Polishing fuel

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Father's Day

GreatGrady Captain
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Tournament 192
Hello Everyone
I have another boat in another state , a floating condo. Last year, my 1st year of ownership I took it out three times and spent time on it maybe 6 other occasions , always starting and letting it run 15 minutes each time I was there and didn't take it out.
When winterizing it I added Stabil, since I really don't know how the previous owner used it, would getting the fuel polished for precautionary reasons make any sense. Boat runs fine just bothering me. Motors are Mercruiser 350's with around 100 gals in the each tank.
Any thoughts would be appreciated
 
Can you polish gas? I thought only diesel could be truly polished?

But... do this... take the fuel filter off and dump it into a clear jar (spaghetti). Let it sit for an hour and observe. Smell it, look at the color, look for separation. If all is good, go boating. If not, it depends on how bad it is. If it's iced tea, nothing you can really do. If there's separation, pump fuel out till you get to good fuel (do this after the boat has sat level/calm for quite a while). Ideally, siphon through the fuel sender so you can get to the true bottom of the tank. Obviosuly, use a gas-rated pump. Next best would be to remove the AS valve 9depending how strong the pump is) in the tank pickup and pump it out that way.

Post pics of the fuel in the jar if you want opinions on it.
 
I had my auxiliary tank polished when I bought my Grady White as the prior owner never used it. It’s pretty impressive how they can clean it up.
 
Did they take your senders out and get to the bottom of the tank? The boat's in 88 and he said typically in his experience there'll be a gallon or so of sludge when they're done.
 
If you have ~200 gals of 1 year old (or older?) gas you are better off removing it and burning it in cars & lawn mowers(assuming it is not garbage). Then clean the tanks and start fresh with only what you might burn in a season.

If thats what you mean by Polish, then yes do that. Don't just "polish" the old gas and put it back.


1988 tanks are past due for replacement.
 
Yeah I'm a couple of hours away from home so using the gas outside the boat isn't a option. For $600 I thought it was a good option. Once the tanks are cleaned I plan on running it down to 1/4 tank, filling up and using the boat more this year now that in retired
 
We often laugh about statements that say if you think the gas is bad, use it in your car.Hmmmm
That is a poor option since you might mess up your vehicles engine.
Sometimes local gardeners will take it. It may be ok for mowers and the like or your show blower type of equipment

That said, thee is no reason to suspect that your gas is bad. Nor is there any issues that would make one suspect a dirty tank.
The best treatment is new gas added to the older gas and maybe a gas stabilizer ( depending on how often you need to add gas) If you gas will not get used and replaced within 3 to 6 months, stabilizer is advised.
 
Father's Day said:
Hello Everyone
I have another boat in another state , a floating condo. Last year, my 1st year of ownership I took it out three times and spent time on it maybe 6 other occasions , always starting and letting it run 15 minutes each time I was there and didn't take it out.
When winterizing it I added Stabil, since I really don't know how the previous owner used it, would getting the fuel polished for precautionary reasons make any sense. Boat runs fine just bothering me. Motors are Mercruiser 350's with around 100 gals in the each tank.
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Burning old gas that may have phase separated in your car is a bad idea. Boat's have better ability to filter the fuel and extract the water and ethanol crap. Nobody wants to old gas. I have always found that filtering and burning it was the only way to get rid of it. Maybe in Florida someone would pull it out but it's going to be a lot more per gallon to take it out than it was to put it in!

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In the few years since ethanol began to be widely used in the United States, a lot has been written about its properties, the problems it's created, and how to best cope with its possible effects. It's time we get to the bottom of how E10 is affecting our engines.
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I did a few posts on GG that deal with old and phase separated fuel. My boat is only being used for a few months in Florida each winter. Over the years I had water in fuel problems when I got there. I have a pump that I can use to get the fuel out of the tank. I also have had success get the water out of the tank. Add clean fuel - premium or ethanol free if available. You need a clear bowl filter/water separator and a large can type filter. You need to shake up the tank by running the boat hard. Get the water into suspension and let the filter can do the work. Watch the clear bowl. When you see 1/2" of water in the clear you need to stop the boat, dump the can filter and clear bowl filter and re-fill with clean fuel. Repeat until you get the crap out.

Be careful when you burn phase separated fuel. It is lower in octane without the ethanol. Add new fuel fuel. Do you have access to ethanol free fuel where this boat is? I don't use ethanol fuel anymore.

Search results for query: phase separated fuel

www.greatgrady.com www.greatgrady.com

Search results for query: fuel transfer automotive

www.greatgrady.com www.greatgrady.com
 
Last edited:
I agree I would not burn bad gas in my car. He said the boat ran fine. I'm going under the assumption that the gas is usable.
It has year old gas and he's worried about it going bad. Cleaning it won't make it new gas.
I would not add new gas to 100 gallons of year old gas unless I was going to burn thru it right away.

I changed a 60gal tank in a V20. I pumped the tank thru the filter/water separator into gas cans. It looked OK so we burned it in lawn tractors and an old truck.

I would try to get rid of the gas and clean the tanks and start fresh. I would be more concerned with 1988 tanks.
 
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