Gas in a Boat - How Long Will It Be Good?

[pjwalleye1]

Last fall I filled up my 40 gallon boat gastank full of gas and enough SeaFoam for storing over the winter. This year I was only able to get out enough to burn through half of that entire tank (very lame I know).

Question - will that remaining 20 gallons of gas, which is now almost 12 months old, stay good over the winter into next spring when it will be about 18 months old? I don't think I can drain that gas easily, so I think my choices are either get out over the next month and burn the rest of it (which due to travel I may not be able to do) or if you think the gas is ok, fill up the tank with another 20 gallons and add SeaFoam accordingly.

Thanks in advance for thoughts.

[shizzy]

I would try to take it out once or twice more to burn off as much as possible. Im sure yo uwill be fine just filling it and adding more fuel stabilizer.

[FishonTom]

I would fill it up and put in the blue Sta-Bil, a little better for storage then Sea Foam. Make sure you run the motor some to get it in the entire fuel system.

[SkunkedAgain]

As much as it may pain you, find a good friend and offer to let them use your boat while you are gone. I'm sure that there are many logistical and financial issues that immediately stream to mind, but it shouldn't be hard to convince a friend to use up your fuel. This is a convenient and easy solution.

[moderation]

I think Sta-Bil at a higher dose claims to keep gas two years. What is the difference between marine and regular Sta-Bil?I have always used the regular myself.

[Musky_Madness]

The marine formula does something with the Ethanol in the gas now and helps protect and clean the gunk that ethanol leaves behind I believe.

[Ed Carlson]

Use the new Sta-bil Marine Blue formula and you will have no worries next spring and beyond.

I use the Marine Blue as directed and fill the tank before winter, and I don't even bother to fog the motor now...runs like a charm come spring. No worries of separation or deterioration in storage.

[BoxMN]

Just had experience with bad gas. Here is my advice. Get rid of it. Pump it out to anyone who will take it. Especially if it is ethanol. Had a great motor, always starts, right up through duck season. I always always mix 3 gals only so keeping gas fresh. I ran out of it, and put in my "extra" can to get me back. Only 1.5 gals. It got me back, but even after adding 4 gals of fresh no-oxy gas, the motor is running like carp.

With that said , I just sold an old RV that had 6 year old gas in it, and it started up fine, and ran fine on that odl carp. But small engines are different, IMHO. Get rid of the old carp however you can. Put in fresh stuff, and run it hard I have Honda bike that is PERFECT runner, but right not has 2 your old gas, and runs like stink... Bad gas is like, well, like bad gas

Good luck.

[SkunkedAgain]

Your 6 year old gas in the RV likely was pumped prior to all of the oxygenated gasoline.

[broken_line]

i have a 25hp and have burnt through easily 150 gallons this summer.. take er fer a spin maby pull some tubes at WOT drive into the wind take er hard will burn that stuff fast!

[Nutty Fisherman]

oxygenated gas has been around a lot longer then 6 years.

[BoxMN]

Yeah, the gas in my RV was ethanol, which is why I was surprised it started and ran so good. I did put seafoam in it before storgae, maybe that helped.

[harvey lee]

I alway add stabil and top the top off. Never have I had an issue come spring.