Issue with gas tank being too large

[crappyfisher]

This may sound crazy to most of you but I have a 26 gallon gas tank and it may take me well over a year to use that much fuel. I do use fuel stabilizer. Should I only fill the tank to say less than half full? I usually have about 3 to 4 months in winter that I don't use the boat. Probably not a good idea to let it set for a long period of time without being full? Any help is appreciated.

 

[jhande]

Sometimes my motorcycle isn't full when I store it for the winter with Sta-Bill Storage. Starts fine every spring.

 

[robert graham]

Best to keep your tank full for extended storage....with a heavier dosage of fuel stabilizer. A half full tank may get condensation/water in it from the air...especially if boat is stored near the water.

 

[GA_Boater]

Is it running bad in the Spring? If no, forget about it. 3-4 months is not a long time to sit.

 

[JimS123]

My old classic car gets driven about 100 miles a year. It has a 25 gallon tank. I add stabil with every fuel addition. The car is stored in a secure garage - very dry but not heated. I fill it up in the Fall, thus its pretty full all Winter. When I fill it my guess is that the remaining fuel is 1-2 years old.

The car is over 40 years old and has been running E10 since the beginning - even before they told us it was in there. The entire fuel system is original - never even had a carb rebuild.

My old land yacht starts up every time and runs like a champ. My suggestion is to keep the tank full and keep the boat dry (when not in use).

 

[dingbat]

The obvious answer is to buy only as much as you use in a season.

Makes no sense to buy more than you need in a season then store it.

I’ve stored whatever is left in my 92 gallon tank at the end of the season, typically 30-40 gallons, for the past 20 years. 50/50 if it was stabilized or not.

Top off in the Spring (fresh fuel absorbs any water in the tank) and go boating.

Have never had an issue. On a bad year, might drain a teaspoon of water out of the Racor after the first tank full

 

[crappyfisher]

Thanks to all for the replies. I took the boat out yesterday and it did not run well when I tried to accelerate. Pretty sure it was the gas. I did not run the boat much last year and did not fill the tank at all not even before winter rest. It did have over 3/4 tank though but I did not put anymore stabilizer in and probably should have. I'm having the gas flushed next week and will start with new.

 

[JimS123]

Thanks to all for the replies. I took the boat out yesterday and it did not run well when I tried to accelerate. Pretty sure it was the gas. I did not run the boat much last year and did not fill the tank at all not even before winter rest. It did have over 3/4 tank though but I did not put anymore stabilizer in and probably should have. I'm having the gas flushed next week and will start with new.

Draining is always the best possible approach.

You add stabilizer when you put fresh gas it. It's purpose is to stabilize the gas. If the gas is old its beyond help, so putting it in (or adding more) is of no value.

 

[jhande]

Draining is always the best possible approach.

You add stabilizer when you put fresh gas it. It's purpose is to stabilize the gas. If the gas is old its beyond help, so putting it in (or adding more) is of no value.

I agree, but if you can't easily drain the gas from the carbs, which I can't on my snowblower and motorcycle, a storage additive helps. It prevents tarnishing which would plug up the small passages preventing spring time start up. Tearing down and cleaning the carbs are a pain in the butt.

There are different forms of stabilizer additives.
STA-BIL Storage - Keeps fuel fresh for long term storage – up to 24 months.
STA-BIL 360 Protection - Ultimate treatment and protection against Ethanol blended fuels, Non-Ethanol Fuels & condensation.
STA-BIL 360 Marine - Ultimate defense against the harmful effects of ethanol blended fuels.

My snowblower I'll add it to my fresh 2 gallons of gas beginning of season. I haven't used any more than that in a season.
In my motorcycle I add directly to the remainder in the tank at the end of the season.
You can successfully add it to 6 month old gas.

 

[Scott Danforth]

your simply not boating enough one outing for me is usually 50 gallons.

 

[Granado852]

Size matters. Not just for the outboard, but for your "camper". It would fit your weekend plans and shouldn't affect your sailing I wouldn't think. Bring skinny crew!