Old petrol

[RutlandMike]

I've got several gallons of old petrol (two years +) in my rib tanks that I need to get rid of - or do I? Some say it goes off and others say it evaporates faster than it can go off so it's good regardless of age. If I do have to chuck it, where/how?

 

[JKay]

Dilute with fresh petrol and enjoy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

cheers Joe

 

[sarabande]

depends if there has been open access to atmosphere. If the tank has been fully closed (air breather too) then nothing will have evaporated. It may need shaking a bit to stir up any sedimenting of heavier fractions, but normal boat movement and use will do that.

However, if the tanks have been open, then SOME lighter fractions may have evaporated. Yes, mix in a bit of fresh petrol if you have any doubts.

 

[Iota]

mix with new or if in doubt drain and use in the car!!!

Iota

 

[mawm]

Use it in the lawn mower.

 

[philip_stevens]

Put in some fuel treatment liquid from an outboard shop and mix in some new petrol.

I'm using last years fuel that was in the remote tank in the outboard, and 2 years old 2stroke fuel in my petrol mower.

Outboard and mower quite happy.

At ADT + GBT + VAT (Alastair Darling Tax + Gordon Brown Tax), the last thing to do is get rid of it.

 

[steve_l]

As said above, if the container is sealed (eg spare can, remote tank with vent closed) then it will probably be ok. If the container is open (eg tank without closable vent) then it may not work.

I have perfect examples of this. My 4-stroke mower runs on 98oct. It wouldn't start with last year's fuel in the (open) tank. However when I emptied the tank and put in the same fuel from last year (kept in a closed can), it started first time.

Same experience with the petrol strimmer, although 2-stroke this time.

Mariner 4hp 2-stroke is just the same.

By the way, I run the carbs dry for winter storage to stop gumming up the jets.

-steve-

 

[bilbobaggins]

I suspect my 2-stroke strimmer has 'gummy jets'. Does anyone have a reliable method for clearing out the 'gummy substances'....? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[dnickj]

try some carb cleaner from halfords

 

[VicMallows]

In future, strim your edges more frequently ....... I never have a problem! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Vic

 

[RutlandMike]

Thanks all, I'll get some fresh and mix it up! I really didn't want to waste it. Cheers.