Friar
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Hi All! I am looking for some opinions on a course of action concerning winter storage of E10 fuel in the fuel tank of my Bennington.
All my reading/research of forums indicates that it is best to winter store the fuel tank full of fuel. The reason is to prevent accumulation of water (condesation) caused by day/night temperature fluctations. Additionally fuel stablizer (Sta-Bil, SeaFoam) should be added to mitigate the problems of fuel/water separation inherently caused by the composition of E10 fuel over time (although I am not sure what length of time is considered critical for this to occur). The combination of these two aspects is the reason I am looking for opinions.
My situation is that I have approximately 13/14 gallons of fuel left in my 21/22 gallon fuel tank which has been sitting there since the end of August. I was not able to use the boat since August because of the drought in Texas and I could not launch it anywhere. My last feasible chance to find a useable launch site was the Thanksgiving weekend and weather and time prevented that chance. So it looks like my next realistic chance will be mid to late February. At that time the fuel I have in the tank will be at least six months old. Last February I used E10 fuel that was three months old without any discernable problem.
I am just not sure what is considered "old" for E10 fuel ... 1 month, 3, 6, 12?? Anyway, the options I can think of are:
1. Do nothing. (easiest, most worrisome.)
2. Add fresh E10 fuel and fuel stablizer to what I currently have to fill the fuel tank. (easy, not sure of effectiveness).
3. Siphon off the existing 13/14 gallons (burn in my truck now) and fill up tank with fresh E10 and stablizer. (some work, fuel will only be 3 months old in Feb).
I am leaning toward option 3. I would also run the motor on muffs to use up old fuel in the fuel lines and during the rest of the winter months.
I would appreciate any opinions or other ideas anyone can give me. (PS - Although pure gas (E0) exists in Texas, the locations are not anywhere near me or are at marinas where I cannot launch.)
All my reading/research of forums indicates that it is best to winter store the fuel tank full of fuel. The reason is to prevent accumulation of water (condesation) caused by day/night temperature fluctations. Additionally fuel stablizer (Sta-Bil, SeaFoam) should be added to mitigate the problems of fuel/water separation inherently caused by the composition of E10 fuel over time (although I am not sure what length of time is considered critical for this to occur). The combination of these two aspects is the reason I am looking for opinions.
My situation is that I have approximately 13/14 gallons of fuel left in my 21/22 gallon fuel tank which has been sitting there since the end of August. I was not able to use the boat since August because of the drought in Texas and I could not launch it anywhere. My last feasible chance to find a useable launch site was the Thanksgiving weekend and weather and time prevented that chance. So it looks like my next realistic chance will be mid to late February. At that time the fuel I have in the tank will be at least six months old. Last February I used E10 fuel that was three months old without any discernable problem.
I am just not sure what is considered "old" for E10 fuel ... 1 month, 3, 6, 12?? Anyway, the options I can think of are:
1. Do nothing. (easiest, most worrisome.)
2. Add fresh E10 fuel and fuel stablizer to what I currently have to fill the fuel tank. (easy, not sure of effectiveness).
3. Siphon off the existing 13/14 gallons (burn in my truck now) and fill up tank with fresh E10 and stablizer. (some work, fuel will only be 3 months old in Feb).
I am leaning toward option 3. I would also run the motor on muffs to use up old fuel in the fuel lines and during the rest of the winter months.
I would appreciate any opinions or other ideas anyone can give me. (PS - Although pure gas (E0) exists in Texas, the locations are not anywhere near me or are at marinas where I cannot launch.)