Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Boating > Boat Repairs & Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-20-2013, 09:26 PM   #1
bigdog
Senior Member
 
bigdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central MA-Gilford
Posts: 1,409
Thanks: 304
Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts
Default Gas disposal?

I need to drain all the gas in my boat tank. The tank is below the deck, and hold about 35 gallons. Half the tank's gas is about 18 mo old. I performed a test on the gas and there's definitely a large ethanol phase separation.

That said, my plan is to pump out all the gas, and start with fresh.
Now the question is 'what do I do with 35 gal of gas' ?

I have discussed with various marinas around the lake, and they've said they
would pump out the tank at their standard hourly rate, plus the cost of gas disposal. They're quoting me disposal cost per gallon, anywhere
between $8-9 per gallon ! This is ridiculous!

If I do the math that would cost me $280-325+/- just for the gas disposal, plus the cost to pump-out.

Does anyone on the Forum know where I could dispose of this amount of gas at a reasonable cost?

Thanks,
Bigdog
bigdog is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2013, 06:42 AM   #2
Kamper
Senior Member
 
Kamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,295
Thanks: 67
Thanked 165 Times in 125 Posts
Default

Put an ad in Craigslist. People will take it for their lawn-mowers and such. If you want to be nice you can drain out the first few gallons because that will have the most crap in it. I don't know what you are going to do with that. Maybe use it to start your bonfires - a little at a time!

Good luck!
Kamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2013, 07:02 AM   #3
fatlazyless
Senior Member
 
fatlazyless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,506
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 291
Thanked 950 Times in 692 Posts
Default

Find someone with a flex fuel vehicle like a Ford Escape and offer to give it to them for free, and toss in a 20-dollar tip just to be a good guy.

Maybe you want to google "flexible fuel vehicles in the United States-Wikipedia".
__________________
... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!
fatlazyless is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2013, 08:34 PM   #4
chipj29
Senior Member
 
chipj29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bow
Posts: 1,874
Thanks: 521
Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts
Default

If the fuel has indeed separated, I would not use it in any vehicle, period. That is just asking for trouble.

With that said, I would ask your local auto mechanic if they have a way to dispose of the bad fuel.
__________________
Getting ready for winter!
chipj29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2013, 08:23 AM   #5
no-engine
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: West side Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region
Posts: 516
Thanks: 20
Thanked 52 Times in 40 Posts
Default

I think State or DOT or environmental protection agency would be a place to inquire.
Various town recycling stations have hazardous waste days. However, they are designed for general household waste of paints electrical appliances, etc.

Make some calls.
no-engine is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 06-25-2013, 08:39 AM   #6
fatlazyless
Senior Member
 
fatlazyless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,506
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 291
Thanked 950 Times in 692 Posts
Default ...two-stroke outboards?

...how's this sound.....add a 13-dollar gallon of brite red www.marvelmysteryoil.com from walmart to your thirty five gallon, old-bad-gas mix just to strengthen the brew .... and then give it all away to boaters with two-stroke outboards .... I betcha a two-stroke outboard could run good on this stuff .... putt-putt-putt! ... and run a classified ad for free gas suitable* for two-strokes?

You know the Marine Patrol in Gilford runs a lot of 150-hp two-stroke Mercury outboards and they have a full time boat mechanic....so maybe he would take it all for MP use if it is free? Anyway, you could ask him what he thinks about running this stuff through a two-stroke.
__________________
... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!
fatlazyless is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2013, 10:05 AM   #7
dippasan
Senior Member
 
dippasan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Hooksett NH and Sleepers Isl
Posts: 380
Thanks: 272
Thanked 160 Times in 73 Posts
Default

Check with the transfer station in your town if you have one.
I know that the transfer station in my town takes old fuel and stores it in 55 gal drums. It eventually gets picked up for disposal/recycling. I brought in about 15 gallons one time that I had pumped out of my boat. No charge!
__________________
Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity
dippasan is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to dippasan For This Useful Post:
bigdog (06-25-2013)
Old 06-25-2013, 02:57 PM   #8
chipj29
Senior Member
 
chipj29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bow
Posts: 1,874
Thanks: 521
Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatlazyless View Post
...how's this sound.....add a 13-dollar gallon of brite red www.marvelmysteryoil.com from walmart to your thirty five gallon, old-bad-gas mix just to strengthen the brew .... and then give it all away to boaters with two-stroke outboards .... I betcha a two-stroke outboard could run good on this stuff .... putt-putt-putt! ... and run a classified ad for free gas suitable* for two-strokes?

You know the Marine Patrol in Gilford runs a lot of 150-hp two-stroke Mercury outboards and they have a full time boat mechanic....so maybe he would take it all for MP use if it is free? Anyway, you could ask him what he thinks about running this stuff through a two-stroke.
This is the worst advice ever. A 2-stroke motor is more prone to cause engine damage from bad gas than a 4-stroke. I have seen it first hand.
__________________
Getting ready for winter!
chipj29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-25-2013, 07:24 PM   #9
Cal
Senior Member
 
Cal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Pitman , NJ
Posts: 627
Thanks: 40
Thanked 21 Times in 12 Posts
Default

I had back surgery may of 2012 that had my boat shrinkwrapped from 10/11 till 5/13 with over 100 gallons of E10 gas. I topped the tank off and it only took 24 gallons. Well, I had it out last weds and the sat. before that and it ran fine. Ran about 50 miles and alls well. So if you can't unload your gas add a can or two of dry gas and go for it! My two 540s sucked up that 87 octane gas and never even burped
__________________
Paddle faster , I think I here banjos
Cal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2013, 02:18 PM   #10
codeman671
Senior Member
 
codeman671's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,343
Thanks: 206
Thanked 759 Times in 443 Posts
Default

I took gas out of a wakeboard boat that got water in the tank and burned it in my vehicle. It did not like it, but with a few bottles of dry gas dumped in it was fine.

I have used it to start campfires as well, although I am sure someone will flame me for it!
codeman671 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2013, 09:36 PM   #11
upthesaukee
Senior Member
 
upthesaukee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Alton Bay
Posts: 5,544
Blog Entries: 2
Thanks: 2,393
Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts
Default No flamethrowing here.....but...

Quote:
I have used it to start campfires as well, although I am sure someone will flame me for it!
I did not read thatand I am sure you are carefulbut I did not read thatand don't want to know about itso I did not read that.
__________________
I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!
upthesaukee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 04:55 AM   #12
ApS
Senior Member
 
ApS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro
Posts: 5,781
Thanks: 2,080
Thanked 735 Times in 530 Posts
Lightbulb ...'Better than a Fire-Starter!

Quote:
Originally Posted by chipj29 View Post
This is the worst advice ever. A 2-stroke motor is more prone to cause engine damage from bad gas than a 4-stroke.
I have seen it first hand.
...'might have missed the part of FLL's suggestion of adding Marvel Mystery Oil—an amazing HD additive—as U. S. Navy folks will tell you.

ApS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 07:38 AM   #13
chipj29
Senior Member
 
chipj29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bow
Posts: 1,874
Thanks: 521
Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ApS View Post
...'might have missed the part of FLL's suggestion of adding Marvel Mystery Oil—an amazing HD additive—as U. S. Navy folks will tell you.

I am sure it is great stuff, but I am not sure that it can bring old separated fuel back to life. Personally I wouldn't trust it, but that's me.
__________________
Getting ready for winter!
chipj29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2013, 08:57 AM   #14
ishoot308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,907
Thanks: 2,279
Thanked 4,924 Times in 1,906 Posts
Default Marvel Won't Help

Quote:
Originally Posted by chipj29 View Post
I am sure it is great stuff, but I am not sure that it can bring old separated fuel back to life.
It can't...once fuel has phase separated there is no bringing it back, it's junk and should be discarded.
__________________
It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!
ishoot308 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
chipj29 (06-28-2013)
Old 06-27-2013, 09:09 AM   #15
fatlazyless
Senior Member
 
fatlazyless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,506
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 291
Thanked 950 Times in 692 Posts
Default

....mystery oil is brite red, smells like peppermint, and looks like red wine....engines loves the stuff except it does not mix with synthetics... ?
__________________
... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!
fatlazyless is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 07:33 AM   #16
bigdog
Senior Member
 
bigdog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Central MA-Gilford
Posts: 1,409
Thanks: 304
Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts
Default Gas disposal?

Just found out my town's DPW will be having 2 hazardous waste removal days over the summer, and will take gas, any quantity, no questions asked ! Also found a DPW employee who will take my gas, no questions, and says he will burn in his farm tractor.
Until I can discard the gas by one of the methods just described, going to continue to use my auxiliary gas tank, as it seem to work fine!

Speaking of which.........
After recently running the boat, I put back on trailer, and dragged back to storage facility. Several days later, I went back to the boat to check on some things...... I picked up the auxiliary gas tank, and it was empty ! It should has still had at least 2/3 gas left in tank! I told the storage facility manager about this, and they said it may have been stolen, as earlier in the season, another boat owner reported stolen gas, and electronics off his boat.

OK, stolen gas.... Can understand why someone doing that with the cost of gas ....
But why didn't the thief just tank the tank and all ? A thief with principals ?

Anyway was talking to my local marine tech, and happened to mention about what I though a gas theft. He asked me if my OB engine was tilted in the 'up' position? I always store engine in this position, so do most other folks.
He stated that the gas could have actually drained out through the engine as a result of a possible stuck needle valve in one of the carbs? He said he's seen this happen before. Now I'm talking a VERY knowledgeable marine tech, with a well respected name
in the lakes region, who really knows his stuff !

I've never heard of gas leakage in this manner? Is this possible?
So if this is true, then placing the engine in the 'down' position would not have drained the gas? Doesn't make sense to me?

Assuming I do have a stuck needle valve in carb? How does one 'unstick'? Seafoam? FYI, I previously cleaned all 4 carbs with carb spray cleaner thoroughly, short of taking carbs out of engine.

Last.......
NTS, when one buys a used boat, do all your homework first, and get a qualified marine tech to assess, before making the purchase.

Should have held on to last boat, as I worked all the bugs out of that one before I sold it !

Thanks for your feedback as always.......

Bigdog
bigdog is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-04-2013, 09:58 AM   #17
Kamper
Senior Member
 
Kamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,295
Thanks: 67
Thanked 165 Times in 125 Posts
Default

I had a lawn tractor that drained out after the floats were compromised. Rebuilding carbs is an easy job, if needed.
Kamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2013, 08:00 PM   #18
Rich
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Derry / Gilford
Posts: 1,218
Thanks: 66
Thanked 341 Times in 231 Posts
Default

I just took out about 47 gals of gas from one of my two tanks.

My mechanic said he didn't think it was phase separation, but just water.

I removed the gas, and had almost 2.5 gals of water. Now I have removed the water and have all the gas in about 10 5 gallon gas cans. It was easy to remove the water once the gas was out of the boat's fuel tank.

So how does one test for phase separation?

If the gas I have is good, then i can use it in my car.

Of course, I still haven't figured out how I got water in just ONE tank. I know where I purchased that load of gas, but still, how did I get it in one tank and not the other? Of course it could have been a loose gas cap, or bad o-ring, but I doubt it as I double check these all the time. It could be from my cleaning that side of the boat too vigorously as that is the dock side.

So, how does one test the gas for phase separation to know if it's good or not?
__________________
Don't listen to me, obviously I don't understand what I'm talking about!
Let's help each other save time and money: WinniGas.com
Rich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2013, 08:07 PM   #19
HellRaZoR004
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Litchfield/Gilford
Posts: 828
Thanks: 233
Thanked 224 Times in 131 Posts
Default

Rich - I'm not sure but I'm curious as to why you checked, were the engines not running right?
HellRaZoR004 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2013, 08:32 PM   #20
Rich
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Derry / Gilford
Posts: 1,218
Thanks: 66
Thanked 341 Times in 231 Posts
Default

Yes, my starboard engine wasn't running right about a week after buying some fuel.

The mechanic took out the fuel filter and checked it in a clear glass container and found it about 1/2 full of water. After two or three more filters worth of water, he looked at the gas and it looked clear, but there was plenty of water.

I hand pumped out the gas through the fuel level sender port using a tube to be sure to suck the fuel from the bottom of the tank and ended up with about 47 gallons of water.

I then used some black food coloring to tint the water in the gas cans, which made it very easy to siphon it out of the gas cans. Now I have separated the gas from the water.

Next thing I'm trying to do is to find out how useful the remaining gas is. I have about 45 gallons of it sitting in 5 gal cans. Want to buy some? LOL
__________________
Don't listen to me, obviously I don't understand what I'm talking about!
Let's help each other save time and money: WinniGas.com
Rich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2013, 11:52 AM   #21
Kamper
Senior Member
 
Kamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,295
Thanks: 67
Thanked 165 Times in 125 Posts
Default

My 2cents:

Let it settle in the cans for a few more days then siphon out any water that goes to the bottom. It will probably be okay for anything but add in some stabilser and use in your lawn equipment. If no issues there, add in a gallon or two to your other vehicles' tanks until it's all gone.

Good luck!
Kamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2013, 02:36 PM   #22
Rich
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Derry / Gilford
Posts: 1,218
Thanks: 66
Thanked 341 Times in 231 Posts
Default

Yes, this is my plan!

If you ever have to do this, adding the black food coloring (about 10 drops in each 5 gallon gas can) made it VERY easy to spot the water on the bottom, so you know exactly what you need to siphon off.

The black food coloring (or any other dark color) only combined with the water on the bottom. It didn't combine with the gasoline at all. It sure made the job of separating/removing the water very easy.
__________________
Don't listen to me, obviously I don't understand what I'm talking about!
Let's help each other save time and money: WinniGas.com
Rich is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Rich For This Useful Post:
Kamper (07-23-2013), trfour (07-24-2013)
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.20771 seconds