Fuel sitting in tank
Submitted by saltlife on Fri, 2014-07-25 10:07
Hey Guys, my boat has been laid up for a few weeks now (due to work commitments) and I'm just wondering what you blokes do with the fuel sitting in your tank?
I try and keep mine full at all times but after coming back from a fishing trip its only 1/4 full (a 530l fuel tank is a lot of extra weight when towing).
Would you fill it back up or can you put an additive in it to capture any moisture due to condensation?
Obvious answer just keep using it!!!
Cheers
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West is Best
sea-kem
Posts: 15002
Date Joined: 30/11/09
A small amount of metho to
A small amount of metho to get the moisture out. You'll need to google the amount per fuel to put in. You can buy an anti ageing agent for fuel as well.
Love the West!
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Use "Stabil" which is
Use "Stabil" which is available at BCF or Supercheap. It helps keep the fuel "fresh".
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
interesting point
Just throwing it out there, im a sparky, not a mechanic.
But i work away also, with a minium hitch of 4 weeks. Sometimes my boat will sit up to 3 or more months. All i do is throw the trailer up on set of axel stands and drain the tanks. The missus loves having a 44 drum at home to fill her car up with. Then next time i do head out, just fill up. I havent had issues yet (only 200ltrs over 2 tanks) but only had boat 3 yrs too.. i never really gave the moisture thing a thought
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
be careful not to use the
be careful not to use the ethanol blend fuels, (only sold from United Rangeway in Gero that I know of) as they are the real danger both for marine use and sitting long term.
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The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
Pro's and con's
From what i have heard, it can be great, and it can ruin a motor depending on what its running. Ive got an old 98 GU patrol that i run it on, but has had more $$ put into the motor than what i paid for the car & tuned to run the stuff. When i come back to work, pretty much drain the lot, then dump 10 ltrs of premium in it and run it thru ready to sit for the 5 weeks. Have heard its really good at eating rubber fuel lines, injector O-rings and blocking up carby jets if left to long thou??
Your bang on the money with United in rangeway mate, but i also think one of the "shell" servo's do it also, cant remember which one thou.
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
not sure if you know,
not sure if you know, ethanol (like biodiesel) will absorb water where the mineral fuel won't.
So when ethanol blends get water in the tank bottom, at a certain point the ethanol falls out of suspension from the mineral fuel.
When that happens your outboard runs on 95% ethanol and a percentage of water which causes big problems.
http://www.alloutdoor.com/2013/06/25/fishermen-beware-ethanol-fuel-deadly-outboard-motors/
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
adamibinfishin
Posts: 74
Date Joined: 16/03/14
fuel
Hi bud,
fuel sitting around for a few weeks is no big deal. metho seems to work or you can also top up tank with premium fuel or use stabil or fuel additive products.To be honest premium will sort you out if sitting around for a while and if unsure just run your engine at home first to make sure engine seems ok,hope that helps buddy.
regards Adam
sea-kem
Posts: 15002
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Thank Adam, stabil was stuff
Thank Adam, stabil was stuff I was thinking of
Love the West!
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
with Stabil, Im pretty
with Stabil, Im pretty certain you need to add it when the fuel is new, it will preserve but not restore stale fuel?
Ethanol is the #1 danger though
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
sea-kem
Posts: 15002
Date Joined: 30/11/09
You are right Rob. I've got
You are right Rob. I've got some in the shed for my whipper snipper funnily enough. As far as boat fuel goes, my boat sits for a few months over winter and have never had a problem, just fill the tank with fresh fuel at the start of the season.
Love the West!
chris raff
Posts: 3257
Date Joined: 09/02/10
So at what point would people
So at what point would people in the know , consider fuel to be too old to use and does it being 2 or 4 stroke affect the longevity ?
“Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”
Niko
Posts: 213
Date Joined: 26/11/13
auto mechanic
Fuel life will differ to a degree depending on how its stored, weather etc (will go bad faster in high temps or acumulate water faster in high humidy) but generally around 3 months ud be pushing it and even that would depend in the engine it runs. Really modern highly strung, high performance engines its alot more important to keep the fuel fresh. That being said I dont drive my car very often and got to about 2 months on the same tank, 2013 toyota 86 high compression direct injected 4 cyl tuned for 98 and it still went fine (although I wasnt happy about it and drove straight to the servo). As for 2 and 4 stroke I cant say.
saltlife
Posts: 35
Date Joined: 14/02/14
Cheers for your input guys, I
Cheers for your input guys, I think I will fill her up this weekend and try get out over the coming weeks.
Chris - yeah that's the model (R235). I rate them highly, had it for 2 years and not a single issue yet. Good solid hull with all the fruit.
West is Best