Petrol = gasoline = fuel storage questions.

ON an inspected vessel the USCG requires the tank to stand a 5psi pressure.
It can deform , but NOT leak.

5 Psi is obtained with a hose 11 ft long filled with fuel.

A one pound pressure cap should be OK on a rec boat , but it would require closing the installed fill vent.

I'd rather deal with cleaning the bad fuel than worry about a tank popping a seam.

One of the most effective fuel cleaners is the sock filter.

This is usually a glass jar with a woven very fine fabric sock inside.

The water condenses on the outside of the sock, collecting in the jar.Gas or diesel.

Perhaps its the ease with which the glass could be broken , or the use of a shut off and a pail to catch the contaminates , but most boat insurers don't like this proven for 70-80 years set up.

A better system for fuel storage is a fuel tank that is properly designed , not a box of fuel.

But they cost more so dont look for one in a production boat .

 

yeeha I dont live in America. I am allowed to use my own common sense to keep me well which has served me for all my life.

A tank at 5 psi will force fuel into the carb, if your needle and seat is not good and it will have to be out of this world to hold 5psi indefiantely then it will flood and leak=boom and =hospital.

I have sererious doubts about your coast guard

 

You aren't the only one who is glad. Yeehaw! (Seminole for wolf)

 

The coast Guard doesn't make rules...They enforce them. The regulatory authorities in the US have decided that evaporative emissions are harmful.

The interest for the thread is that these new fuel systems restrict the stored fuels access to the atmosphere and as a result generate a longer storage life for modern marine fuels.

 

The coast guard are advisers. I am quite content in my mind than the coast guard does not give a hoot about your expensive fuel being stored.

They have to make new rules every year or maybe some one might notice that we don't need them as much as we thought we did.

 

Safe storage of disconnected fuel tanks would be a Coast Guard priority.

 

Safe storage yes not the concern of its quality.

Old fuel still goes ----BANG.

But not without some dork smoking near it. I does not self ignite.

So maybe some attention to its ignition source might be a better approach.

 

i see you have a new fantasy home hoyt. is it obamahoma because you are so happy he got back in. i am glad he did, i think he is the best u s president ever. hopefully he will continue his great work.

 

Well, gee, thanks, XXIII, but it is temporary as one tries to keep moving.

 

sorry hoyt, it was just to tempting.

 

Would XXII approve?

 

The 5 psi rule is to ensure that a tank is strong enough to be safe (i.e. won't burst, won't leak) if things don't go according to plan. Perhaps a vent is left closed and the tank heats up in the sun. Or perhaps there's a fire and you want to buy enough time to evacuate the people before fuel starts spraying around (there's also a fire survival time, 2 min IIRC, for this reason). You're not supposed to actually pressurize the tank in day-to-day use.

As for storage. We Ontarians routinely store September's 10% ethanol blend, with a shot of Sta-Bil or similar, for 8 months in repeated freeze-thaw conditions (-30C to +20C). Fuel related problems in the spring are rare. But, to be fair, Canadian gasoline does tend to have pretty well-engineered additive blends in it right from the refinery.

 

Canadian gasoline does tend to have pretty well-engineered additive blends in it right from the refinery.

Even if you lived next door to a refinery , the gas would be no better .

The gas from a refinery is a minimal grade to be trade legal, and is sold into pipelines.

When the local distribution point takes fuel (gas or diesel) from the pipe IT will attempt to clean it , de water it and then add addatives for local use.

Ethanol absorbs water , and also dissolves some types of plastic ( GRP intergal fuel tanks) and many styles of rubber.

In vented storage , most will absorb enough water to fill many filter systems.

Let them store fuel in the well, and purchase fresh fuel, and use it all up , for best boating results.

 

Ok guys here is that test sample after one month.
As you can see almost 40% has evaporated.

The cap is not on tight - to simulate a breather on a tank.
Our temps were around 30 degC most of the time. The bottle was indoors all the time.
The light oils evaporated quickly in the first two weeks but then started to slow down.
The heavy oils does not smell as strong as new fuel because of little evaporation.

So after one month in a boat tank you dont have the right fuel anymore - definately not here in South Africa
all the light oils are gone

 

Nice test, thanks. And I agree - avoid using old petrol.

It would be interesting to repeat it with a thin layer of foam floating over the petrol to reduce evaporation (the container would need to have straight vertical sides).