Disposing of old petrol

[beancounter]

I've got a small quantity(a couple of litres) of petrol left in a can from the outboard we had for our Wayfarer - so it's at least 10 years old.

We've just acquired an outboard for our tender, so I'll need some fuel for it.

So:

a) is the old fuel likely to be of any use?

or

b) How can I (safely) dispose of old petrol?

 

[Shanty]

Assuming you have a petrol powered car, I would be inclined to add your 2 litres of antique fuel to the car's full-ish tank, and then buy your new outboard some new fuel.

 

[beancounter]

No can do - we're diesel

 

[Twister_Ken]

>Assuming you have a petrol powered car, I would be inclined to add your 2 litres of antique fuel to the car's full-ish tank, and then buy your new outboard some new fuel. <

NO!!! The old stuff is possibly leaded, so putting it a modern car will poison the catalytic converter, resulting in an MOT failure and an expensive replacement.

Basically, it's junk. Use it light a Nov 5 bonfire, or dispose of it at a used oil place.

 

[Shanty]

Whoops - yes, you are quite right. I was forgetting about leaded fuel. I've used this technique for years, but never mixed leaded with catalytic converters.

 

[alldownwind]

In your lawnmower?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Use it light a Nov 5 bonfire

[/ QUOTE ] NO NO!! dont do that. It is very dangerous to light bonfires with petrol.

The waste oil places don't take petrol either (if they know about it).

Let it evaporate somewhere safely...non very green though.

Use it up very slowly mixed with fresh fuel in the lawnmower or the outboard.

 

[sarabande]

Use of Petrol for bonfires.

(See: nearest A&E locations and times, Home insurance, Sickness Benefit, Disablement.)

 

[bedouin]

[ QUOTE ]
Basically, it's junk. Use it light a Nov 5 bonfire, or dispose of it at a used oil place.

[/ QUOTE ]
Certainly DON'T try the first. If it has been stored in a well sealed container then it could still be extremely dangerous. Similarly I'm not sure about disposal with used oil - the volatile fractions will still evaporate and have the potential to cause an explosion.

 

[sarabande]

If you really want to set light to it, try a Benghazi Cooker.

Metal can about 20 litres, with the top fully removed.
Put sand (not earth) to within about 2 inches of the top.
Pour in 2 l of petrol.
Ignite by long stick.

(Trick from survival course in the Middle East about 35 years ago.)

In theory, the petrol all runs to the bottom of the container, leaving sufficient vapour at the top to sustain a steady flame for cooking. When that is burnt off, the underlying fuel evaporates to provide more flames.
Don't use wet sand.
The sand will get quite hot at the top, and may re-ignite any more fuel added.)

This is not without its dangers, but as an emergency form of heating and cooking in the cold desert at night, it was very practical.

 

[richardandtracy]

I've got rid of old petrol safely on a blowy day.
1) Pour fuel on a bed of sand in a baking tray, so that the level of the sand is deeper than the fuel.
2) Approaching from up wind, wearing gloves, light sand with a match or taper. It'll keep burning for ages with flames 2" high.

Make sure the day is blowy, as that'll keep the concentration of petrol fumes below an explosive level.

Regards

Richard.

 

[sarabande]

err, the approach from upwind can cause a backdraft which will remove your eybrows when the vapout is lit.

Prolly best lit from the side ? I agree about the wind.

 

[beancounter]

Jeez, what a bunch of pyromaniacs...

I was rather hoping someone would tell me that there was an equivalent of the "old engine oil disposal" facility somewhere.

 

[old_salt]

Just keep it in it's can as you have done so far and use it for washing parts in.
My workshop would not be complete without the can and try with paint brush for cleaning oily and dirty parts.

If you want to have some fun with it then an empty 40gal drum with the top removed 'essential' a fuel injector rigged to a fuel pump and a spark plug & coil with a old vac as a blower are the "beginnings" of a super garden bomb machine it makes a lot of noise. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I will leave you to work out how to put it all together.
It works much better than the Pulse jets sold on ebay.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>NO NO!! dont do that. It is very dangerous to light bonfires with petrol.<

If I'd known that when I was a kid, I wouldn't be here today!

 

[Poignard]

1. Contact your local council. It's hazardous waste and they should have some means of collecting it. Might cost you though!

2. Or you could gradually get rid of it by adding a little of it every time you fill up with new fuel. If it's been in a steel can you ought to filter it because it might have rust in it.

3. Or you could give it to me to put in my car.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
I've got a small quantity(a couple of litres) of petrol left in a can from the outboard we had for our Wayfarer - so it's at least 10 years old.

We've just acquired an outboard for our tender, so I'll need some fuel for it.

So:

a) is the old fuel likely to be of any use?

or

b) How can I (safely) dispose of old petrol?

[/ QUOTE ]

OK ... onto this old 'un again ...

Mix with fresh and use in Lawnmower ... any petrol engtine that is not catalytic converter fitted ... outboard, chainsaw, etc.

2 litres is not exactly going to do much is it !! My outboard on tender up until Nov. last year was running on 5 yr old stock !!

So each fill up I suggest a 5 good to 1 old or something like that ... (me - I'd mix old with similar quantity new ... possibly use a higher octane gasoline to mix it with ... to offset light ends lost ...)

Throw away ... why ? By now any gums / sed's etc. would have dropped out !! Just don't shake can when pouring of bulk ... maybe leave a little in bottom to swill round to lift loose gum etc. in bottom - then throw on unlit bonfire ... then throw match at bonnie !!

I appreciate people advocate safe practices and all that .... but it's funny how society survived isn't it !! Fertilizer bombs, petrol lighting fires, old oil in drums buurnt off ... etc. Ecological disasters maybe ...

 

[gandy]

I've used old petrol (with or without two-stroke oil) in a Diesel car before. Only a litre or so added into a fullish tank.

 

[old_salt]

[ QUOTE ]
>NO NO!! dont do that. It is very dangerous to light bonfires with petrol.<

If I'd known that when I was a kid, I wouldn't be here today!

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Yep done that we used to get a tea chest fill it with the straw shavings you used to be able to get set up a can with a piece of string to pull it over chuck in a fairy light as thats all we thought they where worth for lighting the fire then pull the string and wooooooof up would go the bonfire in one go.
One year we used an open top can of petrol and decided to pull the lighting firework in with a length of string and of course it all went up as the burning firework approached the bonfire very spectacular.
But kids to day would NEVER be allowed to do these dangerous things what a shame they miss out on so much to day.

 

[Graham_Wright]

I emptied my old fuel tank into a bucket prior to removing the tank. The bucket was left on the (deserted) quayside whilst wresting the tank out of the stern locker.

By the time I came to wondering what to do with the bucket contents, they had all evaporated.

(You are a lot of spoilsports with the bonfire issue.

I added a small canful of petrol to a stack of bush trimmings and then threw a lighted match in.

It was one of the most "useful' experiences of my life.)