filter installed ( just cheap insurance )

With high humidity and high dew points, condensation does occur. I have seen it a few times under the lids of my dry storage. I cannot keep my inflatable vests in the dry storage boxes during these times otherwise they will inflate. I don't have a problem with the fuel though. Like Cray said, all hydrocarbons (gas and oils) have some water from .03 to 2 % by weight which remains miscible and won't separate. To me, non ethanol fuel is a must. The boat manufacturers do recommend that practice just as an added precaution, but I don't think it will be a problem as long as a high quality fuel is used.

I keep my tank full and use an additive and ethanol free gas only. No prob gor 2 years and if anyone will have a problem it will b me.