Boat Storage - Full Gas Tank vs Less Than Full

[Dave S]

WABoating and a few others, you are more knowledgeable then me in all this gas stuff, however it does make sense.

My question-The PCM manual recommends using only 87 octane and no higher, why would you run a higher octane when the manual states otherwise and/or what would the benefits or damages be long term to the engine? (Other then WA not having Ethanol in his 90's octane)

[Timmy!]

The higher octane shouldn't damage your engine, it just won't have any benefit.

[IDBoating]

The higher octane shouldn't damage your engine, it just won't have any benefit.

Precisely. If it weren't for the exclusion of ethanol, the extra cost of higher octane fuel would be a complete waste of money. You'd be paying for additives that aren't required because the PCM engines don't run with sufficiently high compression. They don't hurt anything, but they don't deliver any benefits either unless you're running high compression.

[lohe]

Come spring I drain the gas out of the tank (PITA) change fuel filter add new fresh gas and done.. I put the old gas in my cars I daily drive to burn it up.

[jsz]

Come spring I drain the gas out of the tank (PITA) change fuel filter add new fresh gas and done.. I put the old gas in my cars I daily drive to burn it up.

I did that last year. I just filled the tank and then had starting issues. The boat didn't run for 7 months. When I figured out the problem (fuel pump), I had a full tank of old fuel. I drained it into several 5 gallon gas cans that i gave away to others that knew how old it was and wanted it anyways. Each of them took 5 gallons of the old stuff and then topped the tank off with fresh gas. None of them had any issues. I kept some to use in the lawnmower and that also had no issues.

Now I try and run it down to 1/4 tank and add sta-bil to whatever's left in the tank. Just enough gas so I can run it a few minutes every 5 or 6 weeks. I feel better having a fresh tank at the new season instead of stabilized old gas.