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I just dropped mine off for winterizing. I left about 10 gallons out of 60 in the tank. I'm also having the dealer add a Racor (60 gph) fuel filer with drain.
burtim wrote:
It's the opinion of the FAA that more failures have occurred over the years when the tanks were stored anything but full, than they have when stored full.
Very true. Many an airplane have gone down due to water in the fuel tanks. Most smaller aircraft have metal fuel tanks which are more prone to rapid temperature changes. As a result, condensation does form in the tanks. As for aviation fuel having ethanol in it? Per the FAA, here's the chemical make up of aviation fuel:
Aviation fuels consist of blends of over a thousand chemicals, primarily Hydrocarbons (paraffins, olefins, naphthenes, and aromatics) as well as additives such as antioxidants and metal deactivators, and impurities. Principal components include n-octane and isooctane. Like other fuels, blends of Aviation fuel used in piston engined aircraft are often described by their Octane rating. Aviation fuel must be checked daily and before every flight for contaminants such as water or dirt.
With that said, there is no ethanol in aviation fuel.
Cliff
1966 13' Sport with a 1993 40hp Yamaha 2 Smoker
"Is there a simple solution to water condensation in the tank as a result of ethanol?
It is best to maintain a full tank of fuel when the engine is not in use. This will reduce the void space above the fuel and will reduce the flow of air in and out of the tank with changes in temperature. This will reduce condensation on the internal walls of the tank and will limit exposure of the ethanol in the fuel to humidity and condensation.
What should be done when storing boats with ethanol-blended fuels for extended periods?
Follow the instructions for normal storage preparation found in the owner’s manual or operations guide. When preparing to store a boat for extended periods of two months or more, it is best to completely remove all fuel from the tank. If it is difficult or not possible to remove the fuel, maintaining a full tank of fuel with a fuel stabilizer added to provide fuel stability and corrosion protection is recommended. It is best to add the stabilizer and fuel treatment to the tank at the recommended dosage, running the engine for 10 minutes to allow the system to be cleaned, shutting off the fuel valve to interrupt the fuel supply and allow the engine to run until it stops, topping off the tank until it’s full to reduce the amount of exchange with the air that might bring in condensation. Do not cap the tank vent and do not fill with fuel to the point of overflowing. Some extra space should be maintained in the tank to allow for expansion and contraction of the fuel with temperature changes. A partially full tank is not recommended because the void space above the fuel allows air movement that can bring in water through condensation as the air temperature moves up and down. This condensation could potentially become a problem."
They have a very complete analysis of the ethanol situation here, and well worth reading. Very informative.
