To Fill on Not to Fill

[Mike Cork]

Just curious what everyone does? Do you keep your fuel tank full or fill as needed?

For years I've been one to fill as needed, this keeps the tow weight and fishing weight down. In my shallow environment, a few pounds in the boat can mean the difference between accessing your favorite fishing spot or not. Also the extra weight when towing to the lake can affect performance and fuel milage.

That said, not keeping your tank full leads to condensation and the requirement for extra additive to prevent water build up.

SO, what do most of you do, do you keep it full and fill as needed?

[Capt. BassinLou]

Just curious what everyone does? Do you keep your fuel tank full or fill as needed?

For years I've been one to fill as needed, this keeps the tow weight and fishing weight down. In my shallow environment, a few pounds in the boat can mean the difference between accessing your favorite fishing spot or not. Also the extra weight when towing to the lake can affect performance and fuel milage.

That said, not keeping your tank full leads to condensation and the requirement for extra additive to prevent water build up.

SO, what do most of you do, do you keep it full and fill as needed?

I used to, but gas is getting way to expensive! I fill as needed.

[Donald Garner]

I keep it full.  It sux running out of gas while running the lake.

Don't ask me how I know

[Captsteve]

I run down to about 1/2 tank, then fill.

 A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.

[Princeton_Man]

Full tanks when she goes back in the garage and only pure non-ethanol. I top off the tanks on my way home every trip. Several benefits to it; full tanks almost completely eliminate condensation forming due to temperature changes. Full tanks reduce evaporation, and because I use pure gas the fuel doesn't age as quickly as Ethanol gas. Another side benefit is if SHTF or the grid goes down, I have another 38 gallons of fuel on hand in addition to the 25 I keep in cans.

It's also less painful than waiting until the tank is empty.

[apenland01]

If I'm not going to be fishing for a few months, I will fill to 3/4 or a little more and add QuikStor to the tanks.

I never fill past 3/4 anymore because I learned my lesson the first year I had my boat.  I filled the tanks and added stabilizer for the winter season and didn't think about the cold weather causing the tank to shrink.  When it shrunk, it squeezed out about 5 gallons of fuel out the fuel caps and left me a huge mess when I went to use the boat in the spring.

I would say leave around 1/8 tank of air, which will minimize the water vapor in the tank, but leave plenty of room for the tank to shrink in colder weather...