Gotta hate ehtanol.........

[Jon G]

As soon as I started work on the boat about three weeks ago I smelled gas the minute I stuck my head yunder the tarp. #$%%^#$$%# the gas tank In my boat is only three years old and every piece of the fuel system from the vent all the way to the engine was the best I could buy. Heck the first tank and hoses siad 1974 right in them not bads I only want to do this once right? Thank fully I put two plastic access covers in my tank hatch after I recored it. One in the back right ofer the fill hose connection and pick up line, the other right over the sender in the front under the front seat. I unscrew the sender access and there it is the gasket is all piiched out and gas is weeping right by it, so I bought another gasket I asked the boat yard what was best and they gave me neoprene the same type that was leaking, oh well, I took the old gasket to work and showed the Master tech and he took one second and said ethanol. The only thing I put in that tank since new was mobil gas and stabil in the fall when I topped it off. All the injector cleaner and majic potions I feed her goes in a small portable tank a couple of times a year. He said that I will probably be replacing the new one too soon enough, he said wait till the E85 hits the pumps and watch what happens. I asked him what the best gasket was for this and he said neoprene like the marina. Its the best out ther right mow but it does not like the new fuels. He said ethanol has been in the fuel of a couple of major supliers for a couple of years because it used to be cheaper than gas and they could leagally add 10% by volume so they were making more money. He said he had some "special" stuff we could make one out of and try but he was scaring me a little with the "try" part. At least the whole job of replacing the gasket was only fifteen minutes because of the Round access's I installed, I would have been bent having to remove my console and pry up my hatch with fresh 4200 sealing it now I get to go fill her back up tommorow I had to drain ten gallons out to change the gasket. My truck fill up was $113 today

[RS]

I might be a better idea to not fill it so much. That way you won't be soaking the gasket in fuel.

[Bryan A.]

I hear you on the Ethanol. I am having the same problem on my 73 20SF. Stock tank and hatch. Problem is I did not put the pie holes in when I recored my hatch. Any chance you could provide some measurements on there location for me? I was planning on doing the same thing. There is no rush, I am working on the other boat right now. I won't hold it against you if the boats are different for some reason. Thanks in advance.

[Jon G]

If you don't fill it right to the top of the fill, up here in the fridgid north, all winter the tank makes water and you will get GALLONS of water coming out of the tank in the spring. Every time the temp goes up and down(dialy) condensation forms inside the tank and it makes alot. I didn't top it off two years ago had 3/4 of a tank all winter and had to empty my racor three times !in the first half hour of running the boat and got a full seperator of water every trip for a month. If I top it off I get NO water in the spring. The ethanol in the gas is going to cause lots of problems in boats esecially since it atracts water like a magnet! maybe its time to move to florida?

[Jon G]

Bryan I can give you a measurement to where mine is, the tank builder made me an exact copy of my original tank so at least you will be close, I'll measure tomorrow and grab a pic for you too. When I measured I was a little off and it worked out good because If I was right over it I would not have been able to get the sender out. I could just get the screws out and the sender came right out, my worts case was cut the hole bigger and put a larger access in.

[Bryan A.]

Thanks. Much appreciated. I have been playing with fuel levels and as Jon said, if I don't fill it all the way it does not leak. I am 99% shure that it is the sender gasket. I look forward to the pics and the dimensions. Now I need to warm up the rotozip.

[RS]

If you don't fill it right to the top of the fill, up here in the fridgid north, all winter the tank makes water and you will get GALLONS of water coming out of the tank in the spring.

That's a myth. How do I know for sure? I've stored empty for the last 15 years and never made any water. My two brothers do the same, with the same result. You probably had it coming in from a different source when you had the problem. Do you change your gas fill o-ring annually?

BTW, we all probably live less than 100 miles from you, here in the frigid north.

Hope to see you on the water.

[SECF3114M73J]

We've been using 15% ethanol here in Connecticut for a few years, haven't seen any problems yet. It seems to be a scapegoat, whenever the mechanics can't figure out a problem they blame it on ethanol.

[ocuyler]

I have to agree with Rodger. I have always stored empty (4 boats, 2 summer cars, lawn equipment, hovercraft, forklifts) and have never had any issues. IMHO, the marina wants to sell you that 200 gallons right at the end of the season.

[Jon G]

Thats what I thought too, I have alaways stored it full but two winters ago I left it 3/4 and had nothing but water in the tank in the spring. I have seen the outside of the tank sweat like crazy when I was installing it over the course of a couple of days.Upper 20's at night high fortys in the day I'm talking hot cold over the winter, I can't expalain other wise how I have never had any water in there and when I left it not full I had lots. I had so much infact that it got pulled right throught the racor and my Suzuki primary filter had a half inch of water in it too. Good thing I stopped to check it after running it for a little. I thought it was bunk to until the old Blazer I had stopped running one day and I talked to the old owner he siad did you drain the water out of the tank? I said waht? Thats what I put screw in the bottom for. This old Blazer would sit around with a 30 something gallon tank and make water like crazy. Sitting for two months you pulled the screw out of the bottom of the tank and you would get a half a bucket of water out of it before any gas came out. I did this many times belive it or not. Maybe empty is better than half I dont know all I know is the only time I have had trouble is when it wasn't topped off. Heck the origional gasket lasted twenty seven years before it gave up, it even looked like it was a piece of a rain coat cut out and put under the sender. Maybe thats what I should try