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Author Topic:   Removing Fuel From Offshore Tank

surferkevman posted 06-16-2009 06:53 AM ET (US)
I have a 1997 Outrage 17. I just had my mechanic do the 100-hour service and change the fuel filter. I started it and it fired up briefly. The gas in the tank is about a year old. I have an offshore tank that holds 60-gallons. It is between 1/4-FULL to 1/2-FULL. What is the process for getting that fuel out? Is there another means to rectify this problem? Thanks in advance. I appreciate all the help I have received on the ContinuousWave.
Kevin
striper swiper posted 06-16-2009 07:45 AM ET (US)
I've had a similar problem, I disconnected the gas line and used the primer bulb to eject gas into a clear containers. You can see what gunk and water come out of your tank. Once the gas you have removed is free of gunk it should be good. There are gas additives which help combust old fuel but I heard they may detonate the engine. Fresh gas is always the best.
jimh posted 06-16-2009 08:23 AM ET (US)
I am not sure what you mean by an offshore tank. Perhaps you are asking about the boat's below-deck fuel tank.
If you can put your boat on a trailer, you can remove fuel from its internal tank by the siphon method.
Gasoline that is one year old will still work well as a fuel if it were treated with a stabilizer. One year old gasoline that was not treated with a stabilizer might be less useful as a fuel for an outboard motor.
Jefecinco posted 06-16-2009 09:19 AM ET (US)
Almost any alternative beats emptying and refilling the tank. Plus, what are you going to do with that old fuel once it is removed.
First try adding a double dose of stabilizer to the fuel. Drive around for a few minutes with the boat in tow making some turns and several starts and stops to fully mix the fuel and stabilizer.
Remove and drain the filter bowl. Fill the bowl with fresh fuel and reinstall it.
Give the engine another try. If needed, repeat the fuel bowl refill a couple of times. This should allow your old unstabilized fuel in the fuel lines to be run through the engine.
Butch
Phil T posted 06-16-2009 09:48 AM ET (US)
Kevin -
If you don't have an external fuel/water seperator filter installed, do this first. A search will give you the information on what kinds, how-to's.
Is the old fuel E-10 or straight gasoline?
towboater posted 06-16-2009 10:35 AM ET (US)
IMO there are WAY too many fuel and tank problem threads.
If you suspect fuel problems, I recommend the first thing to do is replace solid metal canister water separators with a RACOR water separator that has a sight glass and drain valve that will allow you to monitor the amount of water or gunk and drain it out.
S3213 fits 5/8 thread
S3227 fits 3/4 thread mount
Approx $40 per filter, sight glass is about the same price but removable and replaceable on a new canister.
These Racor filters are very efficient...and relatively expensive.
I have a dirty fuel tank so I clamped a $6.00 acorn filter into the fuel line between the pickup and Racor water separator to act as a pre-filter. Bring tools soap, absorbent rags, sealed jug to make removing the acorn filter and its contents simple and safe.
REGS FOR
Blowers.
Carb spark arrestors.
Marine compliant electronics.
JUNK FUEL
is dangerous...a bunch of BS.
Complain to Politicians and USCG that adding special filters and replacing them on boat to comply with ethanol issues is a serious safety hazard.
Again, DEQ has all these oil regs and recycle programs but no answer for disposing bad gas.
Everybody step back...I hesitated to even comment on these fuel threads...PLEASE be very careful.

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Author	Topic: Removing Fuel From Offshore Tank
surferkevman	posted 06-16-2009 06:53 AM ET (US) I have a 1997 Outrage 17. I just had my mechanic do the 100-hour service and change the fuel filter. I started it and it fired up briefly. The gas in the tank is about a year old. I have an offshore tank that holds 60-gallons. It is between 1/4-FULL to 1/2-FULL. What is the process for getting that fuel out? Is there another means to rectify this problem? Thanks in advance. I appreciate all the help I have received on the ContinuousWave. Kevin
striper swiper	posted 06-16-2009 07:45 AM ET (US) I've had a similar problem, I disconnected the gas line and used the primer bulb to eject gas into a clear containers. You can see what gunk and water come out of your tank. Once the gas you have removed is free of gunk it should be good. There are gas additives which help combust old fuel but I heard they may detonate the engine. Fresh gas is always the best.
jimh	posted 06-16-2009 08:23 AM ET (US) I am not sure what you mean by an offshore tank. Perhaps you are asking about the boat's below-deck fuel tank. If you can put your boat on a trailer, you can remove fuel from its internal tank by the siphon method. Gasoline that is one year old will still work well as a fuel if it were treated with a stabilizer. One year old gasoline that was not treated with a stabilizer might be less useful as a fuel for an outboard motor.
Jefecinco	posted 06-16-2009 09:19 AM ET (US) Almost any alternative beats emptying and refilling the tank. Plus, what are you going to do with that old fuel once it is removed. First try adding a double dose of stabilizer to the fuel. Drive around for a few minutes with the boat in tow making some turns and several starts and stops to fully mix the fuel and stabilizer. Remove and drain the filter bowl. Fill the bowl with fresh fuel and reinstall it. Give the engine another try. If needed, repeat the fuel bowl refill a couple of times. This should allow your old unstabilized fuel in the fuel lines to be run through the engine. Butch
Phil T	posted 06-16-2009 09:48 AM ET (US) Kevin - If you don't have an external fuel/water seperator filter installed, do this first. A search will give you the information on what kinds, how-to's. Is the old fuel E-10 or straight gasoline?
towboater	posted 06-16-2009 10:35 AM ET (US) IMO there are WAY too many fuel and tank problem threads. If you suspect fuel problems, I recommend the first thing to do is replace solid metal canister water separators with a RACOR water separator that has a sight glass and drain valve that will allow you to monitor the amount of water or gunk and drain it out. S3213 fits 5/8 thread S3227 fits 3/4 thread mount Approx $40 per filter, sight glass is about the same price but removable and replaceable on a new canister. These Racor filters are very efficient...and relatively expensive. I have a dirty fuel tank so I clamped a $6.00 acorn filter into the fuel line between the pickup and Racor water separator to act as a pre-filter. Bring tools soap, absorbent rags, sealed jug to make removing the acorn filter and its contents simple and safe. REGS FOR Blowers. Carb spark arrestors. Marine compliant electronics. JUNK FUEL is dangerous...a bunch of BS. Complain to Politicians and USCG that adding special filters and replacing them on boat to comply with ethanol issues is a serious safety hazard. Again, DEQ has all these oil regs and recycle programs but no answer for disposing bad gas. Everybody step back...I hesitated to even comment on these fuel threads...PLEASE be very careful.