3.0L mercruiser

[cerveza fria]

My boat has been sitting for about 6 months with a 1/4 tank of gas in it. I started remodeling it in March but i had to put the project on the backburner because of my work schedule and my course load at LSU. I graduate next week and I will have alot more time on my hands to finish the project. I plan on changing all of the fuids and filters Tuesday and taking it to grand isle the following week. I know that I should have either drained the tank or put fuel stabalizer in it. What should i do before i crank it? Do i need to drain the tank completly, or will adding octane boost and fresh gas be ok??

[Gerald]

I would be more concerned with the fuel that was left in the fuel pump and carburetor. When the fuel evaporates, it leaves a film and this film is very flakey and can clog the ports in the carburetor.

I don't know what is best to do.....I would just add new gas to the tank and take it for a drive NOW of at least 10 miles. Don't haul the boat to GI and then find out there is a problem.

I took a small engine fuel pump apart one time and there was a lot of "Onion" skin film in the pump and the fuel lines.

[cerveza fria]

THat was my plan. Im gonna put the side walls back in shortly and put the controll box back together. I was planning on putting it in the water on the amite (its 15 minutes from my house) and having my father in law in law follow me in his boat just in case. What about sea foam?? Does that stuff work as well as people say??

[Ray]

The stabilizer won't help after the fact. It needed to be put in first.
If you only have 1/4 tank of gas, fill her up with good gas and stabilizer.
That might help out with the old gas. Hook her up to a hose and see how she sounds on
the trailer. If it sounds good, back it down a ramp, then put her in gear and push on the
trailer to see if she will power up or bog down. If it bogs down, you will probably have
to get the carb. cleaned. Be sure to install new spark plugs also.

[Gerald]

Some people on rnr talk about using Sea Foam in every tank of gas just to prevent having problems with ethanol gas.

Walmart sell it at ~ $ 9 per can. One can treats about one tank of gas [12 to 15 gallons ???? don't remember].

I have not had any problems with the ethanol gas----that I know of with my engine. Gas usually does not stay in the tank very long. I fill up the take after every trip, so there is almost no air in the tank to allow moisture to get in the fuel.

[Ray]

I use Stabil in all my gas at home.
In the boat, I don't keep it long enough to get affected.