Non Ethanol Gas (Boat)

snobuilder

Well-known member
it would be even more boring without him....me tinks me wish he'd speak in third person....that would really be entertaining.
 

chords

Active member
I've always been a believer that gas is gas and no matter how old, its still gas.

And endless copy / pasted You Tube videos that we all have access to wont change a thing.
 

old abe

Well-known member
4 to 5 year old gasoline is bad gasoline. Even with a good stabilizer added at filling, it would be at the very least a stretch over that period of time. I use a stabilizer in all my fuel, diesel and gasoline due to the short shelf life on the fuels delivered today. Several cents per gallon is well worth it.
 
I say run em with the old gas. Call sea tow on first trip out with family. Then explain to the women as to what went wrong. Explain it to the women that you have old gas and it's fine. Mean while we told you drain the tanks just that it was not a complete sentence by tracker.
 

JimAndros

Active member
Well there are the same 2 people on this thread stirring the pot........ Maybe he can save even more money by mixing in some Sea & Snow.

There, now you have and old fuel/new fuel/2 stoke/4 stroke/best oil/stabil/seafoam/car/boat/snowmobile/......... thread!
 

dfattack

Well-known member
I have actually "heard" that if you have a half tank of old gas and top it off with fresh gas that it can make the entire tank "usable". That's why I made the comments earlier. There has to be someone in the fuel/gasoline business on here who can confirm this or shoot it down. if this was true, the comment about adding octane boost might make sense. Then use up the whole tank to get rid of it. Now you don't have to pump it out and find a place to take it. makes sense to me but I'm not a professional gasoline engineer either. :friendly_wink:
 

eagle1

Well-known member
I think you've got something there!

I have noticed that you can always tell tracker's writin' vs. his quotations — the latter being perhaps even more distinctive than proper use of the forum's QUOTE feature:

Tracker's writin' is always in "steam of...thought....continuous...run-on....format" with.....randomly interspersed.....bursts of..."Morse code"[SUP]1[/SUP]...like.....this with...absolutely no....punctuation, whereas his quotations are typically well composed complete sentences, with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation!

[SUP]1 "Morse Code": Just a subset though, composed solely of "S (•••), H (••••), I (••) and T ().
Maybe there's a hidden message there? :devilish:

Er, correction… oddly enough never a "T", but maybe the numeral 5 (•••••) instead.[/SUP]

Dontcha no? 🤓:panda: :highly_amused:

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snobuilder

Well-known member
Think abut the underground tanks at any station. New gas is constantly being added to old. Do these tanks ever need to be totally drained?...If not, a part of the mix is as old as the first fill up.
 

gary_in_neenah

Super Moderator
Staff member
Think abut the underground tanks at any station. New gas is constantly being added to old. Do these tanks ever need to be totally drained?...If not, a part of the mix is as old as the first fill up.

That's kinda what I was thinking. This will be the 17th summer for our boat on the water and the tank has never been drained. Meaning, in theory there's a small amount of the original gas still sloshing around in there. Right? I usually run it low but it always has some gas in the tank through the winter months. I fill it up in the spring and she fires right up. That being said, small carbureted engines like blowers, saws, and snowmobiles are a whole other matter.

So here's my 2 cents. Syphon off a gallon or two and give it the smell test. If it passes that I would put a small amount into a small 4 stroke engine like a mower or tiller and see if it runs. If it does run I would top off the boat with fresh gas and run it to get it well mixed. If the small engine won't run with the old gas then you'll have to go to plan B and dispose of it.

Lastly, be careful. Portable electric pumps, temporary clips on jumpers, etc. are hazardous around gasoline, new or old. Take your time and think it through.
 

Grant Hoar

New member
I would have to guess that with dual 502's at half throttle that he should burn through that gas in about three hours - which is a heck of a lot less time than we have all spent on this topic.

You are tasked with getting this boat back in the water and running. What is your liability if your rely upon all the internet experts here on what to do and reuse the gas and something goes wrong?

Kinda of wondering why someone who can afford a boat like this isn't taking it to a professional and getting it done right, and then having someone they can go back to if there are any issues. BOAT = bring aboard another thousand
 

snoluver1

Active member
I would have to guess that with dual 502's at half throttle that he should burn through that gas in about three hours - which is a heck of a lot less time than we have all spent on this topic.

You are tasked with getting this boat back in the water and running. What is your liability if your rely upon all the internet experts here on what to do and reuse the gas and something goes wrong?

Kinda of wondering why someone who can afford a boat like this isn't taking it to a professional and getting it done right, and then having someone they can go back to if there are any issues. BOAT = bring aboard another thousand

This is what I'm trying to convey. I am a professional. Not just an internet jocky. This is what I do for a living. I've been through thousands of hours of schooling, and have the certifications to prove it. My Professional opinion is, do some basic testing/inspections of the fuel first. If things check out, you will not damage the engines by trying to start them. If it works it works. If it doesn't, change out the fuel. End of story.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
I will add a disclaimer. If the original poster is unsure of exactly what to look for in the fuel sample, most definitely put it in the eyes of a professional before proceeding!
 

snake

Member
I have been tasked with getting a relatives boat running which has been sitting for about 4-5 years. It had/has high octane (93) non ethanol gas in it. It is a large boat with twin 502's and large fuel tanks the boat may have close to 100 gallons in it currently and I believe it holds close to 200 gallons. It is currently on the water on a lift and would be difficult to pump it and carry it out. Any thoughts on trying to run it on the current gas? it does have water filters for the fuel. I know we need to have the carbs checked/cleaned and fluids changed. Do you think the gas will still have enough octane in it to run the engines? I don't think it will hurt to try it since the fuel is filtered.

skeeter,I have 35 years certified marine experience. i would talk to you privately if you like via phone. I first would want to know which motors they are exactly,most likely mercruisers. I can talk directly to a factory tech if needed. and yes you can certainly detonate ect, have not seen it alot in the boats but have def. seen it. it is harder to hear ping ect with wind noise and louder exhaust which i would bet a rig like that has.as to getting rid of fuel..... safety clean ect will charge big, I mix with drain oil that a buddy burns up in his shop heater with out a problem. I'll check back in the next day or so,btw I'm just down the road in e.troy
 
C

Cirrus_Driver

Guest
skeeter,I have 35 years certified marine experience. i would talk to you privately if you like via phone. I first would want to know which motors they are exactly,most likely mercruisers. I can talk directly to a factory tech if needed. and yes you can certainly detonate ect, have not seen it alot in the boats but have def. seen it. it is harder to hear ping ect with wind noise and louder exhaust which i would bet a rig like that has.as to getting rid of fuel..... safety clean ect will charge big, I mix with drain oil that a buddy burns up in his shop heater with out a problem. I'll check back in the next day or so,btw I'm just down the road in e.troy

The board regs, and old timers want to denigrate Tracker because he injects humor in writing style with some intelligent commentary, but it doesn't appear he's incorrect about this one, does it? Cut the criticism - and let the OP make his own decision based on opinions provided.
 
Thanks for all the input the boat is kept in another state so it may be a few weeks until I get back and look at it again, Snake Thank you for the offer I may PM you at some point to talk since you are in the area. I really need to get a better grasp on truly how much fuel is in the boat I think the first choice will be to pump out the fuel and see what we have, the boat is an very good shape and has been out of the water on a float lift and under a roof and covered so I am hoping that I can get things taken care of on my own if I can not the owners of the boat will have to hire someone.
 

snake

Member
Thanks for all the input the boat is kept in another state so it may be a few weeks until I get back and look at it again, Snake Thank you for the offer I may PM you at some point to talk since you are in the area. I really need to get a better grasp on truly how much fuel is in the boat I think the first choice will be to pump out the fuel and see what we have, the boat is an very good shape and has been out of the water on a float lift and under a roof and covered so I am hoping that I can get things taken care of on my own if I can not the owners of the boat will have to hire someone.

no problem,I have pumped alot of fuel out of boats. i have a few systems i rigged up and i can share tips ect...
 
T

Tracker

Guest
i'll make it simple for ya dare snowluver....one year old gas...no problem....just add premium and it WILL REJUVINATE the old gas and be good....after one year....FORGETABOUTIT....it might be good....but its probably no good and filled with water and particles...especially if peefoam was used in storing it....100% guaranteed to be green syrup/sandy sugar particles in water....those engines require a TOP TEIR GAS...this is why snake wants to KNOW EXACTLY which engines they are....but I already know so I was trying to save you some time....set him straight dare snake...and I talk like this to give FRNASH sumtin ta write aboots....LMAO....hit me father.....for I have pinned....LMAO

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The board regs, and old timers want to denigrate Tracker because he injects humor in writing style with some intelligent commentary, but it doesn't appear he's incorrect about this one, does it? Cut the criticism - and let the OP make his own decision based on opinions provided.

sometimes it just has to be DUMBED DOWN and I forget that a lot.....ROTFLMAO....they miss the humor entirely almost all the time....


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