Bad Gas

Threean2

Recruit
Joined
Apr 11, 2002
Messages
3
Hello Gang,<br /> I'm new to this forum....Have 250 gallons of gasoline sitting in my boat (twin Yamaha's) for "6" years. What do you suggest I do besides cry ? I'm concerned about the powerhead. Are there any proven additives that can be added so I can run it out ? <br />Thanks in advance! Threean2
 

62_Kiwi

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jan 20, 2002
Messages
1,159
Re: Bad Gas

250 gallons of 6 year old gas !! :eek: <br /><br />The gas will need to be disposed of professionally. There are businesses which specialise in the disposal of this type of hazardous waste, chemicals etc - your local gas station should be able to put you on to someone.<br /><br />Your tank, fuel lines and motors will probably need extensive cleaning out etc. I'll leave it to someone more qualified to explain more about this...
 

DaveM

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 27, 2002
Messages
308
Re: Bad Gas

6 years? Oh, man, you're doomed. Maybe there is a miracle product that can bring gas back from varnish, but I am not aware of one (there are plenty here that know more than I).<br /><br />Everywhere I go I hear talk about the poor quality of gas these days. For example, the marina's machanic said to use stablizer if the gas is going to sit more than 3 days. Even the Home Depot sales folks said to do the same for lawn mowers.<br /><br />Being the miser that I am, I would try dumping the gas into a 1/2 empty tank of my vehicle and seeing if I could burn it up that way. I guess the other option would be to wait until fall to help a farmer burn his fields.<br /><br />Good luck,<br /><br />J. Cool
 

Kenny Bush

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 24, 2002
Messages
564
Re: Bad Gas

Man I feel your pain. Bought an offshore rig off an estate sale last summer and the boat had been sitting 5 years with 150 gallons. I first was going to drain it out and dispose of it, but after the first 50 gallons came out, it smelled like gas(no turpentine smell) but looked almost orange. anyway I drained all of it into 3 barrels. I filled the boat up with fresh juice, changed the water filter/seperator and went on my way. I have had several bad gas situations and the fuel was so foul, or seperated, or turpentined, that you pretty much knew it was bad, but this fuel smelled as if it would burn ok. Anyway I started putting it in the truck, jeep, then pwc's and poof it was gone, with no adverse effects. I did not use it in the boat, because the outboards only had 30 hours on them and I was not going to risk it. Anyway the fuel was not a waste. Good luck...........
 

humblechoice

Seaman
Joined
Feb 12, 2002
Messages
66
Re: Bad Gas

there is an additive called "restore" you can buy it from boat us , west marine or boaters world, and it does what it says it restores old gas, the problem is I don't know about that much gas, The real problem is was the engine winterized before it was put up for all that time, if not the varnish is in the lines, pump,carb and elsewhere plus the carb should be taken off and cleaned evan if it was stored correctly.<br /> I speak from experience. :)
 

nickster

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 11, 2001
Messages
136
Re: Bad Gas

Threean2<br /><br /> Hello! and welcome to the board. I would not run that gas trough my motors if a person had paid me. That much fuel and sitting that long you could never restore that amount. I would drain what fuel that is in the carbs out and sray them full with power tune, with drain plugs back in let set for about 1hr drain power tune. spray again with power tune let set for about another hour then run the motors with a good known foel supply portable tanks work great for this and run them. This might not be your only problems though either. You will need to inspect the lower unit oil,and that doesn't mean that the carbs aren't too bad off and that the fuel pump isn't dried out. These motors should have a water pump put in them if they have set that long and if there is any water in the lower units they will need to be resealed.<br /> Now as far as getting rid of the fuel several places do that. Just finding them. Our Marine does it and we are also in the tristate area I just don't know what it would cost you, but we would drop your fuel out for you and even service your boat for you if that is what you would like. <br /><br /> We are located at!<br /> Indian Lake, Ohio<br /> Prop Shop Marine<br /> 937-842-4797<br /><br /> Nick
 

Threean2

Recruit
Joined
Apr 11, 2002
Messages
3
Re: Bad Gas

Hello Gang,<br /> Thanks for all the advise. The engines are 89's, and only have 100 hours on them. They were winterized (fogged out) in 86. Because I can't find the time to use my boat, I'm gona sell her. I had a marina service the motors last week, water pumps, tune up, carb service (x6), stats, filters, etc. They were not equipped to pump out the gas! Additives were suggested, but I don't trust it. I wanted to see if there were any alternatives ! Thanks
 
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