Which is Better - Storing With a Full or Empty Tank?
Storing with a Full Tank:
- There is less area to support condensation, which means fewer water problems and less risk of phase separation in E-10 gasoline.
- There are fewer volatile fumes that can be a source of combustion, and some marine yards insist on a full tank for this reason.
- If the fuel does go bad, there is more of it to replace.
Storing with an Empty Tank:
- The season starts with a fresh tank of fuel. Some motor manufacturers recommend this.
- There's a much greater chance of condensation, which adds water to good, new fuel.
- It's difficult, if not impossible, to drain the fuel injector/carburetor system. The remaining fuel will age, forming gums and varnishes that may result in a carburetor rebuild - expensive!
Ideally:
Store with a full tank of fuel that won't form gums and varnishes and won't go bad.
All K100 Fuel Treatments:
- Contain a proprietary organic formulation that bonds itself to water and renders it completely burnable as fuel, so condensation is nothing to worry about. In E-10 gasoline, K100 encapsulates the water molecules before they combine with the ethanol, so phase separation cannot occur.
- Contain organic solvents that dissolve sludge, gums and varnish and prevent reformation of those deposits.
- Contain organic lubricants that coat the surfaces of fuel system to prevent corrosion and oxidation of metallic components. This also helps prevent cold-start scuffing on 2-cycle engines.
- Contain an octane/cetane booster (about 2 points), which will counteract the slight deterioration of those levels during storage.
Using K100, the new season starts with a clean fuel system, no gums and varnishes, no water contamination, and fuel with the same octane/cetane rating as when put up for storage.
Recommendation:
Always fill the tank and treat the fuel with a double-dose of K100 before storage and run the engine for a few minutes to make sure the treatment gets throughout the fuel system. It also makes good sense to change the fuel filter at the start of the new season.