Re: Fuel Tank Full For Winter Lay Up
CGjimmy said:
Down here in CT, our ethanol problem is serious. I spent over $800 this past spring rebuilding my carb on a boat that's only worth about $6k. The yard said that's all they were doing...dealing with ethanol problems, eating away gaskets, etc. I've always filled my tank end of season, but I'm considering draining it.
I can sympathize with ethanol related carb problems, in the start of 04 and 05 I had to pull my carb apart at the beginning of each season. Found nice little water droplet rust marks in the bowl each time. I'm pretty sure it's a direct result of ethanol'd gas in the carb bowl, even with stabilizer. Because the bowl is vented, moisture gets pulls in and water settles out. I think what happens in the tank has much less of an effect. Since then, I go through the effort of pulling the carb, draining it, and storing it in my basement for the winter. Had no problems at all this year with just installing it and turning the key thankfully.
Another contamination source is the water separating fuel filter if you have one. It's steel and the inside of the can turns to rust sitting over the winter- when you start the motor on that filter the following year the crap from it gets into the carb. So I purposely leave the old filter on for the winter and wait to put the new one on before starting the motor in the spring.
Draining the tank or filling it probably won't prevent these two problems.
The ethanol topic tends to get blown out of proportion a little, either from web regurgitation or as blame for problems which it most likely isn't the primary cause of. Gaskets being eaten away and carb rebuilds have been happening long before the use of ethanol and for many other reasons, so be sure you know what's causing your problem before chalking it up to the 10% ethanol. where'd you pay $800 for your carb work if you don't mind me asking, and where in CT are you?
