Removed gas from tank

[tony22770]

Just removed (10) gallons of bad gasoline from my 1989 Maxum 17' bowrider 24 gal. gas tank. Used a siphon pump that worked just fine. See link below.<br />Removed the sending unit from tank and had easy access. Tilted boat so that gas is at one end of tank for easy siphoning to the very bottom. Now I have to figure how to get rid of the gas.<br />Having trouble starting an 1989 Mercruiser 3.0 181 cid distributor with points, mercarb Alph-One drive. <br />Ran rough bogged etc. so:<br />New coil, points, rebuilt carb, cleaned distributor new springs on advance weights, compression not bad.<br />Hoping gas is finally the problem, it just stopped one day like turning key off and hasn't run since - cranks fine no start. <br /><br />pump link:<br /> http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa...do?itemid=3878&CategoryName=&SubCategoryName= <br /><br />Harborfreight.com<br />SIPHON PUMP KIT<br />Quickly and safely transfer gasoline, water and other liquids. <br />4 ft. of both intake and discharge hose <br />Inlet and outlet nozzles <br />31'' x 1/4'' dipstick tube <br />Solid brass piston rod <br />16'' air pressure hose with 90° snap-shut valve <br />ITEM 3878

 

[crawdadric]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Tony,<br />Thanks for the tip and link, I have to do the same thing. As for getting rid of the gas, we have a place called SPSA in Virginia Beach that handles household waste and they will take 5 gallons of gas each day per household for free. I also went to a marina and asked them if they know how I can dispose it and they gave me a name of a local business that disposes hazardous waste. So there should be a government or local company in your area that will dispose of the gas.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Removed gas from tank

I heard that you can run old gas in your lawn mower and your mower can handle it ok...

 

[tony22770]

Re: Removed gas from tank

When I inquired at our county government for info on disposing of gas the guy thought I was nuts getting rid of 10 gal of gas at these prices.<br />This weekend the local HomeDepot will host a drop off of hazardous materials (county run) at their parking lot. A couple of cheap plastic 5 gal. cans will do the trick.

 

[mmainelli]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Why do you call the gasoline "bad"? Is it contaminated with foreign material or just old? If just old, gasoline simply loses its octane rating over time. A tank of say 89 becomes a tank of 87 by the following year. Yes, lawn mowers, chain saws, leaf blowers, etc. will digest it. But just dump in a jug of octanne booster. One pint will boost octane 7-10 points where 10 points equals one octane number (will take 87 up to 88). Never a good idea to handle quantities of gasoline. Always best to try to use it in place.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Burn it up in your mowers. I doubt gas was the culpret anyway, unless you had water in it and do not have a separation filter.<br /><br />4 cycle engine basic troubleshooting...<br />Fuel<br />Spark<br />Compression<br />Timing<br /><br />Check each system out until you confim it's operation or find a problem. Like DonS always says... don't just throw parts at it (unless you have a bottomless wallet)!

 

[beezee28]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Use the "bad gas" on your lawn mower or if you have any 2 stroke engine use it there. At $2.43 per gallon at the present rate, I don't see myself getting rid of 10 gallons, I will use it any way I can.

 

[tony22770]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Thanks for your replies - I will be using the gas after all - used fresh gas still won't start. Can a compression test be accurate with a cold engine?<br />FUEL - as above.<br />SPARK - shows spark with each wire to ground.<br />TIMING - set #1 cyl to "top" reinstalled dist. as per specs. dwell (130deg.) <br />COMPRESSION - (specs call for 140psi) test on warm engine 1-120psi, 2-110psi,3-100psi,4-90psi (test performed prior to trouble, engine stopped while at idle.)<br />Interrupter switch not engaged.<br />Engine cranks very strong slight carb & exhaust backfire as timing is adjusted while cranking. <br />Any help will be appreciated.

 

[dodge1971340]

Re: Removed gas from tank

HI tony!! sounds like you got water in the carb. if its not that, use a remote fule tank, drain the carb and the hole line to the tank conect the remote fule tank prime the system and try it you might be suprized. if that dose not work the carb might of bin rebuilt improp. in the worst case you have a bad valve but a motor will back fire when you move timeing. I had a 318 do that in a truck I think i took the distribitor and pulled it and turned it around and it started right up. when you brought up # 1 piston was it on compretion stroke. did it run fine before you pulled the dist. mabey i would try that first before the fule thing. i hope i helped some what it gets pritty frusrating sometimes. Good day and GOD BLESS!! GP

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Did you get it to start yet? if you are worried about the fuel, couldn't you spray some starting fluid into the carb and then try it to see if it fires up?

 

[tony22770]

Re: Removed gas from tank

DODGE 1971340<br />CPTKID570<br />Happy to say yes it started right up - the cause was a bad kill switch as stated above.<br />Prior to that fix I had done the new fuel routine, rebuilt carb etc. not so bad now I have tuned up a recently purchased boat - last night I did dwell & timing, tomorrow will run it to make final adjustments.<br />Thanks for your interest.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Removed gas from tank

Originally posted by KaGee:<br /> Burn it up in your mowers. I doubt gas was the culpret anyway...

<br /><br />Don't forget the plug!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Removed gas from tank

I removed 25 gallons of gas from my FourWinns(44 gallon tank) after 2 years and it ran fine in all my gasoline power engines.<br /><br />Knowing what I know now, I would just fill it up and drive it too!<br /><br />Regards, <br /><br />Rick