Trojan Boat Forum

Stabil 360 is supposed to release a vapor above the fuel level to prevent corrosion inside the fuel tank. Has anyone used this product yet? If it works as advertised, it might be a good product for those of us still using galvanized fuel tanks. I'm currently using Startron, but would consider switching to a better product. Any thoughts?

DOG, My boat is an F32 '76 with original tanks, can you give me a little more info on what your using, and why the change. We are only 3 years in to this venture and need to get as much info for these older boat as possible.

Thanks Ken

I'm currently using Star Tron enzyme fuel treatment ( www.starbrite.com/category/marine ). It works well, and I haven't had any problems. My fuel filter rarely has any water in it when I change the filter each year. Galvanized tanks can eventually rust through, so I'm interested in anything that might prolong their life. Stabil 360 may or may not help preserve the tanks. That's what I'm trying to find out.

It cant hurt , why not use both ? ( I like starton too )

Is the main problem with rusting on those tanks not from water/damp on the outside? Like under straps, where tank rests in blocks etc:
Condensation on the inner walls of the tanks is a rare if not a non issue in everything I have researched.

When I bought my diesel President that had been rarely used and had 4 yr old fuel in the tanks I was encouraged by those on the Net to polish my fuel due to this condensation phenomena.
I went ahead and got a polishing unit and a dozen filters to deal with dirty fuel I was *going* to have.... well after 3 days of polishing the fuel and NO dirty filters I gave up. Of course many experts said the sludge was on the tank walls and my first run in open water would serve up the problem. My fear quotient was elevated.

I have since burned all that fuel and more, crossed the Gulf of Mexico and been running the boat for 4 yrs and have yet to deal with quick plugging fuel filters.

I was always told the galvanized tanks would rust from the inside out so there was no way of knowing the condition of the tank. When I knock on my tanks with my fist I get a solid thud, so they seem good. I also keep an eye on my fuel filter canister when I change fuel filters annually for rust, etc., but so far I haven't seen anything of significance. The outside of my tanks look good, so I'm not worried about that. I can easily keep an eye on the condition of the outside of the tanks. The Stabil 360 may be a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. I'm still trying to figure that out.

You can't believe everything you here.

What do you think would happen on the inside that would start corrosion more than what can happen on the outside?

ready123 wrote:You can't believe everything you here.

What do you think would happen on the inside that would start corrosion more than what can happen on the outside?

I'm not really sure. The outside is dry and as long as dissimilar metals are isolated should not be a corrosion problem. The inside could have water vapor/condensate above the fuel level and the 10% ethanol fuel could have water molecules suspended in it. Again, I don't know if these are viable problems or not. I'm trying to figure out if the Stabil 360 is solving a real problem or is just marketing hype.

at the recommendation of my mechanic john, i've always used the MDR product E-ZORB. i've been very pleased with it. i also use the MDR STOR N START for winter storage. again, both, great products.

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... &id=725700

Men, I replaced the galvanized fuel tanks in my TriCabin ten years ago.

The starboard tank had abruptly begun bleeding gas at its aft end - I say bleeding because we couldn't identify where exactly the leak was coming from as the gas would simply bead up at the tanks lowest point (filling the interior with a strong gasoline odor).

The subsequent examination by the marina suspected pin holes. Big job pulling those tanks out of a TriCabin but we had no choice.

The tanks were emptied and then pressure tested. Pin holes were found literally everywhere. The fact that the pin holes were all around the bottom of the tanks (long round tanks) make me believe that the corrosion originated from outside-in. Thoughts??

rickalan35 wrote:
The tanks were emptied and then pressure tested. Pin holes were found literally everywhere. The fact that the pin holes were all around the bottom of the tanks (long round tanks) make me believe that the corrosion originated from outside-in. Thoughts??

That's good news for me (sorry about the bad news for you ). My two tanks are located underneath the cockpit deck on each side of the engine far above any water that might get into the bilge. They are always high and dry. I rarely get any water in the engine room bilge since the bilge pump in front of the engine pumps it overboard before it can get back to the engine and when I do the water is nowhere near the bottom of the fuel tanks. If the primary corrosion of the galvanized tanks comes from the outside, then my tanks should be in good shape. Any ethanol treatment should be adequate for what I need. Thanks to all for the insight regarding this.

I have seen it both ways .