How do you drain your fuel tank for Winterization?

[ronb]

I know this is early in the year, but I had an "incident" that made me start thinking about this exact topic.

Last Friday I rushed home immediately after work because a storm was coming (70mph straight line winds, strong wind, chance of hail... we got some marble sized). In my haste, I neglected to pay attention to the gas gauge. So this morning I head out to get my stuff in the pickup, fire it up, and low and behold its on the red! I can't make it in to town without adding some gas, no problem, grab the lawnmower gas can (empty, grr). Then I realized I have about 20 gallons sitting on the boat, but how to get 5 gallons into the pickup? I thought about siphoning, no hose. I thought gravity would work through the factory fuel line to siphon, no luck there is a 1 way spring loaded check valve threaded into the top of the fuel tank making it 'spill proof'. Then it struck me! I had a spare 12v fuel pump from a car project just sitting on my shelf!

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So here you have the rigging..
1 3/8" electric fuel pump
1 set of el-cheapo jumper cables
4ft of 5/8" heater hose (the only hose I could find this morning, I would have sworn I had some high pressure 3/8" fuel line but couldn't find it)
2ft of black duct tape

This winter I will use this setup with 3/8" hose, but I will probably pump it into the tractor..

So what about the rest of you? Do you just run it empty or do you have your own process for emptying the tank?

And if you ever need stories of stupidity to brighten your day.. let me know, I am full of 'life experiences'

-ron

[BobG]

When you trailer your boat everywhere, the "run it out of gas" approach would probably leave me calling BoatUS for a tow to the ramp. But electric fuel pumps and line are a GREAT idea! I'm gonna have to do that!

[guy48065]

I see nothing seriously wrong with the idea--as long as there is no fuel leakage that a battery spark could ignite

I like the idea of a portable fuel transfer pump MUCH better than hauling heavy cans of gas up & down stairs to the dock.

[ronb]

A while back I was at a local store called Mac's Hardware and they had this stuff called
Pennzoil Roadside Rescue Fuel

Link to the jug manufacturer.. (has information about the product)
http://pvc.rappadvertising.com/news/Art ... nnzoil.asp
Which I had been meaning to ask about on here, but never got around to it..

New Emergency Fuel Additive Rescues Drivers Who Run Out of Gas

Be prepared with new Pennzoil Roadside™ Rescue®

HOUSTON (Feb. 10, 2000) – Who hasn’t experienced the fear of being stranded by the side of the road with an empty gas tank? The thought of running out of gas is especially unnerving when driving at night, or in unfamiliar surroundings with no gas station in sight. Now, thanks to a product introduced recently by Pennzoil, drivers can be prepared, just in case the needle slips past "E" and their car slows to a halt.

Recently named one of Business Week magazine’s "Top Products of ’99," Pennzoil Roadside™ Rescue® Emergency Fuel Additive is a "lifesaver" that helps stranded motorists get from the side of the road to safety. Drivers can simply pour the product into their vehicle’s fuel tank while the engine is still hot, restart it and get back on the road in minutes. The new product is packaged in convenient half-gallon containers that are easily stored in the trunk of a car. Each half-gallon of Rescue® provides enough fuel for most vehicles to travel nearly 10 miles to a service station for a fill-up.

"Most drivers don’t plan on running out of gas, but it’s easy to forget, miscalculate or not have time to refill the gas tank," said Jim Postl, president and chief operating officer of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company. "Rescue® is an innovative product that serves as a safety net for all drivers."

Rescue® is a safe fuel additive that contains some of the properties inherent in gasoline, minus the more volatile elements. The product is compatible with all fuel system components and vehicles (except those with diesel engines) and can be stored in the trunk of a car for up to five years.

Rescue® is packaged in a child-resistant, non-refillable double-walled plastic container that is specially coated to protect the contents from evaporating or leaking. It has an adjustable locking spout and additional inner foil seal protection. Once attached, the spout cannot be removed, which prevents the bottle from being refilled or reused.

Pennzoil Roadside™ Rescue® Emergency Fuel Additive, jumper cables, a flashlight and a can of tire inflator are essential components of a driver’s emergency preparedness kit. Safe-to-store Rescue® retails at about $14.99 and is available at Wal-Mart and Pep Boys, as well as other auto supply stores. For more information, phone 1-800-248-6688 or visit http://www.rescue.pennzoil.com./

Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer products company that markets Pennzoil® and Quaker State® brand motor oils, the No. 1- and No. 2-selling motor oils in the United States. Jiffy Lube, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company, is the world’s largest fast lube operator and franchiser. Pennzoil-Quaker State Company also markets a complete line of automotive car care products.

According to this site the Pennzoil product is no longer being sold under the Pennzoil name
http://sparefuel.net/blog/what-happened ... ency-fuel/

I still have not used it, I have been storing one on the boat, but it looks like I should check the expiration or build on date..
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... ber=272370

I had bought 2 of these for $1 (50cents each, it was a gallon of supposedly flamable liquid for a dollar! how could I say no?)

For those of you who need a portable transfer tank, check out this..
Moeller DuraMax Flo n' Go LE Fluid Transfer Pump and 14-Gallon Rolling Gas Can
-ron

[GregF]

I always keep about 15 feet of hose with a ball on it in my tool box, just for emergencies. So far I have not needed it but I cut the motor end connector off to rescue a neighbor who was out of fuel. Now that connector is on with a hose clamp so it works as an emergency hose for my motor and a siphon line to get gas out for someone else.

[bassn386]

I have always filled up the tanks, after adding SeaFoam (one ounce per gallon of gas) and making sure I ran the motor long enough to get the treated fuel circulated evenly. I've been doing this for years and have never had one issue.
Note: When I buy 87 octane fuel on the highway I now add Mercury's QwikKare fuel additive for ethanol based gas. One ounce per 10 gallons of fuel. Started using it last year and again no issues with ethanol based fuel.

[ronb]

What 'issues' are people running into? Granted I have only been a pontoon (or any boat for that matter) owner for about 4 months, I have not had any problems using regular 87 octane (E10-E15) from the self serve gas station. I watched the video with the glass of gas and a fan and there were a few things that didn't quite add up.

1. My fuel tank is completely encapsulated by the fencing/engine cover so no wind blowing on it.
2. My (and most likely your) fuel pickup tube draws from a very low point in the gas tank so if anything were to accumulate it would get sucked up.

In my old gas motors my concerns were always that the ethanol level would have detrimental effects on gaskets and hoses (deterioration) or that the valves would start to sink in the heads (no hardened seats), neither of those has happened.

So what am I to be on the look out for?
Thanks,
-ron

[bassn386]

Ron, there have been numerous discussions about this subject. Keep in mind that your boat fuel tank, by law, has to be vented, whereas your car/truck fuel tank is a closed system. Even a closed system can get condensation in it, so imagine what could be going on in a vented to the outside system.

[GregF]

As long as you buy gas and burn it, you won't have that many problems. It is when you store gas that it breaks down and causes problems. You can extend the life with stabilizers but I prefer not to store it at all. In my boat, that is not a problem but I do have problems with lawn equipment if I am not keeping the gas moving.

[bassn386]

Greg, I use the same treatment and additives for my gas powered lawn care equipment (mower, leaf blower, string trimmer) that I do for the boat and they all start right up in the spring. Where I live that's sometimes a four month layover (December-March/April).

[GregF]

I just find it easier not to store gas. I am always turning it over in the boat so when I need gas for something else, I just tap the stash for the boat.

[ronb]

I don't like to store more than 5 gallons at a time, never know when the lawnmower, 4 wheeler, or tractor will need some (or which one will need it next) and I had an unfortunate accident (minor) a few years back that burned the heck out of my thumbs (gas floating on oil trying to start a Ford 2n, it backfired and lit my catch pan on fire) so after that, I keep combustables to a minimum..

I always have lawn to mow, snow to blow, fence to mend, etc so gas does not get old around my house.. I was just wondering how everybody else gets their tanks dry for winterization..

-ron

[rancherlee]

I just stick a small piece of wire or a small nail into he spring loaded ball on the quick connect, put the end in a gas can, and squeeze the primer ball a few times to get the siphon going. It's SLOW but drains about 5 gallons in a 1/2 hour.

[GregF]

It is better to take the fitting off. If you screw it up with the nail it is useless anyway. Ding up the rubber seals and it will leak and suck air.
Gas flows faster too. Put it back on with a hose clamp.

[ronb]

My one way check valve is threaded into a bung at the top of my fuel tank, so that wouldn't work anyhow.
Valve Location

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Valve

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One-way check ball

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I know I've said this before, but my phone/camera goes everywhere with me, I have a bad case of CRS....

Before winter I will pick up some more 3/8" fuel line and wire up an aligator clip with shut off switch for the fuel pump, make it look less 'redneck'.

-ron