...getting rid of old gasoline?

fatlazyless · 05-23-2007, 12:06 PM

Am stuck with about one gallon of three year+ old gasoline with two-stroke oil mixed in. It looks and smells like today's regular three dollar gasoline except it cost half that much and I am reluctant to mix it in with about twenty gallons of fresh gas and use it up in a pickup truck. Have been told somewhere it can damage the oxygen sensor, or something.

So, how do I use it up or discard it?

Is it usable in a one cylinder, four-stroke lawn mower or in a two-stroke weed wacker?

Does the tranfer station ever accept it?

jrc · 05-23-2007, 12:17 PM

It won't hurt a 4 stroke lawn mower, it might smoke a little, worst case it might foul the plug. The weed wacker would be OK if the oil to gas ratio is about the same.

I would not put it in a modern car or truck, too many things to go wrong.

codeman671 · 05-23-2007, 01:26 PM

Probably not an answer that most will approve of, but we use our old gas on our bonfires/campfires to help get them going. A little at a time of course. I have a gallon that came out of my generator that was bad and I used it up over the last few weekends this way.

offmycloud · 05-23-2007, 02:04 PM

Be careful if you use gasoline to start bonfires, especially large ones. That stuff can vaporize in the pile and explode when lit. Now that I have kids I stick to charcoal lighter fluid or kerosene for all bonfires - gasoline is really unstable. I wouldn't mess with it.

Sunbeam lodge · 05-23-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offmycloud

Be careful if you use gasoline to start bonfires, especially large ones. That stuff can vaporize in the pile and explode when lit. Now that I have kids I stick to charcoal lighter fluid or kerosene for all bonfires - gasoline is really unstable. I wouldn't mess with it.

As unstable as the gas price!

JTA · 05-23-2007, 06:11 PM

If you decide to use the gas in another 2 cycle engine, make sure that your oil/gas ratio is the same. If your boat gas is 50/1, a weed wacker could be 16/1. Big difference.
I've had the same question about discarding gas (but haven't sought out an answer). I would think that a marina would know as they often deal with contaminated gas.
PLEASE DON'T USE THE GAS AROUND A FIRE!

chipj29 · 05-24-2007, 07:14 AM

If you put one gallon in your cars gas tank, mixed with regular gas I hardly see the risk. At very worst you have about 4 or 5 oz of oil mixed in with ~20 gallons of gas. Very very diluted (more than 600:1).

Kamper · 05-24-2007, 08:45 AM

I'd filter it and use it in the lawnmower. Boat 2/s oil is formulated differently from tool oil and can make a mess so you may not want to use it in a weed-wacker or chain saw.

When using gas to light a fire I pour a little at the bottom with the tinder and kindling. A dab will do you. Use a long match to light it if you can.

I know someone who was burning brush (in the winter fortunatly!) and spread a gallon under a large log. It did vaporise quite a bit and ignited with a perecptable WHUMP! His neighbor felt it inside his house apx 100 yards away and thought his furnace had malfunctionned.

Good luck!

Weirs guy · 05-24-2007, 11:14 AM

I've got about 2 gallons of straight gas & water from a leaky gas tank a few years back under my porch. Anyone with a bonfire pile felling saucy?

Fishy Cover · 05-24-2007, 12:03 PM

Put it in a shallow open container like a baking pan or gallon milk jug cut in half, leave it in the sun and you'll be pleased at how quickly it evaporates, leaving a gooey residue because the oil will not evaporate.

codeman671 · 05-24-2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

I've got about 2 gallons of straight gas & water from a leaky gas tank a few years back under my porch. Anyone with a bonfire pile felling saucy?

I'll be over!

Electric man · 05-24-2007, 07:35 PM

Find a gas station or machine shop that uses old oil burning equipment to heat their building. They may take it and burn it in there heating system.
I don't know if they are used in NH but in Mass there are quite a few places that do.

Gavia immer · 05-24-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Does the tranfer station ever accept it?

Give them a call. Transfer stations accept used oil, though waiting for an "amnesty day" for hazardous waste may be an option.

dpg · 05-30-2007, 06:02 AM

Adding it (at a very thin ratio) will be ok in a car - about 1/4 of a gallon per fillup, I've done this many times. As mentioned earlier the ratio would be so small it wouldn't be noticable. I mean I would not do it every fillup forever but once in awhile to get rid of a gallon or so is fine. If your nervous about doing this in a car the same holds true in a mower.

Oh ya, just my .02 please don't call me if you ruin your engine.

But seriously, I've done it before.

05-23-2007, 12:06 PM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	...getting rid of old gasoline? Am stuck with about one gallon of three year+ old gasoline with two-stroke oil mixed in. It looks and smells like today's regular three dollar gasoline except it cost half that much and I am reluctant to mix it in with about twenty gallons of fresh gas and use it up in a pickup truck. Have been told somewhere it can damage the oxygen sensor, or something. So, how do I use it up or discard it? Is it usable in a one cylinder, four-stroke lawn mower or in a two-stroke weed wacker? Does the tranfer station ever accept it?

05-23-2007, 01:26 PM	#3
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,360 Thanks: 209 Thanked 764 Times in 448 Posts	Probably not an answer that most will approve of, but we use our old gas on our bonfires/campfires to help get them going. A little at a time of course. I have a gallon that came out of my generator that was bad and I used it up over the last few weekends this way. Last edited by codeman671; 05-23-2007 at 04:01 PM.

05-23-2007, 06:11 PM	#6
JTA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fort Pierce, Florida Posts: 233 Thanks: 33 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	gas/oil mix If you decide to use the gas in another 2 cycle engine, make sure that your oil/gas ratio is the same. If your boat gas is 50/1, a weed wacker could be 16/1. Big difference. I've had the same question about discarding gas (but haven't sought out an answer). I would think that a marina would know as they often deal with contaminated gas. PLEASE DON'T USE THE GAS AROUND A FIRE!

05-24-2007, 11:14 AM	#9
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I've got about 2 gallons of straight gas & water from a leaky gas tank a few years back under my porch. Anyone with a bonfire pile felling saucy? __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

05-24-2007, 12:03 PM	#10
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 9 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Evaporate it Put it in a shallow open container like a baking pan or gallon milk jug cut in half, leave it in the sun and you'll be pleased at how quickly it evaporates, leaving a gooey residue because the oil will not evaporate.

05-23-2007, 12:17 PM	#2
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	It won't hurt a 4 stroke lawn mower, it might smoke a little, worst case it might foul the plug. The weed wacker would be OK if the oil to gas ratio is about the same. I would not put it in a modern car or truck, too many things to go wrong.

05-23-2007, 02:04 PM	#4
offmycloud Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago IL and Moultonborough Posts: 165 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Be careful if you use gasoline to start bonfires, especially large ones. That stuff can vaporize in the pile and explode when lit. Now that I have kids I stick to charcoal lighter fluid or kerosene for all bonfires - gasoline is really unstable. I wouldn't mess with it.

05-24-2007, 07:14 AM	#7
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	If you put one gallon in your cars gas tank, mixed with regular gas I hardly see the risk. At very worst you have about 4 or 5 oz of oil mixed in with ~20 gallons of gas. Very very diluted (more than 600:1).

05-24-2007, 08:45 AM	#8
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,296 Thanks: 67 Thanked 166 Times in 126 Posts	I'd filter it and use it in the lawnmower. Boat 2/s oil is formulated differently from tool oil and can make a mess so you may not want to use it in a weed-wacker or chain saw. When using gas to light a fire I pour a little at the bottom with the tinder and kindling. A dab will do you. Use a long match to light it if you can. I know someone who was burning brush (in the winter fortunatly!) and spread a gallon under a large log. It did vaporise quite a bit and ignited with a perecptable WHUMP! His neighbor felt it inside his house apx 100 yards away and thought his furnace had malfunctionned. Good luck!

05-24-2007, 07:35 PM	#12
Electric man Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Framingham,MA Posts: 16 Thanks: 255 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Old Gas Find a gas station or machine shop that uses old oil burning equipment to heat their building. They may take it and burn it in there heating system. I don't know if they are used in NH but in Mass there are quite a few places that do.

05-30-2007, 06:02 AM	#14
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Adding it (at a very thin ratio) will be ok in a car - about 1/4 of a gallon per fillup, I've done this many times. As mentioned earlier the ratio would be so small it wouldn't be noticable. I mean I would not do it every fillup forever but once in awhile to get rid of a gallon or so is fine. If your nervous about doing this in a car the same holds true in a mower. Oh ya, just my .02 please don't call me if you ruin your engine. But seriously, I've done it before.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode