Fuel tank winterizing

sidelock · #1 11-11-2016, 11:31 AM

I have a Moeller 40 gallon plastic fuel cell in my 18 SF and I'm debating whether to leave it empty over the winter or fill it with fuel and stabilizer. I'm located north of Buffalo NY and since our temperature varies dramatically from summer to winter, condensation is obviously a concern.
I emptied the tank a couple of days ago in preparation for winterizing and I'm undecided what to do.
Any advice or opinion that may help in deciding what to do would be appreciated.

caper · #2 11-11-2016, 01:32 PM

I'm in the Northeast and I empty mine. Before ethanol I used to fill it - since ethanol I empty it for winter.

bigeasy1 · #3 11-11-2016, 07:21 PM

My boat is kept in olcott NY not all that far from Buffalo.

I used to worry about making sure the tank was full, but now i leave whatever fuel is left in the tank from the past seasons use, and I have not had any fuel problems.I do buy my fuel from the Newfane town marina.which has no ethanol in it and is also treated with valveTech additive.
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I think you can get ethanol free fuels at several gas stations in your area.I think that along with some startron additive will help keep condensation at a minimum..also a good water separation filter would be a major help to keep water out when you fire it up in the spring.

sidelock · #4 11-11-2016, 11:01 PM

I have religiously used non ethanol fuel since I purchased the boat five years ago but the previous owner did tell me he used ethanol fuel. If keeping it empty will not cause any problems, I would much rather do that as opposed to filling it up and keep 40 gallons of fuel sitting for five or six months in the tank. Some claim that the best way to prevent condensation is to fill it up and that's what I have been doing thus far.
I add startron and ring free every time I put fresh fuel in the tank and in preparation to winterize, I ended up having to remove and disposed of nine gallons of fuel that was left from the last fill up in September to prevent it from sitting in the tank till next April or May.
My big concern with leaving it empty is obviously condensation build up although I do have a water separator filter.