Stop Storing a Full Tank: The New Rule for Boat Fuel

For years, boaters were told to store their boats with a full tank of gas during the off-season. But with today’s ethanol-blended fuels, that advice has changed. The new best practice? Run your fuel tank as low as possible before storage.

Here’s why: modern fuel contains high levels of ethanol, which gives it a short shelf life. By the time boating season rolls around again, that old gas will have degraded — and running bad fuel through your engine can cause serious damage.

Ethanol also attracts moisture through the fuel vent system, raising the water content in your tank and leading to corrosion or performance issues.

Our best advice? Don’t put the boat away too soon! Take it out for one more cruise and burn through that last tank of gas before storage.

For any leftover fuel you can’t burn off before storage, it’s essential to treat it with a quality stabilizer like Mercury Quickstor. This product keeps your remaining fuel fresh, protects your fuel system from ethanol-related issues, and ensures your engine is ready to run smoothly when the season starts again.

🛒 Shop Mercury Quickstor on our website and get your boat ready for next season today!