(snip) from Phil But has anybody ever emptied a fuel tank and taken it out of service until they needed it for the next cruise? (endsnip) I saw no responses to this one so I thought I would jump in. If the tank is a diesel tank, then just fill it up. You will get minimal condensation, and the diesel will be good for years (I recently burned about 400 gallons of 15 year old diesel, ran great!). As far as atmospheric pressure damaging an empty tank with no vent . . . that is an interesting question . . . most fuel tanks cannot take more than 5psi inside without distortion or failure. Air testing on tanks should be restricted to 2psi maximum. I expect that they would be even more susceptible to vacuum (higher pressure outside than inside), but I am not recalling how to translate changes in barometric pressure to PSI at sea level . . . CUAgain, Daniel Meyer http://cuagain.manilasites.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Meyer, Danny" <DMeyer@dallasnews.com> > > If the tank is a diesel tank, then just fill it up. You will get minimal > condensation, and the diesel will be good for years (I recently burned about > 400 gallons of 15 year old diesel, ran great!). > Felicitations, I'd like to add one proviso to the estimable Mr. Meyer's advice. 15 years ago diesel was a lot more stable than today's hydro-cracked product. If you're going to leave diesel in the tank for long periods then you should invest in some sort of stabilizer additive. BTW: I have no opinion or knowledge about which stabilizer might be best. Additionally yours, Alex