I have just purchased a boat that has been setting for around two years
without being in the water. The boat's internal tank is about half full of
gasoline/oil mix. He should have used StaBil to Stabilize the gasoline in
the tank but didn't and now I have a boat that's been setting for a couple
of years now (yes years) with the same Gasoline in the Boat's tank. It's an
Evinrude 175HP Outboard motor and the tank is a 14 gallon (I think) Internal
tank that is about half full of fuel. I don't want to attempt to start the
boat, with the fuel that's' in the boat now unless I can know I can take
precautions that won't cause the fuel to damage my motor.

Is there any additives that I can put in the tank that will revitalize the
fuel (Octane boost)that is there now or do I just need to pump as much out
as I can? Since it's half full would filling it up with High Octane Premium
gas along with additives help or keep me from having to drain out all the
fuel that's in it now?

I appreciate all your answers, in advance.

Most likely it's a larger tank then but I know it's internal to the boat.
As for winterization I would say it wasn't due to the shape it was in. The
approximate age is 1991 - 1993. I had almost decided that pumping the old
fuel out was the only option given the length of time it was in there. I do
know that the tank is not metal but plastic/polymer material as you can see
through it when you lift up the battery compartment cover.


On 12/25/06 7:27 PM, in article ,
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote:

On Mon, 25 Dec 2006 18:34:59 -0500, Gary KW4Z
wrote:

I have just purchased a boat that has been setting for around two years
without being in the water. The boat's internal tank is about half full of
gasoline/oil mix. He should have used StaBil to Stabilize the gasoline in
the tank but didn't and now I have a boat that's been setting for a couple
of years now (yes years) with the same Gasoline in the Boat's tank. It's an
Evinrude 175HP Outboard motor and the tank is a 14 gallon (I think) Internal
tank that is about half full of fuel. I don't want to attempt to start the
boat, with the fuel that's' in the boat now unless I can know I can take
precautions that won't cause the fuel to damage my motor.

Is there any additives that I can put in the tank that will revitalize the
fuel (Octane boost)that is there now or do I just need to pump as much out
as I can? Since it's half full would filling it up with High Octane Premium
gas along with additives help or keep me from having to drain out all the
fuel that's in it now?

I appreciate all your answers, in advance.

A couple/three questions.

How old in the engine? Do you know if it was winterized? Are you sure
it's a 14 gallon tank? Seems a little small for a 175.

In any case, two year old untreated gas/oil mix isn't going to be
terribly good and no amount of new gas is going to help. Drain the
tank using gravity or an electric fuel pump which you can pick up at
NAPA or West Marine - they are cheap enough. You might need a few 5
gallon jugs to store the gas for disposal, or you can use it in your
two cycle lawn equipment by adding a little old gas a little at a time
to some new gas/oil mix for your two cycle lawn and garden equipment -
like string trimmers/leaf blowers/chain saws - etc. If that's not an
option, then you can add it to your car - just don't dump a lot of it
into the gas tank at a time and always blend it with new gas - say a
couple of gallons for every fifteen or so - your car won't mind it
all. The only other option is disposal and that can be problematic
depending on where you live.

If the engine wasn't winterized, then probably the best thing to do is
to remove the plugs, spray the cylinders down with a light machine oil
and hand rotate the pistons through a couple of cycles first. After
than, I'd replace the old plugs and try to start it - priming the
carbs first with a spray of fresh gas/oil mix - you don't need a lot,
but any will help. Probably wouldn't hurt to spray the carbs down
with some good carb cleaner too. Once it's running evenly, advance
the throttle and spray the carb cleaner into the carbs while it's
running - again, don't over do it, just until it starts to choke down.

If the engine hasn't been run in a couple of years and depending on
it's age, then changing the impeller in the water pump would be a good
idea too.

Do you now what kind of material the tank it made of? Metal,
fiberglass or poly? How old is the boat - that will be a concern with
E-10.

If the tank is metal, it would be a good idea to flush the tank out
and make sure it's dry before you put any new gas/oil mix into it. If
it's glass and pre-1990 or thereabouts, then I'd have the tank
inspected to make sure the glass and resins haven't deteriorated
significantly. If the glass is soft or porous, then you might have a
problem and have to replace the tank. If the tank it poly, then I
wouldn't worry about it other than draining the tank.

Once all that is done, new gas/oil and a product called E-Zorb and you
should be in good shape.

There are a lot of unknowns in your question - like age of the boat,
engine, hours, normally aspirated - things like that. However, if
it's carbed, the tank isn't fiberglass, etc., these things should put
things to right.

Gary KW4Z wrote:
I have just purchased a boat that has been setting for around two years
without being in the water. The boat's internal tank is about half full of
gasoline/oil mix. He should have used StaBil to Stabilize the gasoline in
the tank but didn't and now I have a boat that's been setting for a couple
of years now (yes years) with the same Gasoline in the Boat's tank. It's an
Evinrude 175HP Outboard motor and the tank is a 14 gallon (I think) Internal
tank that is about half full of fuel. I don't want to attempt to start the
boat, with the fuel that's' in the boat now unless I can know I can take
precautions that won't cause the fuel to damage my motor.

Is there any additives that I can put in the tank that will revitalize the
fuel (Octane boost)that is there now or do I just need to pump as much out
as I can? Since it's half full would filling it up with High Octane Premium
gas along with additives help or keep me from having to drain out all the
fuel that's in it now?

I appreciate all your answers, in advance.

Squire,

Drain the fuel tank out completley and put new petrol in it. Use the
old petrol in your car a bit at a time.
I had a rotax 582 powered microlight and it was1 month max for mixed
two stroke mix.
Its because the fuel gets gummy and blocks up the jets and passages in
injection/carb.

tedheath