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is it better to keep a full tank of gas or a low tank usally??
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is it better to keep a full tank of gas or a low tank usally??
for weight purposes I would say low tank is better obviously, your pulling less weight therefore you save gas and run quicker, but what about for safety of the engines and condensation/water getting into the engines, of course I have a water separator but as a precaution is it better to have more gas in the tank all the time to lessen the amount of condensation that can occur on the walls of the tank?
I like to keep the tank (or tanks) full at all times. There is less space for condensation, and if the weather gets bad or I need to provide a tow, I like the peace of mind of having plenty of fuel. My boat may be quicker out of the hole with less fuel on board, but I find that it rides better and requires less trim with a full load of fuel.
Location: Los Angeles, FL.or Georgia, depends. In Fl now.
Posts: 5,979
Quote:
Originally Posted by petrel
I like to keep the tank (or tanks) full at all times. There is less space for condensation, and if the weather gets bad or I need to provide a tow, I like the peace of mind of having plenty of fuel. My boat may be quicker out of the hole with less fuel on board, but I find that it rides better and requires less trim with a full load of fuel.
What he says above goes for me too. Been doing it for 30 yrs and never a fuel problem. I have been running ethanolized fuel for 3 yrs and 900 hrs now.
I just replaced my fuel/water separator filter and it didn't have any water in it. I hardly ever have a full tank. I like to keep it that way to keep the weight down.
I top off my tank each day before the skiff goes in the barn... as a result I've never had a fuel issue. Here's how it was explained to me years ago. If you're in weather that leaves your vehicle covered in dew every morning, imagine what the inside of your fuel tank looks like when it's half full.... Any moisture condensing on the inside of the tank promptly drips down the sides into the fuel, then winds up under the fuel where it can never evaporate and will eventually cause trouble. That advice was given me 35 years ago and it's still valid.
That said, there are a few other issues that need to be considered... I'm not towing a large rig up and down the coast so weight isn't an issue for me. Bigger boats, the added fuel might be a weight consideration. I was taught some years ago, as well, that modern fuels have a very short tank life before they start to break down.... and that's very important for those who aren't going to be running regularly and replacing a fuel load in a week or two every time. Under those conditions I'd want Stabil or other fuel additive as part of my load every time that I topped off - but I'd still be topping off... Hope this helps.
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is it better to keep a full tank of gas or a low tank usally?? 
