Boat Storage, Full Tank or Empty Tank??

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Do you guys store your boat with a full tank of fuel or an empty tank of fuel??

What are the pros and cons??

[dairyman]

I fog my 35 hp until it dies--------then pull the plugs and give them another squirt of fog

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I fog my 35 hp until it dies--------then pull the plugs and give them another squirt of fog

So empty I guess??

[TR21HP]

I've stored them full, half empty and almost empty and as long as you have an adequate amount of stabil in the tank you won't have any problems. There are no pros or cons on either side as long as you have a stabilizer in the tank.

[delcecchi]

I know guys who have motors that don't run right on stale gas, stabil or not. They store them mostly empty so they can put in fresh gas in spring (non oxy 91 octane). I personally haven't noticed much of an effect.

[Cheers]

Full with nonox and stabil , Being doing it that way for many years without an issue. I think an empty tank allows for condensation to build up resulting in water in the tank.

[gunner55]

At least 1/2 full of non oxy 91 octane with > 1oz/gal of seafoam in it.We use seafoam in all our gas at the lake.Don't fog it anymore either,just pull the plugs & give it a couple of squirts of WD 40 while turning it over manually.That's how Dad always did it & we've never had a problem.

[h8go4s]

It's settled! Just like all forum advice! One guy says full, one guy says empty, one guy says half full.

[WalleyeChaser]

Wherever it ends up at the last trip for the year with stabil added the last fill up. I like to be able to add fresh non-oxy 91+ before the first trip out the following year. I would rather risk a little condensation than have a 32 gallon tank full of fuel the doesn't burn well enough making the motor spit and sputter. I run a fuel water seperator inline and my motor has another one on the fuel module.

[harvey lee]

I have an infloor tank, approx 23 gallons.

I have always filled it at the end of the season before I put it away and add Sta Bil.

I have never had any issues including starting or performance come spring. Work's for me.

Sta Bil seems to really help.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

It's settled! Just like all forum advice! One guy says full, one guy says empty, one guy says half full.

Yep!!

Question clearly answered, thanks guys?????

[SkunkedAgain]

Acutally, the question has been answered as it has been many times. There is no right or wrong answer that works for every motor. It's usually just that some motors react bad to one solution or the other, and if that's the case, you switch to the other method

[BartmanMN]

I like mine full so come the Spring, there feels like one less thing to pay for.

[Kyhl]

It's settled! Just like all forum advice! One guy says full, one guy says empty, one guy says half full.

You forgot, it doesn't matter as long as the fuel is treated.

Which is the correct advice, imo.

Between greater than half and a full tank there is effectivly no difference in surface area inside the tank for water to condence on. Even a full tank generally leaves the top of the tank exposed, unless someone fills it up the filler neck.

With the top exposed to air in a full tank, up to 25% of the tank's surface area is still exposed even in a full tank.

Example, the top section of a 20 gallon below deck tank that is 11.75 X 26 X 13.25 leaves 21.4% of the tanks surface area exposed to air.

I treat whatever is left and don't sweat it.

[titelines]

I like mine full so come the Spring, there feels like one less thing to pay for.

Exactly what I do. I have a 23 gallon in-floor tank.

Toss in Sta-bil, fill it to the top (even up the filler neck just a bit), pull the fuel line, start it up and let it run until it dies. Pull the plugs and I'm done and all ready to go for the next year.

[h8go4s]

"You forgot, it doesn't matter as long as the fuel is treated.

Which is the correct advice, imo.

Between greater than half and a full tank there is effectivly no difference in surface area inside the tank for water to condence on. Even a full tank generally leaves the top of the tank exposed, unless someone fills it up the filler neck.

With the top exposed to air in a full tank, up to 25% of the tank's surface area is still exposed even in a full tank.

Example, the top section of a 20 gallon below deck tank that is 11.75 X 26 X 13.25 leaves 21.4% of the tanks surface area exposed to air.

I treat whatever is left and don't sweat it."

And Khyl plays the math card.....

I've been trying to ignore this, but I can't help myself.

What really matters is the volume of air space in the tank. In a vented tank, temperature changes cause "breathing" of air in and out of the tank. Humidity condenses out of the air onto the tank surfaces, as frost or water droplets. The less air in the tank, the less condensation. So fill the tank before storage, and use Sta-Bil.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I actually pump out most of the fuel in the boat gas tank and use it in the truck. I add Stabil to whats left and fill it up with fresh fuel in the spring.

Mike

[delcecchi]

I looked at how much water is in air due to humidity. You could probably find the post if you searched. Anyway at winter temps the amount of water vapor in air is very small. Personally I wouldn't worry about it.

[Finns]

I looked at how much water is in air due to humidity. You could probably find the post if you searched. Anyway at winter temps the amount of water vapor in air is very small. Personally I wouldn't worry about it.

Put an open container of stabil or seafoam near the air vent so it will eliminate the moisture before entering the tank?

[Kyhl]

I looked at how much water is in air due to humidity. You could probably find the post if you searched. Anyway at winter temps the amount of water vapor in air is very small. Personally I wouldn't worry about it.

I think you did that in last years version of this thread. IIRC it was like a couple of tablespoons of water.

Again, properly treated it shouldn't matter.

[Greenhornet84]

I start it and make sure all the water is out. Then shut it off and put it away with however much 87octane happens to be left. Guess I been lucky so far

[fivebucks]

I had to have my motor rebuilt due to water in the gas. I think it was due to bad gas but could have been condensation. Problems started within 30 minutes of getting gas so who knows. Anyhow, how do you start your motor and make sure all the water is out of the tank without having the motor suck up the water?

[EBass]

I fill mine, stabil, fog it, repack/replace bearings, change lower unit lube, then bust out the porty and ice rods

[B-man715]

Putting a boat into storage????

Now that is just plain silly

So much water....and so little time

[Finns]

Putting a boat into storage????

Now that is just plain silly

So much water....and so little time

X2!