Warning: Water in fuel

[WestEndAngler]

Talked to a local guy this morning who confirmed that a good amount of boaters have been experiencing water in fuel bought from Harbor Walk... Not sure how with the above ground tanks but apparently that's the word going around. Not to kick up or start any rumors about them or anything but I thought you'd all like to know. Apparently the mechanics have been busy on the West End...

[RED RAIDER]

Must be some condensation in there tanks. That is the only way I know of for them to get water in them. Not keeping the tanks full and having the big temp swings lately would cause some condensation. But that's just my guess.

[HarryK]

gas with ethanol is "hygroscopic"- that means it attracts moisture- use gas treatments such as stabil, etc - darn corn producers and government shoving corn products down our throats.

[Swells]

All tanks have water in them, although this bad boy sounds excessive.

You pipeline guys know that gasoline is pushed by brine water, the fuel dump has water in their huge tanks, and any gas sent by barge or truck has water in the bottoms. When the stuff comes out of the refinery, it is pure, and then gets contaminated the more it is handled.

Get real good fuel filters like the Racor spin-on kind and keep an extra cartridge with the boat. You need the kind with clear glass bottom, and not those dinky "in-line" kinds made of clear plastic. About $50-60 new and the cartridges are cheap.

Oh, and you don't want to buy from the bottom of the tank or when gasoline is loaded, since that'll suck mud and water pretty bad.

If you get a bad dose of water, Stabil isn't going to help very much. Just like for your car, get a bottle of the STP water treatment stuff. -sammie

[WestEndAngler]

Galveston's West End has been plagued by bad gas! To the point where some companies were pulling gas out stealing it putting in not knowing where it came from...

I still think West End Marina (Sea Isle) & Harbor Walk are good places.

You usually don't get the "water" effect in a tank above ground but yes condensation and the headache HW is going through could have caused this...

Hope they get it worked out but I was just passing on some info from a mechanic on the Island...

[Robalo]

Is JT selling fuel now?

[Explorer21]

Jerry, I don't think so, but I will let JT reply. I always get my gas at Chevron at JB.

[Robalo]

I filled the Robalo 2 weeks ago at HW-no problems last weekend. Now if I let the boat sit, it will make water in tank since ethanol and a non-closed system invites condensation. That's why I carry spare filters.

Regardless, why can't gummint leave the dang gas alone-made deer corn high cost as well as everything else. They already regulate toilets and everydangthing else-too bad they don't regulate themselves@#^ Bastages!!

[WestEndAngler]

x2 on chevron since Ike...

No West End Marina doesn't have guess YET.

[corndog]

Awesome knowing how much knowledge we have from the oil/gas experts on FWE. i always wondered how they got that stuff to the pumps.

[JT]

they are starting the work on the fuel at the end of this week at the marina. What ive studied and learned about the ethanol problem is that theres nothing you can do about it outside of whats been discussed here on this board.

[wlgorman]

guys, one fix to all fuel problems. 10-12 micron in line fuel filter/water separator. I installed one on my boat a few wks ago after having to clean the carbs. Everyone I talked to said they were having to clean carbs once or twice a year, then bought one of these and never had to do it again. Its a spin on. I got mine at NAPA for around $60. Never have to worry about stagnant gas, water, debris, anything.