Do you fill your gas tank???

[jsz]

For the last 2 years I have filled the tank and added stabilizer for storage through the winter (6 months, kids in school). For some reason I'm thinking of leaving it empty this year. I run it for a few minutes every month to keep things moving.

I know the popular thing to do is to fill and stabilize but have any of you ever left it empty??? If so did anything bad happen???

[dogbert]

I normally fill mine and put stabilizer in it. We ride less in the winter time, but still do ride.

[delongheavyhaul]

if you leave it completely empty, like run it till engine dies, i would think you should be ok. if there is a little gas left, it goes bad. running stabalizer through the engine is very good for it. when the boat sits, parts start to corode. Stabalizer keeps gas good, and parts clean. best to keep full.

[Tequilasun]

I fill mine completely.

You want to keep it full to prevent condensation, which on metal gass tanks was much more of a problem (rust).

I suppose if you got it bone dry, there wouldn't be much of an issue either.

[chpthril]

I ALWAYS KEEP MINE FULL AND ADD A BOTTLE OF STABLEIZER. CONDENSATION CAN BUILD UP. SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS, LIKE HERE IN 'DIXIE'. AFTER AWHILE THIS MIGHT CAUSE RUST AND CORROSION INSIDE THE TANK AND ON THE FUEL PICKUP/LEVEL SENDER. I WOULD HATE IT IF MY TIGE FUEL GAUGE DIDN'T WORK RIGHT!

[Tip]

It's always better to keep the tank full to prevent moisture from condensing in your tank. However, I have also read that it is not good to store a full tank if there is alcohol added to the gas because alcohol absorbs water and can cause corrosion. Who knows...I'm going to continue to store mine full with a bottle of stabilizer.

[chpthril]

AVOID ALCOHOL

Boaters should avoid alcohol blended fuels. High concentrations of alcohol will deteriorate the rubber and plastic in the fuel system, all the way from the tank, lines, injectors, pressure regulator If I remember right, we say no more than 5% alcohol for cars.

[ghollow]

Keep your tank full during the winter with stabilizer in the gas. The more air space you have in your tank, the more moisture will get in your tank. It is the same thing as dew on your grass in the morning. When the temperature cools at night, moisture condenses out of the air. That includes the air in your gas tank. Over the winter, these daily cycles can really add up to quite a bit of water being deposited in your gas tank.

Keeping your tank full eliminates all of the air space and keeps condensation to a minimum. The stabilizer will help keep the fuel from breaking down and eliminate the moisture that does get in.

[jsz]

Thanks guys. Your comments brought up a couple more questions.

1. Where are these gas stations that have a level of alchohol we need to be concerned about? I'm in southern CA and have never thought past how easy it is to get the trailer in and out of the station.

2. The gas tank has a vent hole a few feet from the fill hole. Regardless if the tank is full or not, wouldn't plugging the vent hole help with condensation and evaperation of the fuel?

So far everyone's for filling the tank. Anyone ever try leaving it empty? If so, did you have problems?

[Tip]

I agree that we should avoid alcohol blended fuels but there are no stations around here that sell alcoholess fuel...at least none that I have found.

[jsz]

Well I fueled it up yesterday. Have any of you thought about covering the vent hole to avoid evaporation and condensation?

[b/w05]

I would'nt cover the vent. I fueled mine before storing it this year and checked on it a week later and there was actually fuel venting from the hole. I never over fill the tank (well, one time I did to top it off and had a huge overflow from the vent), as soon as the nozzle clicks off I pull the hose out.

[jsz]

I've made that same mistake a couple times. The last time I was sure it would take about 35 gallons so when the pump shut off at 24 I gave it one more squeez. Sure enough, gas started coming out both holes all over my just cleaned boat.

Lesson Learned... Always trust the nozzle shut off feature.

PS. Its actually happened to me 3 times but I was too embarrased to admit it. The second two times I was sure it would take more but one more squeez put me over the top.

Now I really mean it. Always trust the nozzle shut off feature!!!