Old 4 stroke fuel

Gday fellas

Havent been out in the boat for 6 months or so due to shoulder surgery and was wondering what I should do with the 50 - 70 ltr of fuel still in the tank. Should I put an additive in the tank like stabil or suck it out and keep it for the mower and bikes.

Cheers Nev


opsrey's picture

Posts: 1200

Date Joined: 05/10/07

Siphon it out, then run small amounts with your car.

Sun, 2012-12-30 08:58

 Put 10 or so litres a time through your car with a fullish tank of fuel. I have done this a few times, the fuel going into a Commodore V6 without trouble. The lawn mower normally gets a few tank fulls as well. It's surprising how soon 50 gets used.

Posts: 13

Date Joined: 27/12/12

Old 4 stroke fuel

Sun, 2012-12-30 09:44

 Stabil (or any other fuel additive) won't "fix" old fuel.  You need to add it with fresh fuel when you fill up.  I have done exactly the same as Osprey in my V6 Commodore without any problems.

Buz's picture

Posts: 1555

Date Joined: 28/08/07

Probably sounds bad but i

Sun, 2012-12-30 11:31

Probably sounds bad but i always leave my boat over the winter months for around 6 months without a start. I keep the tank only half full(as it usually is after the last day out) and then the first spring day out just top the empty half of the tank with new unleaded and away i go. Have been doing this for the last 12 years with at times the fuel being left for over 8 months and have still managed to start it fine even without adding new fuel. From everything i read though i dont htink i would recommend it but so far it hasnt ever affected my 115 Merc 4 stroke. Think next winter i will put that fuel stabiliser in it though.

carnarvonite's picture

Posts: 8669

Date Joined: 24/07/07

Top up

Sun, 2012-12-30 13:19

Just top the tank right up, like Buz, I've used fuel that had been sitting for nearly a year without any problems in fuel injected motors.

neville hood's picture

Posts: 51

Date Joined: 26/09/11

Thanks fellas, ended up

Sun, 2012-12-30 17:41

Thanks fellas, ended up syphoning it out for my 1990 commodore. Ended up nearly 100 ltr. May be a while till I use the boat so nothing lost.

Cheers Nev