2T or 4T Petrol?

[Stemar]

Is there a an easy way for a dummy to tell the difference?
There was a logical way to know which can was which until Dummy forgot to write it down and, a year or two later, He can't remember the system!

Also, how would you dispose of some aging petrol that might be 2T or 4T? Car's a common rail diesel, so I'm leery of putting it in the tank!

 

[PlankWalker]

try sticking thumb & forefinger into fuel, then shake hand about till petrol evaporates ,
If thumb and forefinger are bone dry, then its probably petrol.
Rub thumb and forefinger together and if they feel slightly oily, then its probably 2T.
What the petrol oil ratio is, your guess would be better than mine.

 

[RAI]

Doesn't 2 stroke oil carry a dye. Pour a bit into a jam jar. Straight petrol is nearly clear.

 

[Norman_E]

Most 2 stroke oil is either red or green so it should be easy to spot which is which if you pour a bit into a glass jar..

 

[Bru]

How much have you got? Cos if, as implied, it's a year or two old and there's only a few litres it's really not worth bothering, just dispose of it (preferably safely ) and start again

 

[Daydream believer]

Years ago I had my stuart turner out of my stella for refurbishment. I had taken the boat to store in my father's orchard whilst doing the work. When I put it back I wanted to empty the petrol tank. I drained it into a can- about 7 -10 litres worth.
. On the edge of my fathers orchard in a hedge & there were rabbits & a fox's earth. So he decide to pour the petrol down a main entrance hole & soak a rag with petrol.
He found a very long batten & wrapped the rag around the end. This all took a good 20 minutes & there was a light breeze.
The grass was about 6 inches long.
He lit the rag & using the batten, tossed it into the hole. He was standing about 15 feet away.
There was an almighty THRUMP as the fumes, that had blown down the hole ignited & a jet of flame about 4 ft high came out of the ground right between his legs. burning his trousers & making him jump in shock
It seems that the rabbits had dug an escape hole about 4 inches round & it was hidden in the grass exactly under where he stood.
So the moral of the story is ; do not stick the petrol down a rabbit hole & light it if you have not checked out all the exit holes first.
By the way, there were no rabbits at home.

 

[Stemar]

it's really not worth bothering, just dispose of it (preferably safely ) and start again

I'd do that, but my local recycling site doesn't take it, and the Southampton City website is a complete waste of space. It's only a few litres, <5, so the big companies won't be interested. I have to book the car in for a service and MOT after Easter, so I'll ask the garage.

 

[Graham376]

Just stick some 2 stroke oil in and use it in an outboard, at worst it will be 25:1 instead of 50:1.

 

[pessimist]

I'd do that, but my local recycling site doesn't take it, and the Southampton City website is a complete waste of space. It's only a few litres, <5, so the big companies won't be interested. I have to book the car in for a service and MOT after Easter, so I'll ask the garage.

Harbour authority? Here on the Dart they'll dispose of it for you.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I'd do that, but my local recycling site doesn't take it, and the Southampton City website is a complete waste of space. It's only a few litres, <5, so the big companies won't be interested. I have to book the car in for a service and MOT after Easter, so I'll ask the garage.

For that small an amount if it was me I'd just dig a hole in the back garden and pour it in - most of it will evaporate anyway...

 

[kieronriley]

roll up piece of tissue and dip into the tank , leave the tissue in the open(sunshine if possible)and wait a few mins. if the tissue is all the same colour then its very likely 4t as if it where 2t it would dry but leave its oil content on the tissue you will be able to see the different shade on the dipped part of the tissue, used this method for years and thus far it hasn't let me down

 

[WLane]

Make yourself a Benghazi burner. Just be careful

 

[Stemar]

Make yourself a Benghazi burner. Just be careful

My uncle had a variation on a theme of a Primus stove when I was a kid. He got rid of it PDQ after it got rid of his eyebrows.

 

[ibbo]

Lawnmowers will run on most stuff?

Mike

 

[fredrussell]

If it’s less than 5 litres just chuck it in with your diesel next time you fill car up. It’ll do no harm, common rail or not

 

[AntarcticPilot]

If it’s less than 5 litres just chuck it in with your diesel next time you fill car up. It’ll do no harm, common rail or not

Except that the ECU might decide that it doesn't like it and shut the engine down.

 

[fredrussell]

Except that the ECU might decide that it doesn't like it and shut the engine down.

Well that’s what I’ve always done with old petrol from boat. I’ve read a few times that less than three per cent petrol to diesel ratio won’t upset things. Mines a 2014 common rail diesel (Ford).

 

[Stemar]

Except that the ECU might decide that it doesn't like it and shut the engine down.

Maybe I should put it in the boat tank. I doubt a Beta 20 will care.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Well that’s what I’ve always done with old petrol from boat. I’ve read a few times that less than three per cent petrol to diesel ratio won’t upset things. Mines a 2014 common rail diesel (Ford).

I think it's one of those things that would be very engine specific, and what works on one make might not on another. VW diesels seem to be very sensitive, and shut down promptly if wrong fuel is detected.

 

[Momac]

Most 2 stroke oil is either red or green so it should be easy to spot which is which if you pour a bit into a glass jar..

Blue in the case of the stuff I have .
But yes I agree two stroke oil has a colour to it which is the easy way to tell whether oil has been added to the fuel.