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Author Topic:   Water Removal From Gasoline

Ray posted 02-28-2001 09:25 PM ET (US)
I noticed a bottle of Starbrite "Gasoline Water Absorber" on the shelf of Boat US store last nite and was curious about what is in it and how it works. A small bottle will treat up to 250 gallons. It said it did contain methanol alcohol. I recently posted a question on the site about the use of menthanol or isopropal in my tank and was warned by folks that either are bad for aluminum tanks and the best thing to do is simply keep the tank full. So I know all that now. What I'm wondering is what could be in this Starbrite bottle that is so marvelous? It cost about 8-10 bucks. I called the 800 number on the bottle and the tech guy from Starbrite said it will not in any way harm my aluminum tank. Is he pulling my leg? Is this simply an overpriced bottle of drygas? Also does anybody know anything about MDR watersorb?
Ray
Dick posted 02-28-2001 09:47 PM ET (US)
Do you have a water separing fuel filter? If not install one. I have allways just used plain old Heet from any auto supply store with no ill effects. All of the fuel driers that I am familier with do contain alcohol which shouldn't be a problem with any tank and any of the newer motors. Depending on where you live fuel is laced with alcohol to reduce pollution anyway. The water separating filter will do the most good.
Dick
Ray posted 03-01-2001 10:35 PM ET (US)
Dick,
Thanks for the scoop, much appreciated.
Ray
lhg posted 03-02-2001 01:13 AM ET (US)
There is already a lot of discussion on this in other threads, but the issue is water accumulating, combining with alcohol, and sitting, in your tank, before it can be separated out by the filter. The engine is not the issue here, as Dick says, as any good water separating fuel filter will solve that problem.
MDR's Waterzorb is the product to use, since it does not contain alcohol, and will soak up water, which is what you want. Alcohol by itself, as part of the fuel, does not corrode the aluminium tank in your Whaler, but when it (alcohol) combines with water, which it does when it sits motionless during extended storage in cold climates, it combines with the water to become highly corrosive to aluminium. Alcohol actually attracts water to form this deadly mixture. That's why DryGas works in your auto tank during winter. They tell you to keep the tank filled during this winter storage so that there is no air space in the boat tank for moisture (in the air), which gets in thru the tank venting system, to condense on the cold tank surfaces and drip into the gasoline in your tank. We all know that some water gets into our tanks, and all of this is either from condensation in the gas station tanks (not too likely if you fill at an actively used station or marina), or our own tank.
Each Spring, after I have previously added the WaterZorb in the Fall and filled the tank, I run the tank almost dry before re-filling. This way any absorbed water will all be expelled through the engine combustion and I will have a water-free tank to begin the season.
We all get enough alcohol in the gas we are forced to buy, so never add more intentionally. The problem is none of this damage is visible on the outside of the tank, and we never know if we have a problem until the tank starts to leak for the inside out.
This situation only applies to built-in aluminium tanks, not on deck plastic tanks.
Ray posted 03-02-2001 07:59 AM ET (US)
Thanks lhg,
This is the explanation that I have been looking for. Great job! Where is best place to look for waterzorb. I have never seen it in the marketplace?
Ray
blackdog posted 03-12-2001 04:25 PM ET (US)
I wasn't able to fill my tank before winter set in this fall. The tank has about 1/4 in it. The dealer said to just leave it alone and add nothing. I did not want to top off the tank in December because the fuel is winterized. Should I just fill it up and run it? High Test? I don't have a fuel separator either. When can I get fuel that is not winterized? I live in the North East around Philadelphia.
Blackdog

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Author	Topic: Water Removal From Gasoline
Ray	posted 02-28-2001 09:25 PM ET (US) I noticed a bottle of Starbrite "Gasoline Water Absorber" on the shelf of Boat US store last nite and was curious about what is in it and how it works. A small bottle will treat up to 250 gallons. It said it did contain methanol alcohol. I recently posted a question on the site about the use of menthanol or isopropal in my tank and was warned by folks that either are bad for aluminum tanks and the best thing to do is simply keep the tank full. So I know all that now. What I'm wondering is what could be in this Starbrite bottle that is so marvelous? It cost about 8-10 bucks. I called the 800 number on the bottle and the tech guy from Starbrite said it will not in any way harm my aluminum tank. Is he pulling my leg? Is this simply an overpriced bottle of drygas? Also does anybody know anything about MDR watersorb? Ray
Dick	posted 02-28-2001 09:47 PM ET (US) Do you have a water separing fuel filter? If not install one. I have allways just used plain old Heet from any auto supply store with no ill effects. All of the fuel driers that I am familier with do contain alcohol which shouldn't be a problem with any tank and any of the newer motors. Depending on where you live fuel is laced with alcohol to reduce pollution anyway. The water separating filter will do the most good. Dick
Ray	posted 03-01-2001 10:35 PM ET (US) Dick, Thanks for the scoop, much appreciated. Ray
lhg	posted 03-02-2001 01:13 AM ET (US) There is already a lot of discussion on this in other threads, but the issue is water accumulating, combining with alcohol, and sitting, in your tank, before it can be separated out by the filter. The engine is not the issue here, as Dick says, as any good water separating fuel filter will solve that problem. MDR's Waterzorb is the product to use, since it does not contain alcohol, and will soak up water, which is what you want. Alcohol by itself, as part of the fuel, does not corrode the aluminium tank in your Whaler, but when it (alcohol) combines with water, which it does when it sits motionless during extended storage in cold climates, it combines with the water to become highly corrosive to aluminium. Alcohol actually attracts water to form this deadly mixture. That's why DryGas works in your auto tank during winter. They tell you to keep the tank filled during this winter storage so that there is no air space in the boat tank for moisture (in the air), which gets in thru the tank venting system, to condense on the cold tank surfaces and drip into the gasoline in your tank. We all know that some water gets into our tanks, and all of this is either from condensation in the gas station tanks (not too likely if you fill at an actively used station or marina), or our own tank. Each Spring, after I have previously added the WaterZorb in the Fall and filled the tank, I run the tank almost dry before re-filling. This way any absorbed water will all be expelled through the engine combustion and I will have a water-free tank to begin the season. We all get enough alcohol in the gas we are forced to buy, so never add more intentionally. The problem is none of this damage is visible on the outside of the tank, and we never know if we have a problem until the tank starts to leak for the inside out. This situation only applies to built-in aluminium tanks, not on deck plastic tanks.
Ray	posted 03-02-2001 07:59 AM ET (US) Thanks lhg, This is the explanation that I have been looking for. Great job! Where is best place to look for waterzorb. I have never seen it in the marketplace? Ray
blackdog	posted 03-12-2001 04:25 PM ET (US) I wasn't able to fill my tank before winter set in this fall. The tank has about 1/4 in it. The dealer said to just leave it alone and add nothing. I did not want to top off the tank in December because the fuel is winterized. Should I just fill it up and run it? High Test? I don't have a fuel separator either. When can I get fuel that is not winterized? I live in the North East around Philadelphia. Blackdog