top off tank?

[anchor man]

I have about 1/3 tank left in my Lund and the motors already winterized. Shall I add some stabil and top off the tank, or would I be better off trying to cyphon (sp?) the left overs. If I don't know the exact amt of fuel in the tank, can I add too much stabil and cause problems??

[hoggs222]

I'd like to know also. I had 2/3 tank & just put in the right amount of Stabill. I think it was around 6 oz. I figure that this should be OK. Any comments?

[minneman]

next year, start with the stabilizer before it gets cold. the stabil should have been added to your fuel pryor to winterizing... you need it in the engines fuel lines/carbs/efi etc. I usualy use my boat gas up in the truck or snowmobile.

[TSCTSC]

Must I have stabil in my gas now?

[DTro]

I use sta-bil all summer long. You just never know how long that gas might sit.

At the end of year I kind of do the opposite of most people. Instead of using up my gas I fill everything right up to the top. The less oxygen the better.

[Wave Runner]

I always siphon mine dry and pour the gas in my truck. The shelf life of gas is so short and the price of outboards so high that I don't wan't that old stale gas going thru my motor in the spring regardless of the use of preservation additives...

[DTro]

oxygen is what makes it goes stale(bad).

[cliffy]

I do the same as DTRO. I fill the tank full before putting it away for the season. I also use stabil and run it for 20 minutes to make sure it mixes and gets into the motor. I also use seafoam through out the summer so there shouldnt be any problems. This seems to work for me, but if others want to remove the gas...that is cool too. Whatever works for ya.

[Phred52]

I do the same as Waverunner. I disconnect the fuel hose and run the OB outta gas, then I siphon the tank dry. In spring, I start with a tank full of non-oxy premium and when that's gone, I fill up with 89-proof, I'll run that until it's time to put 'er away for the winter and it starts all over again. That way, what I put into the truck is "diluted" by what's already in the truck tank. Works for me! Phred52

[Jeremy airjer W]

Both are are o.k.. If you have metal tanks I would consider filling them up and stabalizing befor winter to keep the condensation from corroding the tank. Thats about the only drawback I can see to emptying the tanks.

[Surface Tension]

Quote:

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I have about 1/3 tank left in my Lund and the motors already winterized. Shall I add some stabil and top off the tank, or would I be better off trying to cyphon (sp?) the left overs. If I don't know the exact amt of fuel in the tank, can I add too much stabil and cause problems??

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Its never to late to top off the tank and add a stabilizer.

If you didn't add a fuel stabilizer then it wasn't winterized completely. Its recommended you store your fuel tanks full. Water is heavier then gas so that water sits in the bottom of your tank and will rust it out regardless if its full or not. The object is to keep it full so you don't get the condensation.

[Wave Runner]

How many newer rigs have metal gas tanks anymore ?

[Surface Tension]

I think most new on board tanks that are under 20 gal are plastic and water condenses on plastic too.

[ChuckN]

I have always filled my fuel tanks to the rim in my boats before winter, with Stabil. Then run the motor to get that treated fuel into my motors and fog. Never had a problem.

I did have nightmare when I bought my boat in the spring a couple years ago. Previous owner did not stabilize the fuel, half tank of gas in both tanks....it went bad. Condensation formed inside the tanks and the gas went bad. I had 20 gallons of bad fuel to dispose of. I never want to go through that again.

If those of you want to drain your fuel tanks in your boats, that works too. I just prefer to fill with cheaper gas in the fall.

[jigeye]

I have a fairly large plastic tank in my boat and have been told to make sure the gas has stabil in it first then run it as empty as you can before storage. The extra weight is just a burden on your hull and trailer. Then in the spring fill the tank with fresh gas and add some Isopropyl. That will take care of the little moisture that builds up. Works good for me.