Clearing out old gas from the fuel system

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:56 pm

The moron I bought this boat from shut the engines off 3 years ago and never started them again. So... the old useless gas has been sitting in the fuel lines, filters, Carb float chamber, pump, etc for 3 years. Can this be effectively flushed out using a solvent or am I looking at mass replacement of these components? Thanks guys. Steve

jimbo36 · Post by **jimbo36** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:32 pm

How were you planning to remove the fuel from the tanks?

I used a 12 volt electric fuel pump through the deck filler tube fitting into gas cans (outside) for proper disposal. The lines, and fuel pumps can be drained. The filters will need replacing anyway. I seem to recall you were going to rebuild your carbs? No solvent necassary. Be very careful. Good luck.

jimbo36

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:55 pm

risctaker wrote:The moron I bought this boat from shut the engines off 3 years ago and never started them again. So... the old useless gas has been sitting in the fuel lines, filters, Carb float chamber, pump, etc for 3 years. Can this be effectively flushed out using a solvent or am I looking at mass replacement of these components? Thanks guys. Steve

IMHO....... If it were me, 1st thing I would do is call a local fuel co. here that has a mobile polishing system. For $400 they pump out every bit of fuel, scrub the tanks, and in most cases you get back alot of your fuel. But probably not in your case

and they gaurantee there work. Next I would check every inch of the fuel lines. Do you have rub ber type or copper?
Put in the newest type of fuel/water sep. system, clean and replace on-engine filter (if you have one)
And of course..... Total rebuild of carbs

I've seen slightly similar situations where the owner tried to save some $$$ and every time they went boating some crap came loose in the tanks and jammed up the carbs. Had one a couple years ago that I had to rebuild his carbs 5 times throughout one summer

He just wouldn't listen and tried to blame me the 1st couple times.
Not saying this will happen to you but you never know
Just an opinion

Ron

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:13 pm

After some investigation last weekend turns out both carbs are relatively new so I was hoping I could (for example) detach the fuel lines going into the carbs and push some solvent (carb cleaner?) through it and let it sit for a while then blow it out with compressed air. Pulling the carbs and re-building them would be the final solution unless I can come up with a simpler approach that would disolve the gum from the sitting gas without pulling and rebuilding.

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:21 pm

After sitting 3 yrs Jimbo is right IMO you need to remove the gas, carb need redone and gas pumps and while you're at it all of the gas lines need to be updated for corn gas if its not in your area it will be. And please make sure its USCG approved .

risctaker · Post by **risctaker** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:25 pm

Hey Ron. I hear you loud and clear (what's wrong with blaming someone else - it's most people's favorite activity!). I researched the fuel polisher approach then postponed it. because if (for instance) there was a load of E10 gas in those tanks, it would have had total phase separation by now. In that case, the water and ethanol combine and precipitate out to the bottom of the tank., The top layer is then unusuable gas that will not re-combine with any E10. Yes, I know there isn't "supposed" to be any E10 at the marinas but..... I'm planning to buy a gas vapor test kit and pull various samples from all 4 tanks. I will test them for volitility and see if the gas in there is still viable. If the gas in the tanks have the good ole MTBE rather than E10, then the Fuel Polisher approach would work. As you suggested, the tanks would definitely have to be cleaned. But keep sending me suggestions, Ron. I need to accumulate more ammunition to blame you for "stuff"

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:30 pm

Thats what were here for buddy

Ron

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:00 pm

Fuel Polisher l biggest rip around IMO all they to is filter the fuel thats it , well some treat it with magnets bunch of bull . and tank scrubbing , unless you have a insect on plate you wasting you time as you can only clean about 10% of you tank . never seen them fix anything that has a problem .

I have fixed many a sail boat the the Fuel Polishers had done and the still had issues . the key ? BIG filters , most filters are to small to begin with add some crap fuel then you have issues

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:24 pm

Id just get rid of the gas. What is it worth ? What's your engines worth ?

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:00 pm

alexander38 wrote:Id just get rid of the gas. What is it worth ? What's your engines worth ?

I agree. Just pump it out and save it for a good ol' fashioned bon-fire!!

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:21 pm

Blowboats?????? Diesel??????
I'm talking Gasoline. I've used that company at least 6 times with Zero callbacks. Now there is a chance that you could just suck out the fuel and everythings just honky-dory. Then whatcha gonna do with it?? I can tell you every marina within a 2 hour drive of me WILL NOT allow it. What if theres 200 or 300 gallons?? You going to bring up to 60 five gallon cans???

Lets say it's only 50 gallons, still.....WTF are you going to do with it????

You might be just fine (risctaker). But I pray your not just going to dump it somewhere. I'm just offering alternatives

Ron

Geoff R · Post by **Geoff R** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:36 pm

If the fuel has been there for three years there is nothing good left to burn. Your engines will run like **** and everything will be gummed in no time not to mention exhaust temps.IMO get rid of the fuel and you may have no other problems

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:47 pm

There are companys that will take the gas .

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 5:11 am

Ok got a

for Ron I understand the pump out and cleaning of the tanks. But how do they put the octane level back in 3 yr old gas ? And god forbid he has corn gas in them and if he does then I'd hate to see what it looks like.

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:53 am

You'll notice I said he probably wouldn't get his gas back. In his case the benefits would be cleaning the tank and {{{{SAFE}}}} removal and disposal of the nasty fuel. We gotta watch out for those cute little fishys

Down here the only place we found to take old gas wanted big recycle fees

Ron

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Clearing out old gas from the fuel system

Clearing out old gas from the fuel system

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