Fuel tank replacement

crosica · **Joined:** Tue May 29, 2012 4:58 pm **Posts:** 1

I have a 1992 Vista 235. It ran great last year and I had it winterized and stored over the winter. The mechanic replaced the carburator and now the boat starts, stalls and runs rough. They took a fuel sample and showed me particles floating in the fuel and said it was the fuel tank breaking down causing the carburator to clog. Replacing the tank is a big job. Any ideas on how to clean out the tank ?

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:26 pm

Add another spin on filter and change it everytime you take it out.

Pump out the tank through the sender hole with a safe pump/siphon,
Filter it out after letting it settle and then put it back in and repeat as
neccessary.

Or take out the tank and do just about as much or spend a whole bunch
more and replace the tank.
I don't know why an alu. tank would be breaking down. Maybe a coating or paint.

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:59 pm

Is the tank aluminum or plastic? What were the particles that they found floating in the tank? Sometimes aluminum tanks corrode internally, but I have a 24 year old one and when I winterize the boat, I change the fuel filter and pour out the gas into a glass jar and let it sit, I do not see anything like that in it. There are companies that clean fuel tanks, that might be the best way as long as the tank does not leak.

fiznuka · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:56 pm

Its very rare for an aluminum tank to corrode unless there is a caustic in it. Hell that's what they haul almost any petroleum product in crude, gas, diesel, asphalt, nafta, condensate etc. There could be sediment from the pump you are fueling from it happens but it should be caught by the filter. Don't fuel after the fuel truck dumps its load wait until the fuel settles.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:07 pm

Forgive me, you stated "it was the fuel tank breaking down". I would send another sample out to someone else. If that tank is breaking down, than it needs to be replaced A.S.A.P. or BOOM. The last thing you want is for that tank to leak gas, inside and outside your boat. Its a stretch, but you could have the E.P.A. or the U.S.C.G. fine you for discharging a fuel over board.

Also, I am not that knowable on fuel tanks. But, the boat is a "92" that was engineered in 90 or 91. I don't think they had E-10 in mind, when the tank was made.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:15 pm

E10 is only dangerous to fiberglass gas tanks. It doesn't touch plastic or aluminum.

Walt · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:06 pm

If those particles are getting to the carb, there is a fuel filtration problem. I opened up my gas tank a few weeks ago, checking the sender, and saw little stuff in the bottom of the tank. Nothing the filter can't handle.... Heck, I've run my '69 mustang on 3 year old gas (yes Ric, E15). I went through 2 fuel filters to get it to keep running with all the crap that was in the fuel system. Other than very clogged filters, it's OK. I did pump the remaining gas out and ran through a strainer (very chuncky)... then ran it in my mower/yard equip.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2012 8:55 pm

ric wrote:

E10 is only dangerous to fiberglass gas tanks. It doesn't touch plastic or aluminum.

If I was told "the fuel tank breaking down" than I would be thinking twice about it, plastic or not. Plus, the rest of the fuel system may need to be looked at too. Remember, the E-10 come up in 2004, 13 to 14 years before this boat was in the planing stages. I could be wrong, but I would have it looked at for peace of mind.

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 5:28 am

E10 has nothing to do with anything. The only thing it will remove is the tarnish out of the tank if there was any. Methanol ie (gasohol) from the 1970's is what would strip into aluminum. Methanol is very corrosive. Ethanol, which is what we have now, is just grain made, much like Everclear, only stronger (199 proof) and they add drip gas to make it not for consumtion. Smells strong like tequila if you have every been around it before they add the drip gas.

I did alot of testing for the Corn Growers Association back in the 80's for racing applications as well as for the producers in the 1990's. The end result was Indy car. 100% baby :!:

Anyways, like I said, filter it out. I really doubt Four Winns made a boat with a Plastic fuel tank, I might be wrong, but I doubt it. Anyways, unless it's in direct sunlight, the plastic they use for fuel holds up for decades. It is all they have used in many applications forever.

If you really need an answer, pull your sender out of the tank and see how much it has deteriorated. Possiblility number one.
Most likely, someone either gave you some really crap gas with additive that went south, or someone put some in.
Filtering it out is the best answer.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:51 am

I do understand that, my "thing" is. Is that fuel tank breaking down as stated in the first posting? It's not my boat, but I would like to know. If it is, what is the cause?

My tank is 70gals. If that fuel just leaked out, I would hate to think what damage that would do to the boat.

I guess I will just have to wait and see!

www.iFourWinns.com

Fuel tank replacement

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