...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: 8,752 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,010 Times in 736 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: 3,496 Thanks: 221 Thanked 812 Times in 488 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: 34 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: 10 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: 1,306 Thanks: 67 Thanked 171 Times in 127 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: 275 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: 2,597 Thanks: 153 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.