How old is too old?

[MrLundt]

My boat was last used in Summer of 2002. Winterized that fall and fuel stabilizer was added. I've already drained the tank so I can put fresh fuel in it but I have $45 worth of gas and would like to use it for something productive. If I mix 1:1 with fresh gas can I use it in a mower, gas trimmer, SUV? (I wouldn't dare use old gas in my boat but I'd risk it on the less important things like the car that gets me to work every day.) Should I use it to kill the weeds in my driveway? How long does a stabilizer lengthen the usefulness of gas? Maybe disposing of $45 worth of gas will save me $100's worth of problems. I can live with that, too.

 

[Don S]

Re: How old is too old?

2002 is old. It's junk. Treat it as such. Why do you want to contaminalte your other machines ??????

 

[miles917]

Re: How old is too old?

You could kill your weeds with it, just keep an eye out for the EPA inspector around the corner. Its probably better for the enviroment than most of the off the shelf weed killers. Go green (i can't believe i said that) and dispose of the gas properly.

 

[thumpar]

Re: How old is too old?

I use the old gas in my lawn mower.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: How old is too old?

I'd mix it down and put it in the lawnmower too. Don't know if I'd do it 1:1... Maybe 1:4.

You could put 1-2 gallons of it per tank in your cars/boat as well.

Or just use it for starting the 'ol BBQ

 

[mthieme]

Re: How old is too old?

I use old gas in the farm tractor. With a compression ratio of 5.33:1, I can burn kerosene, cheap beer, or drink whiskey and urinate in it!
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Seriously, dump it.

 

[4Winns2]

Re: How old is too old?

2002 is old. It's junk. Treat it as such. Why do you want to contaminalte your other machines ??????

I agree with Don. Kill some weeds with it. It's not worth it for $45 to take a chance.

Hey Don, I was hoping you'd offer your expertise on my Starting problem or seized engine thread going on now. I really respect your opinion. Sorry for the small hijack here.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: How old is too old?

You might be safe to use it if you diluted it maybe 5 or 10 to 1 (in the lawnmower)

Gasoline, when it sits around open to the atmosphere, loses all the "lower ends" I.E. all the normal & iso-butanes and pentanes all evaporate out leaving the much heavier stuff behind.

It would be sort of like trying to run your engine on kerosene or diesel. It just doesn't want to atomize in the carb. If you run high compression engines on a mixture of kerosene you sometimes get severe detonation at high power settings (like a holeshot). Aircraft engines that have been fueled with jet fuel (kerosene) have experienced catastophic engine failures immediately after takeoff.


Just use the stuff to kill the weeds, use it for cleaning solvent (outside) or otherwise get rid of it...