Let's talk about gas and storing for the winter

OldSchoolBoats · Oct 24, 2016

Heading out to Havasu next weekend for the last trip of the year.

Last year I put Lucas Ethanol treatment in as I towed home and then ran it on the hose for a little bit when I got home. Ended up draining the tanks and replacing all the fuel lines, etc over the winter so didn't matter but want that investment to last awhile now.

What is everyone's thoughts on this? Should I just run ethanol free gas this weekend to empty and put away or......????

TPC · Oct 24, 2016

Ethanol free or Starbrite works great:

Ziggy · Oct 24, 2016

I've never put anything in my fuel tanks over winter in the all my years of boating. I do however top my tanks off before leaving it sit for the ~3 months.

HavasuHank · Oct 24, 2016

I always left my old boat with an empty/near empty tank. First trip of the season, top off with mid grade and away we went.

Never had any issues doing it that way for 15 years.

Boat sat for about 6 months between last use and first use.

Boat 405 · Oct 24, 2016

Plan ahead run them almost dry the last trip if you can

28Eliminator · Oct 24, 2016

Boat 405 said:
Plan ahead run them almost dry the last trip if you can

This ^^^^^^^

CoolCruzin · Oct 24, 2016

I do nothing .Fill them up after winter and go .

COCA COLA COWBOY · Oct 24, 2016

i siphon them and use the fuel in the cars. You can buy one of those cool siphons with the ball inside for like $10 and jugs can be had on Amazon for cheap. If you'd like to borrow my stuff, just let me know.

HALLETT BOY · Oct 24, 2016

I have a supercharged engine , I run the tank as low as possible on last trip , then add stabilizer to fuel . At first trip fill up, I put about 20 gallons of race - gas in tank , then another 20 or so of 91 . The race gas has the octane in case the stored gas lost any , and the lead lubes the valves and seats .

welldigger00 · Oct 24, 2016

I run straight AV gas, never had an issue.

Runs2rch · Oct 24, 2016

Lucas complete fuel treatment in every tank. Have never had a poor fuel or gelling issue.

OldSchoolBoats · Oct 24, 2016

Boat 405 said:
Plan ahead run them almost dry the last trip if you can

28Eliminator said:
This ^^^^^^^

Should I run the ethanol free or put treatment in before running dry?

Riley1 · Oct 24, 2016

Empty tanks get water through condensation. I've always understood it best to store for the winter with full tanks. This is the same advice we were given for our vehicles during deployment.

RogerThat99 · Oct 24, 2016

OldSchoolBoats said:
Should I run the ethanol free or put treatment in before running dry?

Or just run it all winter Joe!! Problem solved.

Havalife · Oct 24, 2016

OutboardBahner said:
Empty tanks get water through condensation. I've always understood it best to store for the winter with full tanks. This is the same advice we were given for our vehicles during deployment.

Not the same fuel for deployment. With today's fuel at the pump I think you need to run tanks low or empty.

RogerThat99 · Oct 24, 2016

OutboardBahner said:
Empty tanks get water through condensation. I've always understood it best to store for the winter with full tanks. This is the same advice we were given for our vehicles during deployment.

That's what I was taught also. However, the gas in California sucks!! I plan on using my boat this winter, so i'm not too worried about it.

RogerThat99 · Oct 24, 2016

What about the protecting the engine and drive from freezing?

I store my boat in outdoor covered storage. It is surrounded on all sides, except the bow, by motorhomes. There isn't any power there to plug into. Most of the time it is above freezing, but it can get into the high 20's occasionally for a few nights.

I was thinking of putting a heaving moving blanket over the engine and another one wrapped around the drive with bungee cords. What are your thoughts on this?

If it gets real cold, I can bring the boat home and run some sort of heat source in the engine bay.

Riley1 · Oct 24, 2016

http://www.boatus.com/pressroom/release.asp?id=842#.WA122IZHaEc

Bobby V · Oct 24, 2016

OutboardBahner said:
Empty tanks get water through condensation. I've always understood it best to store for the winter with full tanks. This is the same advice we were given for our vehicles during deployment.

This is how I used to do it until my mechanic told me not to due to the bad gas. Now I go halfway and use Stabil in my boat, golf cart, rhino and Tahoe.

Big B Hova · Oct 24, 2016

Don't put it away. Throw a sweater on and boat year around!

Enen · Oct 24, 2016

welldigger00 said:
I run straight AV gas, never had an issue.

This! Run the tanks dry w whatever fuel you use. Put some AV gas in the tanks. Run the boat so its in the fuel lines. AV gas doesn't expire or break down over time.

OldSchoolBoats · Oct 24, 2016

Big B Hova said:
Don't put it away. Throw a sweater on and boat year around!

We were boating on Elsinore in February last year but water is so low now that I won't take the boat there. Maybe if we get rain and it fills up I might head out but for now it looks like it is going to be put away until Desert Storm.

Crazyhippy · Oct 24, 2016

Plenty of water in Lake Pacific...

LargeOrangeFont · Oct 24, 2016

Joe,

When you are done, dump in some sta-bil, Lucas, or whatever is your favorite. Top off the tanks and call it good. Even if you didn't top off the tanks, just put in the correct amount of stabilizer, and you'll be ok. Top off with fresh fuel in the spring and go.

You are not storing the boat out in a field in northern Michigan for the winter. It is dry and mostly warm and the boat is indoors. The fuel won't be fresh in the spring, but it is not going to go bad.

If you fill the tanks before you store it run as much gas out of it as you can on your first trip next spring and top it back off.

I store my boat with low fuel in it with stabilizer. In the spring I top it off with good fuel, run it once and then change my oil and fuel filter.

Steve-o · Oct 24, 2016

Don't know how much help this will be but in my research the fuel left in for winter you are not worried about it losing octane and becoming unusable for next summer because you can battle that with octane boost or fill up your first trip with high octane gas. The problem with today's fuel is the ethanol that eats your rubber in your fuel system. Ideally your last fill up before winter would be with AV gas so you eliminate that problem but sometimes that's hard to find. As far as topping off the tanks for winter I believe used to be a good idea because you lees em the amount of fuel that losses it's octane but with all the ethanol in the fuel now I think we have bigger problems. Personally I always run sta bil in every tank and try to do AV gas the last tank of the season.

boatdoc55 · Oct 24, 2016

I always suggested Sea-Foam to all my customers. 1 oz to a gallon, just like the can says. Never a problem on lay-ups. Make sure to run it long enough to go thru the entire system. My wife's landscaping buss used it for years also and I never had to rebuild any carbs. They used it all the time.

River Runnin · Oct 24, 2016

In the 13 years we owned our boat, I never did anything special. No additives, nothing!....It was a closed cooling system so antifreeze was always checked. It spent many winters in sub-zero temps, and whatever fuel was in it when I stopped running, either got topped off or run if over 1/2!...Fuel injected, it pop'd every time I turned the key...the last couple years I started using that Enzyme treatment, and a HEAT type product to help remove H2O from the fuel tank.

Since I run year round I do nothing special.

But would offer this;

Get it ready for your season! Oil change, Fuel filter, separator,

Check Tire pressure, disconnect batteries, check anodes, service drives if needed, and figure how much fuel is onboard, (guess-ta-mate) and either add the stabil stuff, and Enzyme treatments, (final detail, cover, & store

) or do that PLUS top off the tank(s)!... and really be ready for your season!

...

Classic Daycruiser · Oct 24, 2016

Runs2rch said:
Lucas complete fuel treatment in every tank. Have never had a poor fuel or gelling issue.

I've owned my Eliminator for 31 years. I never let the boat sit more than a couple months for the first 22 years, but for the last 4 years I started using the Lucas product. Not sure if its Lucas working its magic on the Carburetor, but the engine ideals smoother, and I'm getting another 150rpms on the top ends.

:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

copterzach · Oct 24, 2016

welldigger00 said:
I run straight AV gas, never had an issue.

What I do. [emoji106]

SJP · Oct 24, 2016

Just an FYI for those in Havasu - Campbell Cove has Marine (Ethenol Free) at the pump. Right across from Windsor launch ramp.

Riverbound · Oct 24, 2016

http://www.mysinthetix.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=75

Every tank. The biggest problem with today's fuels is not the octane loss but the fact that ethanol deteriorates the fuel systems. If you have noticed the increase in boat fires, it's due to ethanol and the fact most boat systems are not designed for use with ethanol (rubber hoses, etc). Anything I won that runs on gasoline gets this thrown in the tank for good measure. The one thing I have noticed most is the fact that beginning of season carb issues are no longer. [emoji106]

hallett21 · Oct 24, 2016

Fill the tanks up with AV

Ballyhoo · Oct 24, 2016

Parker Oil has Ethanol Free 91 octane. I run a combo of AV gas and the Parker Oil Ethanol free fuel. When I know it will be a few months, I put 10-15 gallons of AV gas in each tank. I do this on the last day of the last trip.

Mandelon · Oct 24, 2016

Wouldn't the newer computer controlled engines retard themselves to counter any issues with low octane?

I would keep mine stored in my covered car port so I had regular access to it. It would get started and run for 10 minutes every other weekend all winter season.

I used Stabil, Lucas or Seafoam. Usually left whatever fuel was in the tanks. Topped it off with premium at the beginning of the summer. Never an issue.

The reasoning to keep tanks topped off was that there would be less surface area for condensation to form. Lower fuel level left more surface area that water could condense upon. The alcohol in the fuel now causes more condensation than before....

As you can tell there is no solid consensus.

OldSchoolBoats · Oct 24, 2016

Ballyhoo said:
Parker Oil has Ethanol Free 91 octane. I run a combo of AV gas and the Parker Oil Ethanol free fuel. When I know it will be a few months, I put 10-15 gallons of AV gas in each tank. I do this on the last day of the last trip.

I won't have a problem running AV Gas through my stock 502 MAG??

Paul65k · Oct 24, 2016

Enen said:
This! Run the tanks dry w whatever fuel you use. Put some AV gas in the tanks. Run the boat so its in the fuel lines. AV gas doesn't expire or break down over time.

This is almost true but none the less good advice. AVGas has a guaranteed 2 year shelf life for aviation related activities as required by the FAA (not unlimited and it will eventually break down over time but certainly not over a winter hiatus).........that being said it is also OK to use a non-ethanol fuel as available here in Havasu at both Campbell Cove and Parker oil, I would be filling the tanks to the top with one of these 2 types of fuel personally to avoid condensation build-up especially with the boat being in CA which has a higher condersation level than Havasu.....my .02

LargeOrangeFont · Oct 24, 2016

OldSchoolBoats said:
I won't have a problem running AV Gas through my stock 502 MAG??

No but you certainly don't need to. When they replaced the fuel lines did they use ethanol safe fuel lines?

That engine is pretty low compression 100 wont hurt it, but it may not run the best with it unless you advanced the timing. It may actually run better on 87-91.

FreeBird236 · Oct 24, 2016

The non ethanol is the best way to store. My mechanic is now recommending a low fuel level rather than full. I've been using the blue marine 360 Stabil.

OldSchoolBoats · Oct 24, 2016

LargeOrangeFont said:
No but you certainly don't need to. When they replaced the fuel lines did they use ethanol safe fuel lines?

That engine is pretty low compression 100 wont hurt it, but it may not run the best with it unless you advanced the timing. It may actually run better on 87-91.

Not sure about the lines. Mechanic said to always run 87 in it. I think I am going to run the Ethanol Free gas and try to run the tanks down as low as possible. I don't want to tow home and back out with full tanks...

Maybe the rain will keep up and we can get out local again.......we are sure getting dumped on today.

LargeOrangeFont · Oct 24, 2016

OldSchoolBoats said:
Not sure about the lines. Mechanic said to always run 87 in it. I think I am going to run the Ethanol Free gas and try to run the tanks down as low as possible. I don't want to tow home and back out with full tanks...

Maybe the rain will keep up and we can get out local again.......we are sure getting dumped on today.

I would not worry too much about the lines as most are now ethanol resistant. You could fish around and get the part number off the line and look it up to see. Most I would run is 91 in that thing, 87 is completely fine. In a nutshell a higher octane is more resistant to burning, and as such a low compression engine works harder to burn higher octane fuel. If you ever dumped 91 in your lawn mower you may have noticed it did not run as well.. same principle.

I always run 91 in mine, but it does not really need it, however I will get it tuned for higher octane fuel this winter. Fuel does lose a small amount of octane over time.

I think your strategy outlined above will be fine. If you end up not using it for a longer period take the time in the spring and prep the boat for longer term storage. But even 6 months like that will be ok in our climate stored indoors.

If carbed I'd try to run the carb dry or drain it. If fuel injected, its fine.

rivermobster · Oct 24, 2016

For those of you that can only get pump gas, ziggy's advice is the best.

Fill em to the top - an empty tank will allow condensation, it will have water in it when you go to use it again.

Add stabilizer - Lucus makes great products - i use St-Bil myself.

If you can, run the carbs till dry, and pump the accelerator pumps till empty. The alcohol will destroy the pump diaphragms. I've seen em turn rock hard in six months.

If you can get av gas, still store with your tanks full. It minimizes the condensation issue.

steak&lobster · Oct 24, 2016

OldSchoolBoats said:
Not sure about the lines. Mechanic said to always run 87 in it. I think I am going to run the Ethanol Free gas and try to run the tanks down as low as possible. I don't want to tow home and back out with full tanks...

Maybe the rain will keep up and we can get out local again.......we are sure getting dumped on today.

raining here too Joe
I usually get gas at campbells and never even used stabile and had no problems so. . . see you guys friday!

RitcheyRch · Oct 24, 2016

I siphon out as much as I can as well although I do add fuel stabilizer to the tank on the last trip out since I know I will never get all the gas out.

COCA COLA COWBOY said:
i siphon them and use the fuel in the cars. You can buy one of those cool siphons with the ball inside for like $10 and jugs can be had on Amazon for cheap. If you'd like to borrow my stuff, just let me know.

Dirtbag · Oct 24, 2016

So from what i gather from all this....the best course of action is to just boat year round?

GOT IT!

ductape1000 · Oct 24, 2016

Dirtbag said:
So from what i gather from all this....the best course of action is to just boat year round?

GOT IT!

Because I run over the winter, I park the boat with low fuel, gas up with what I will run for the day and park it low again before the next trip. That way I'm running fresh gas each time.

I also run the Star tron enzyme treatment in my vehicles that aren't daily drivers. Seems to help.

River Runnin · Oct 24, 2016

Question!??....If your engine requires Premium fuel, can you run AV gas? :hmm

Headless hula · Oct 24, 2016

River Runnin said:
Question!??....If your engine requires Premium fuel, can you run AV gas? :hmm

Wouldn't it depend on the engines ability to adjust timing?
Efi vs carb? I'm asking because I don't know either.lol.

LargeOrangeFont · Oct 24, 2016

River Runnin said:
Question!??....If your engine requires Premium fuel, can you run AV gas? :hmm

If it requires premium, you can run AV gas but it is a waste of money. You will not see any performance gain.

If you have 02 sensors any lead in the fuel will screw them up over time.

rivrrts429 · Oct 24, 2016

River Runnin said:
Question!??....If your engine requires Premium fuel, can you run AV gas? :hmm

It's going to depend on what AvGas and which motor.

AvGas from the airport is 100LL (low-lead). At the local auto fuel station pump it's almost always Unleaded because of the laws and lead. Running EFI means you have O2 sensors and low-lead will fuck that program up because the lead deposits will kling to them. It does similar to catalytics in the newer EPA required exhaust systems.

If you have EFI or catalysts I'd be sure to run Unleaded AvGas or Ethanol free fuel. Carb'd it really won't matter but you're wasting your money on any pump gas motor buying AvGas.

I'd run the tanks as low as you can on the last trip of the season. Throw Sta-Bil or whatever other name brand flavor you choose in the remaining fuel and call it good. No need to over think it.

First trip of the season I'd fill with your normal fuel and call it good. If the boat is kept inside its not going to accumulate moisture any more than it sitting in a lake or river lol.

LargeOrangeFont · Oct 24, 2016

Headless hula said:
Wouldn't it depend on the engines ability to adjust timing?
Efi vs carb? I'm asking because I don't know either.lol.

I doubt any CARB approved out of the box power package will be able to take advantage of AV Gas without aftermarket tuning for it. As stated above, Av Gas with lead is bad for 02 sensors and cats. You'll have a much bigger problem to deal with.

Let's talk about gas and storing for the winter

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