BigBendFishing.Net

Ok, been reading all the threads on ethanol / water problems with considerable interest.

Life's been CRAZY busy this past year and I only got to take Marine's Dream out on the water a few times with my last trip out sometime around October. Afraid my last fill up was with ethanol and without Stabil added... so my first question is should I empty the tank and refill with fresh gas? Guessing it's too late to add Stabil? Or asked another way does Stabil have to be added at the time of the fill up or can it be added now as long as I haven't cranked the engine up? Will be pretty surprised if it can reverse water separation.

Last but not least, haven't had to drain the engine to date so if anyone can point to a video or linked site with photos on draining procedure for an outboard (mine's an E-tec 90) the help will be much appreciated.

Top it off with 93 octane and go fishing. Once you run a good bit of it out, change your fuel filters.

Thanks for the reply, Birddog, but problem is I top off AFTER each trip out so I'm sitting with the full tank that's been resting unused in the tank for about 5 months now, thus my question on whether stabil or emptying is the better option, and again I'm guessing adding stabil this long after the fact likely won't address post-separation.

Put in Stabil comparable to your gallons on board.
Drive down the road and brake often to mix the Stabil more thoroughly.
Add a water separator to your fuel line.
After fishing use higher octane fuel and change your fuel filter.
In fact I would carry a fuel filter and wrench to change it on board if necessary.

It may work but it is not designed to re-stabilize.

I am wrong. I went to the STABIL site FAQ's.
It will not re-stabilize fuel.
It says to put it in new fuel only.

Get a filter install a water separator and run it.
Or, as you said dump it.

I have been advised to use StarBrite's Startron gasoline treatment. The bottle states that this product will reverse the effects of E10 and will disperse water that is in your fuel tank eventually eliminating any contamination. I hate to dump out 30 gallons of gas so I'm gonna give it a try. Check out their website at www.starbrite.com for technical info that you may find interesting.

The problem is not just the fuel it acts like a solvent and will clean you tank hose etc..

the junk winds up in your carb which is designed to disperse gas not crud.

What a mess wrote:The problem is not just the fuel it acts like a solvent and will clean you tank hose etc..

the junk winds up in your carb which is designed to disperse gas not crud.

Hopefully that's what that brand new fuel filter will prevent....I've been told that I will have to replace my fuel filter after the initial cleanout tank due to the probability that I will have some crud come from the tank.....we'll see how it goes though

Use and no there is fuel line after the filter and carbs too also it is eating some fuel lines so there is no sure fire deal also some engines are being retrofitted with jets that are not damaged by the fuel many variables.

Since October, ain't too long. Get on the water and use it. You'll catch hell trying to dump that much gas. Take a new fuel/water separator filter with you. Doubtful that you'll have any trouble.

Let me know when you want to go fishing John.....I'll be happy to help you burn that tank off

Well, Tom, to date I HAVE confined myself to fishing only about 15 miles out... got a new finder I'm installing, radio already installed, and SeaTow membership is in good standing so we get a day that things are lying flat we just might have to go deep... how far out to we hit some Econfina mahi-mahi?

big bend gyrene wrote:Well, Tom, to date I HAVE confined myself to fishing only about 15 miles out... got a new finder I'm installing, radio already installed, and SeaTow membership is in good standing so we get a day that things are lying flat we just might have to go deep... how far out to we hit some Econfina mahi-mahi?

just ask BB what to do pf you have water in the tank ..he know all about that..

E10 condensation mainly occurs with partially-filled tanks, so if you topped it off previously that shouldn't be a problem, BBG. As others have mentioned, change the filter and run the boat, then add a stabilizer on the next fill. I've had no issues using Star tron (made by Star brite). One bottle will treat 250 gallons.