Running the reserve tank dry

This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 11 months ago by bassCat1971.

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July 13, 2010 at 1:52 pm #304498

kramr
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I know this is gonna sound a little dumb but it worries me so I thought I should ask.I “accidently” filled the reserve tank. I want to run it dry but Im worried that doing so will put air in the line so it will be hard to restart the motor after I switched tanks. You know, out on the water, the motor starts to sputter and die. So I go to the back and switch from Right to Left. Will it restart immediately? Should I pump the bulb? Thanks.

July 13, 2010 at 1:59 pm #304499

dbasketman
Participant

Why would you run it dry ? Leave five gallons in it as a reserve, and go fishin. If you do run one dry all you have to do is switch tanks and pump the bulb to prime, then go.

July 13, 2010 at 2:42 pm #304500

kramr
Participant

The 5 gallon reserve sounds like a good idea. How long can you leave gas in the tank without it “going bad”? I put Seafoam in it when I filled it. Can it sit there a whole season without being used?

July 13, 2010 at 2:53 pm #304501

clownshoes
Participant

I have run mine dry uhhhh like 3 times I know of at least.I promise itll start.Did it Sunday.Its a pretty good stop at 75-76.That switch for tanks aint in a place I check very often.C.O.D. Jr. III

July 13, 2010 at 2:53 pm #304502

dbasketman
Participant

Again, why leave it in so long, run it out now and then during the season, or freshen it up with some new gas. But it will last longer than most think with stabil, and seafoam.I pulled a honda generator out two days ago thats not been started in five years, turned the gas on and choked it, started on first pull ! Treat the gas and it will last, but no reason to keep gas that long in youre boat, use it !

July 13, 2010 at 10:36 pm #304503

bassCat1971
Participant

Thanks for the advice. Im still trying to figure out how to use a reserve tank. Was told a lot of guys dont even put gas in it so when I accidently filled it (cause I still get confused about which filler goes to which tank) I figured I might try to leave a little for emergency purposes. I think Ill probably just go ahead and run it dry though. Probably isnt helping my holeshot and top end.

July 13, 2010 at 10:49 pm #304504

bassCat1971
Participant

We dont suggest running the fuel tanks down as it can scorch a piston. The tanks should be alright with SeaFoam in them for a while also. Pumping up a tank once you drain the lines dry is not any fun with the anti siphon valves of today. They take forever to prime.

July 13, 2010 at 11:26 pm #304505

kramr
Participant

bassCat1971 wrote: We dont suggest running the fuel tanks down as it can scorch a piston. The tanks should be alright with SeaFoam in them for a while also. Pumping up a tank once you drain the lines dry is not any fun with the anti siphon valves of today. They take forever to prime.Im running a 4 stroke, is piston scorching a problem? So what do you do at the end of the season? Drain the tank, fill it with gas/stabilizer, leave a little gas/stablizer in it?

July 14, 2010 at 12:39 am #304506

bassCat1971
Participant

Josh, my mechanic at Texas Boat World says to never run your tank completely out of gas, as he says it may cause the fuel pump to overheat and cause problems in the future. Neither Josh nor Texas boat World have steered me wrong yet, so I suggest that you refrain from running your tanks completely dry. Corky

July 14, 2010 at 3:06 am #304507

bassCat1971
Participant

The VST (fuel pump) is a valid concern as they dont run well dry. The end of season just put some additive and run the tanks as low as you can before storage. Run the additive through the engine also for a while prior to storage. Then store and run a while with more fresh fuel on top next season.
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