Gas tank condensation during summer?
08-04-2019, 02:39 PM
#1
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Gas tank condensation during summer?
Should I be filling my tank before putting the boat away for the week. I’ve read that humid air can enter a partially filled gas tank and condensate leaving water in the tank, but didn’t think it was a big issue in the summer. I do winter store my boat with a full tank of stabilized gas. I’ve never had a known problem from this and normally have at least 1/3 tank of gas. How long should I leave the tank low and what are your experiences?
08-04-2019, 03:13 PM
#3
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I've done everything under the sun - Tanks empty, tanks full, stabilized, unstabilized, etc.... During winter storage and never had a drop of water in my filters. I think there is a lot of paranoia in this area...... I Always run high quality Sonoco or BP premium....
08-04-2019, 06:46 PM
#4
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I think you're right, just that fact that everyone does it every way and they say it works kind of backs this up. I've also done it various ways and never a problem.
08-05-2019, 06:30 AM
#5
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Fill It , less total area in the tank for Condensation , Less total surface area for the evaporation loss of fuel ( If you get it full )
Ive seen tanks that were cut apart , have varnish from half tank up , peeling off in sheets , from never being full of gas.
Ive seen tanks that were cut apart , have varnish from half tank up , peeling off in sheets , from never being full of gas.
08-05-2019, 09:08 AM
#6
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Never had an issue especially week to week and some of that is with boats kept in a slip.
08-05-2019, 09:11 AM
#7
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Only time I experiences getting water in my tank during the summer a neighbor stopped by while I was washing the boat. After some time passed I noticed I was pointing the water hose right into my gas tank vent. Mother ****er !
Got another spray nozzle right after that. No more thumb over the hose. Doh !
Got another spray nozzle right after that. No more thumb over the hose. Doh !
08-05-2019, 09:32 AM
#8
VIP Member
Given today's fuels and ineptness of pretty much the majority of the population (no one cares if they make a mistake)...
...I find when it comes to the boat & fuel, that it's imperative to treat ALL fuel in the boats at all times.
I filled my 37AT up years ago with non-ethanol fuel at a marina, and left it for a couple months in Florida, untreated. Turns out, the fuel had ethanol in it; due to someone's screw up. It soaked up so much water that it ruined my my fuel pumps and 4 filters; found that out the day before a poker run, in which I thrashed to get them replaced and make the event.
Store it empty.
Store it full.
Store it half.
Store it long.
Store it short.
Just make sure you have fuel treatment in there and you will be fine. Cars and other vehicles that don't have open air fuel tank vents are better off; but boats are a different story.
I prefer the Star-Tron blue bottle treatment, and have not had an issue since I started using that 10 years ago. For winter storage, I use Star-Tron as well as Sta-Bil. I buy the Star-Tron at WalMart in the most concentrated bottle, and keep anywhere between 5-10 bottles on the shelf in the garage at home, and a full bottle in the boat at all times.
...I find when it comes to the boat & fuel, that it's imperative to treat ALL fuel in the boats at all times.
I filled my 37AT up years ago with non-ethanol fuel at a marina, and left it for a couple months in Florida, untreated. Turns out, the fuel had ethanol in it; due to someone's screw up. It soaked up so much water that it ruined my my fuel pumps and 4 filters; found that out the day before a poker run, in which I thrashed to get them replaced and make the event.
Store it empty.
Store it full.
Store it half.
Store it long.
Store it short.
Just make sure you have fuel treatment in there and you will be fine. Cars and other vehicles that don't have open air fuel tank vents are better off; but boats are a different story.
I prefer the Star-Tron blue bottle treatment, and have not had an issue since I started using that 10 years ago. For winter storage, I use Star-Tron as well as Sta-Bil. I buy the Star-Tron at WalMart in the most concentrated bottle, and keep anywhere between 5-10 bottles on the shelf in the garage at home, and a full bottle in the boat at all times.
08-05-2019, 12:49 PM
#9
Registered
I have always had my tanks close to empty for winter time because even treated fuel's octane is less after 6 months. I rather start fresh in the spring v.s. lowered octane old fuel.
