Water enters boat fuel tanks through condensation, worn fuel cap O-rings, or contaminated dockside gas pumps. Because water is heavier than gasoline, it settles at the bottom of your tank and gets drawn directly into the fuel lines.
Protect your engine from contaminated fuel with these proactive steps:
- Inspect Your Fuel-Water Separator Monthly: Drain the clear sight bowl on your 10-micron fuel-water separator into a glass jar. Fuel will float above the water, making contamination immediately visible. If water is present, drain the filter completely or replace the filter element.
- Inspect the Fuel Fill O-Ring: Check the rubber seal inside your deck fuel cap. Dry, cracked, or missing O-rings allow rainwater and deck washdown water to leak directly into the fuel tank.
- Treat Stored Fuel: Fuel containing ethanol absorbs moisture from humid marine air (phase separation). Use a high-quality marine fuel stabilizer with every fill-up if the boat sits idle for more than two weeks.
