How to protect from Ethanol Phase Separation in Bertram Fiberglass Gas Tanks with E-10 Gasoline?

Question

Hi, I have a 1985 Bertram 30 with a 220 Gallon Fiberglass Tank. As we approach the end of the season in the Northeast, we now have to start planning for Winterization. A standard procedure for Winterization over the years was to fill up your tanks with Gasoline before winter storage to cut down on water/condensation. That was before this Ethanol fiasco! Now if we have phase separation in the E-10 Gas, the Ethanol can eat away at the fiberglass resin in the tanks and also leave deposits in the Heads of the engine.

I have been treating the fuel with Startron for the past year.

What should I do this Winter? Should I fill up the tank with Startron treated fuel or should I leave 1/2 or even less than of tank of Startron treated fuel?

Answer 1

You have 2 choices really. You can fill it up and treat it  or you should empty it entirely and run your engine out of gas also. If you leave it any other way you invite trouble. Ethanol will pull moisture out of the air and into the tank also giving you troubles. We have had ethanol for a few years in the northeast now so if you have not had trouble yet you should be fine leaving it full and treating it. Good luck.