Old Gas

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I bought a old Bayliner with a 100 gallon tank. It was nice of them to leave me with a full tank, but I think the last time it was filled, was in 1985. Now the gas has a real bad varnish smell. Does anyone now how I can either refresh this stuff?

or find someone to dispose of it?

I know it will make a nice big fire!

Thanks guys, I just MAYFLOAT again.

 

[sony2001]

Re: Old Gas

PURGE the complete system! I haven't heard of anyone changing varnish back into gasoline.<br /><br />------------------

 

[sony2001]

Re: Old Gas

In an effort to be enviromently friendly I would store the gas for a later day. When the boat is runnig I would use maximum octane and<br />every refuelling add 10% old gas but ONLY if its been passed thru a heavy felt hat. It will separate the water,varnish,and many other things. Yes a felt hat! They are approved for aviation in the Great White North.<br /><br />------------------

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Old Gas

Thanks Sony, I knew those old drums of anti-icing fluid would come in handy. I use alot of gas around here and did think about diluting it. Thanks about the tip of the felt hat, I always wondered why my grandfather was bald!

 

[mbb]

Re: Old Gas

The rule generally is that if you can mix it at least 50-50 with fresh gas itll run ok. <br />Install a racor filter and run it thru that.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Old Gas

I have the same problem here,SS. I have 30+ gallons of fuel I removed from my small tanks over the last season. Due to my rule of thumb, 1 month in the tank, it gets drained. So now, I have this ****g-niegh full drum of old gas, just waiting for the next hazmat dump day (abt 2 times a year here in florida)...But with my bad back, I can't lift the dern thang!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Old Gas

Thanks for the help. I found a fire department that wanted it for their fire fighting practice. My next question is any suggestions on how to remove the crude in the tank. The tank is too big to remove from the boat. I think it was built into the boat during manufacture. The only access to the inside of the tank is through the sending unit. Thought about using nitrogen and or carbon dioxide to purge the old fumes out, then use a small shop vac to suck out the pile of debris. Of course the nitrogen or CO2 is to keep the shop vac from igniting the old fumes. Do you think that this would be the safest way?

 

[PBF]

Re: Old Gas

Whatever you do, don't pour the old gas on a pile of leaves and light it. When I tried it, leaves blew up 50 ft high, the neighbors dog cried, and my wife came running and was yelling something at me, but I could not understand her for all the ringing in my ears! And it was only a gallon of old fuel.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Old Gas

NO SHOP VAC! The risk of explosion is very high.And when it blows, it'll be just like a bomb. I did this years back. No injuries,but it's only a miracle there were none.<br /><br />To get the fluids out, use a chuck-pump.<br />For the debris, use an air compressor vacumm atatchment to draw it out. You can make one, but they do sell them at auto shops.

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Old Gas

MAYFLOAT, yer the best candidate for the darwin awards i have seen on these boards yet...

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Old Gas

Thanks for the input guys, finally got that pesky crap out of my tank. A friend told me to go see a welder that specializes in tank repair. What he did was put about 30 pounds of dry ice (CO2), added water, and of course the fog started emerging from the tank. He then took his plasma cutter and cut an acces panel on the top of the tank. He then welded an aluminum flange around the edge of the hole and fabricated a re-enforced cover. He told me that with the water and dry ice producing the fog would prevent it from exploding. He told me I was on the right line of using a non-flammable gas, but for the volume of the tank, dry ice needed to be used as a constant supply for CO2 and then the water is used to help melt the dry ice to produce more than enough to over come the explosive fumes. Thats how he did it. now I have a clean tank, and if it gets that way again, I just take out the bolts on the access cover and clean it out. Cost me $300 but I am in one piece and my boat is still in one piece. Thanks again. SS

 

[12Footer]

Re: Old Gas

I allways wondered how those guys welded holes up in diesel fuel tanks when I was on the road.<br />Now I know.

 

[MercilessMike]

Re: Old Gas

May use exHaust also, had frienD weld tank from motorcyle, just satreted up the old truck ran eXhaust hose into tank and welded, cant BELEIVE I AM STILL HERE.