Draining fuel for winterizing

[sirslurpee]

My grandfather would like to drain the fuel tank on his 98 grady white seafarer 22'
I asked if he could just siphon the fuel out from the fill, but he said that the siphon won't fit down into the tank, that there is something restricting it from going all the way in.

Is there some kind of solution to this, to be able to get the fuel out? Do they make a pump or anything you can buy? It's a big tank (90 gallons, i believe) and although it's not full, it's going to take quite a bit to get the gas out of there.

[DangerDan]

try a 7/16 size hose. The make a small pup that hooks to a drill motor for a resonable price.

[Laketrotter]

I would recomend using a 12 volt inline fuel pump. You purchase it from an auto parts store. Hook it up to the fuel line going to the motor and run a hose to fill your 5 gallon fuel jugs. It will take a while for they pump about 30 gallon a hour.

[kbkrause]

Be careful with anything that may cause a spark! :tdo12:

[huntingmaniac45]

I think its better to fill the tank, and put some stabilizer in it. Lots of condensation buildup in a empty tank. Just my .02!;)

[tinmarine]

This is what I have.

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/p-14818-9213-cta-oil-extractor-fluid-evacuator-7450.aspx

I bought it at Murray's I think. It's made to fit into a dipstick, so it's small enough to get by the restriction. I had a 98 180 Grady that was hard to put something down the fill tube. This should bypass that without any problems. It's pretty rigid so it won't buckle too easy, but flexible enough to do the job.

[waterfoul]

Be careful with anything that may cause a spark! :tdo12:


Yeah, like the drill you may want to use that drill pump in. Look at the package the pump came in... I'll bet the house it says do not pump flamable liquids.

Couple ideas though... there HAS to be a deck plate over the fuel fill on top of the tank. Take the hose off here and SAFELY pump the fuel out. Or I really like the 12 electric fuel pump idea stated above.

[waterfoul]

I think its better to fill the tank, and put some stabilizer in it. Lots of condensation buildup in a empty tank. Just my .02!;)


This is also very true. Better to top the tank off and stabilize the fuel.

[steveh27]

I go the full tank method. I try to avoid 10% ethanol as well, but the ethanol content is no longer posted so it's hard to verify. Seems most gas now is that blasted 10%. Stabil now has an ethanol stabilizer, but I still have a lot of the original. Plus I worry about my older motor & fuel system with the alcohol in it. I do use mid octane, not regular.

I've been talking to the candidates for State rep in my district & got a commitment from both that they would work to reinstate the posting requirement. If everyone did that maybe we could get it done.

[sirslurpee]

Sta-Bil works GREAT.

I think that's what he ended up doing.. He didn't call me before he put it up for the winter.. I gotta get on him today cuz I don't think he fogged it. I've got his can of seafoam at my house lol

[Cobramach1]

As other's have said the best solution is to top off the tank and put in sta-bil. You can pick up a bottle that will treat the tank for just a couple of bucks at Murray's or any parts store. It's what I use to winterize my cars before they go into winter storage, which is rapidly coming up.

[Slick fishing]

seafoam is better then Stabil all day long and thats no chit.. Cya Slick

[just ducky]

Years ago with all of my outboards I used to unplug the gas line (remote tank) and run it until it shut down. Then a mechanic convinced me that having fuel in the engine in the winter is better than all of the seals being dry all winter. Ever since I use stabil and haven't had an issue.

[jfishbones]

This is also very true. Better to top the tank off and stabilize the fuel.


I second that.....

[frenchriver1]

Use the marine stabil, more expensive, but better formulated... Follow the "storage" directions on the package as to amount to be added...

[frenchriver1]

Years ago with all of my outboards I used to unplug the gas line (remote tank) and run it until it shut down. Then a mechanic convinced me that having fuel in the engine in the winter is better than all of the seals being dry all winter. Ever since I use stabil and haven't had an issue.

My marine mechanic told me the opposite as to running out all the gas....

[team3devils]

is his business hurting?... sounds like it to me. the 3 marine mechs that i talk to regularly said make sure the tank is full, throw in some stablizer or a can of sea foam. set till spring time. few years back. i drained the motor, and tank.. and that was the year i had nothing but problems. leaky seals, never wanted to start, and it didnt seem to run right.

[ESOX]

Back in the day we used to drain them, run them out of fuel etc. Now with the advent of fuel stabilizers the best course of action is to fill them, stabilize the fuel, run the motor long enough to get the stabilized fuel into the engine and call it good. My manual on my new Yamaha even says the same thing, first time I ever saw it straight from the horses mouth. Personally I use Seafoam for stabilization, since it has so many other desirable traits.

[slowpoke]

Back in the day we used to drain them, run them out of fuel etc. Now with the advent of fuel stabilizers the best course of action is to fill them, stabilize the fuel, run the motor long enough to get the stabilized fuel into the engine and call it good. My manual on my new Yamaha even says the same thing, first time I ever saw it straight from the horses mouth. Personally I use Seafoam for stabilization, since it has so many other desirable traits.

:yeahthat:
That is what I do now.
If you still want to drain your tank just disconnect your gas line from the engine, add a link of hose to the gas line and siphon out the gas.

[SFritr]

I would never recommend emptying the fuel from your boat during the winter. The enemy here is condensation which can cause fuel lines, hoses to freeze and then burst. Not to mention the damage that condensation can due to your tank.
Always top your tank off before winterizing your boat and add the recommended amount of fuel stableizer. StaBil marine, SeaFoam, and StarTron are the best IMO. Seafoam also will clean your carbs and help to eliminate carbon build up in your engine.
These products have chemicals that break down the amount of water in your tanks and engines into more manageable particles and will NOT harm your engine. That is why gas left over long periods of time will go bad and eventually turn to varnish. These products will eliminate this issue. Good Luck