Hey Everyone - I've heard conflicting theories on what to do with your gas tank when you finally have to put your boat away for a few months over the winter (worst feeling ever, by the way).  There are two options I've heard:

Option 1:  Some guys will tell you to fill the tank completely full, and of course add marine stabilizer.  The rationale for this approach seems to be that if it is full, there is a smaller volume of air in the tank, and therefore less condensation and less water that ends up in your fuel.  The trouble I have found with this approach is that, when Spring finally rolls around, your tank is full of old (albeit stabilized) fuel, and my boat never seems to run as well on old gas, even stabilized old gas.

Option 2: Other guys say to go ahead and run the tank down to pretty close to dry.  Stabilize the remaining fuel that is in there, and add some Heet as well just to be sure there's no water in the tank over the winter.  Then, come Spring, cruise over to the gas dock and load up with fresh fuel, and do another round of Heet.  If there was any condensation over the storage period, the water will be wiped out by the Heet, and you have a fresh load of fuel to mix with the small amount of old gas that remained in the tank.   

This will be my first winter with our larger boat and its 69-gallon tank.  With gas as expensive as it is, and the fact that the larger tank will have a decent volume of air in it, the choice between Option 1 & 2 may have some impact on me.  

So, what do you think?  Option 1 (fill 'er up) or Option 2 (bleed 'er dry)?  THANKS!

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Todd - 4MM Gravois Arm, LoO
2000 266 BR 7.4L MPI BIII
"A-TEAM"

Todd, you're right on about the 2 schools of thought.  I choose Option 2.  I make sure and heavily stabilize my fuel and feel better putting fresh fuel in before I run it next season.  With the ethanol in the fuel now, even marina fuel, I think Option 2 makes even more sense since separation of the fuel and ethanol may be another issue.  I think it's easier to fully stabilize a smaller quantitiy of gas than to try to do 69 gallons. 

I've done it this way for 12 years and have had no problems. 

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
2003 266BR,496 MAG w/Bravo III

This topic got me thinking about interaction. I use Sta-Bil Ethanol Treatment about every other fill up. I wonder if there will be an issue when I add/mix in the fuel stabilizer at the end of the season ?

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2008 240LS - "Lee'Sure Time"

I doubt it but maybe plan to use Stabil marine version for winterization this year which is supposed to stop that separation.  Stabil might be able to tell you then if their 2 products can be combined. 

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
2003 266BR,496 MAG w/Bravo III

Hey Todd,

I winterized my boat for the first time last winter and left it half full (or half empty) and put the stabilize in it.  I have a 1998 268cr with a 81 gallon...so I share your concerns.  I had no problems this summer.  I just took it to the gas station and put about $100 in it.  I didn't even fill it up.  Although, next summer I will fill it up on land since the price will be much higher.  Good luck

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Dean Owens
1998 268cr "Better When Wet"

mines about half full every winter and with stabil in it.  I haven't had any issues in 10 seasons...........

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1999 202BR MISS "B" HAVEN
Platform by swimplatforms.com
Samson Wakeboard Tower

I lean towards the empty tank, with plenty of stabil and heet.  I then fill it with high test in the spring, and have never had any issues.  Been doing it for 8 years this way.  I agree with Mikes comment about the ethanol, probably makes more sense to leave less gas in there to separate.

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Craig and Marci
Zach, Brady and Caden
2005 275CCR, 496 mag

I have doing option 2 with no problems so far.

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Sow`n C.A.S.H.
06 230 LS
Moonstone/Citrine
350 Mag/Bravo 3

Greg Ball:

This topic got me thinking about interaction. I use Sta-Bil Ethanol Treatment about every other fill up. I wonder if there will be an issue when I add/mix in the fuel stabilizer at the end of the season ?

Greg,

I would look up the phone number for tech support at Stabil and ask them, in another thread someone said www.goldeagle.com is who makes Stabil,  check that website out.  They will more than likely tell you there will be no problem with interaction but it is better to be safe than sorry.

On that note, I have been doing option #2 for the last 6 seasons and had no issues.  The first few seasons I filled the tank up and put Stabil in it, it always ran a little wierd until my 2nd or 3rd tank of gas.

Kerry

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"I would rather be lost on the lake than found at home"

The other thing to consider when storing--a full tank of fuel is less explosive than an empty tank with fumes.  Hopefully everyone has a safe place to store their boat with minimal chances of a fire starting.

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Un-Civil-ized 2002 230BR, MX6.2 BIII on a Prestige Trailer. Moonstone/Amethyst with silver diamond graphics

For eight years now I have been filling the tank up, almost half way up the filler neck. Six years in Minnesota and two years in Georgia. I've never had problems until this year. I had to replace the filler and vent hoses due to deterioration resulting in fumes. I also had spot of bad gas where I couldn't get the boat started after rafting up. This happened several times until I was able to put new gas in the tank. I do the Sta-Bil and everything, but this year I may just keep what I have and Sta-bil that. Here in GA we're having a gas shortage and they are bringing in higher sulpher gas to relieve the crunch, so maybe now is a good time to start.

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2001 202BR 5.0 EFI B3
"Calico Jack"

Well, I'll be interested in hearing other comments, but sounds like Option 2 (running it low) is the consensus.  Thanks for the responses, and John, good luck with the gas shortage!  That stinks!

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Todd - 4MM Gravois Arm, LoO
2000 266 BR 7.4L MPI BIII
"A-TEAM"

Kerry Miller:

Greg,

I would look up the phone number for tech support at Stabil and ask them, in another thread someone said www.goldeagle.com is who makes Stabil,  check that website out.  They will more than likely tell you there will be no problem with interaction but it is better to be safe than sorry.

On that note, I have been doing option #2 for the last 6 seasons and had no issues.  The first few seasons I filled the tank up and put Stabil in it, it always ran a little wierd until my 2nd or 3rd tank of gas.

Kerry

Thanks for the link Kerry ; I'll be giving them a call.

I'm going the Option #2 route this season.

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2008 240LS - "Lee'Sure Time"

I have been debating this myself, with pulling the boat out of the water soon approaching. I actually asked the mechanic at the marina and he said eitehr way is fine. Sta-Bil is the most important thing. My motorcycle I'd always fill teh tank and sta-bil over the winter. However in spring when I started up there was noticible difference when I ran through the first tank and then filled with fresh fuel. This year I think I will just leave what fuel is in tank (will be over half tank). Add fresh fuel in spring and see. Although might be trading the Crown in and moving to a pontoon or another new boat. So if that was the case I'd hate to waste the money on a filling a tank I would not even use next season. lol

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1998 Corwnline 180BR (1st boat)
Waterford, MI
Go STATE!