Fuel and Oil longevity question

[nwcove]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

with all do respect...that discoloration is not scum of any kind, the " shine" was removed from the paint from the water line down. and yes, the small little spritzes of water that landed on me had a sting....i didnt pay much attention to that, but it was what it was. no high calcium in the water here....iron is high tho.
bottom line.....why risk running a boat on questionable fuel, boating has inherant risks that shouldnt come down to "what ifs".

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

the real answer is "go with sails" Be green.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

5 gallons of 3 year old mixed gas/oil isn't worth the time, mess or risk to try to test, clean, proof or salvage, and also not worth the risk to use it.

No one can say as a matter of fact whether this particular batch is bad, but despite Willie's "10 year old gas is fine" opinion, experience says the odds are good that it will cause problems.

Some marinas have an oil dump. Auto junk yards often take old gas, for free or for a fee. Many city/county landfills or garbage processing plants also take hazmats; some restrict the amount and some require you to be a resident.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

The problem with Anecdotal stories it that they raise more questions than they answer.

How was the Acid formed? Was it an Acid at all? Could it have been an alkali?
Could it have been any other cause? What was the source of all that Sulfur?
Was your burning a reaction to an acid or just gasoline, or something else?
Acid Dehydrates skin. Skin Excessively dry?
The discoloration could have been causes by a multitude of processes.
There are lots of questions without answers. Without answers, there is no knowledge, just untested assumptions.

"Well then, If it wasn't caused by Sulphuric Acid in the old Fuel, Then what was it!", is NOT an answer!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

No one can say as a matter of fact whether this particular batch is bad, but despite Willie's "10 year old gas is fine" opinion, experience says the Odds Are good that it will cause problems.

Absolutely True!
I am not claiming it it Good. Just that it is not automatically Bad!

At least give it a cursory test.
If it is clear, Smells like gas, and will not form a "Head", the Odds are, that it will not cause a problem.
Especially it you top off the tank with fresh gas.

 

[elrod]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

Question- what would be the harm in just dumping 5 or less gallons in my old Dodge Ram pickup?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

Guess you could also just dump it in your old West Bend outboard.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

Question- what would be the harm in just dumping 5 or less gallons in my old Dodge Ram pickup?

depends--what color is the pick-up?

 

[Bubbasboat]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

Might smoke a little as there is oil mixed in it. If it's an old diesel, might work! OK, it's all yours, when do you want to pick it up????

Question- what would be the harm in just dumping 5 or less gallons in my old Dodge Ram pickup?

 

[Bubbasboat]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

Well, today I had the chance to go give this test a try. Most interesting results;

1. It was as clear as clear gets with a very pretty shade of blue/green from the 2 cycle oil.

2. When I shook it, it definitely created a "head", better than on some beers I've been served! The bulk of the head disappeared after 4 to 5 seconds. The lions share was gone after 20 seconds, with the remainder of the head being totally gone (no bubbles at all) after 35 seconds.

Photo's attached;



Should all the "head" be gone after 5 seconds?

Oil is Good.

Pull a sample of the gas and half fill a jar with it.
If it is cloudy/milky, No Good!

If it is clear, Shake the jar vigorously.
If the foamy "Head" disappears in under 5 seconds, I would use it.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

According to my Empirical Testing, I would say that is between Marginally and Definitely Bad!
Fresh straight gas looses its "Head" completely in under 5 seconds.
I have seen straight "Bad" gas take over two minutes to totally De-Head.
I also have a sample of what looks to be 4:1 Gas/Oil that will Not Foam.

For comparison sake and to verify my "Head" Theory,
Mix up a gallon of fresh 50:1 for comparison purposes.
I have not performed the "Head" test on many oil mixes.
Your particular brand of Oil may be the cause of the head instead of the Aged Gas.

Compare the Head Time of the Fresh Mix to the Old. Now you have a baseline to compare to.
Then mix some of the the New sample with the Old, and see if it makes a marked improvement.
If "Dilution is the Solution to the Pollution"; You now have a Resolution!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fuel and Oil longevity question

Or go boating instead.