Other stale gas question

[surfjunkie]

picked up a fixer upper raider that has a full tank of most likely pretty stale gas. the seller didnt know when the ski was run last and couldnt guess how old the fuel was (divorce sale) but based on how corroded the pump was, i would say it hasn't run in a while (at least 6mos-year). unless the husband added fresh gas recently before realizing the motor wouldn't turn over. it doesnt smell as bad as i would have thought.

i'm no tree hugger but i do hate to waste that much gas if it can be saved. has anyone had any luck with the additives that say they can liven up old fuel? or would draining 1/2 the tank and adding fresh do the trick. i'm hesitant to add fresh cause if i cant bring it back to life then i've just wasted even more. figured i'd survey the experts before proceeding.

thanks

 

[Berky]

Hey Scott , It could be useful for protests, Hollywood films, Zombies, or maybe try Seafoam additive .

 

[surfjunkie]

a protest does sound fun....

 

[tor*p*do]

just mix it with fresh, 2 parts new and 1 part old
and run it through an old vehicle/lawn mower/snow blower

 

[SUPERJET-113]

I'm no expert, but I just did this with 10 gallons of 1.5 to 2 year old fuel from a waveraider. I would just mix in a couple gallons with 10+ gallons of 91 pump octane in my 2000 Chevy Astro work van. Never felt or noticed anything different, burned it up just fine. I bought the 91 octane to boost the old fuel some. I would not just get regular pump 87.

I didnt want to take it to a recycle place or dump it, so I did some reading on the net and did this.

 

[Matt_E]

Mix with fresh gas and use it in an engine that has knock detection and retards timing appropriately. I.E., any car.

 

[davy87nj]

Im in a similar situation. i have picked up alot of skis that have been sitting around for years. I syphoned all the fuel and have it in a 55 gallon drum out side my shop. most of that fuel was like orange looking and for sure no good to run in anything. But i have run about 6 month old fuel in my jeep with no issues when mixed with some mid grade fuel. I have yet to figure out what to do with the orange gas I have sittin in that drum.

 

[SUPERJET-113]

Im in a similar situation. i have picked up alot of skis that have been sitting around for years. I syphoned all the fuel and have it in a 55 gallon drum out side my shop. most of that fuel was like orange looking and for sure no good to run in anything. But i have run about 6 month old fuel in my jeep with no issues when mixed with some mid grade fuel. I have yet to figure out what to do with the orange gas I have sittin in that drum.

Some gas is just to old to use. Like you say, the orange super stinky stuff i would not burn in anything TBH. The stuff I burned was well sealed in the raider tank and was a little yellow and had the "faint" scent of old fuel.

Ive noticed that the boat repair shops around here just leave the 4" lid off the 55 drum of old fuel and let it slowly evaporate... Im sure this is not legal, but thats just what Ive noticed.

 

[Vumad]

I put it in my lawn mower.

Never shake the tank and leave the last inch behind so you don't get the sediment. Use that for the fire pit.

 

[sportfish258]

Just fuel blend it even the yellow crap . 1 to 5 you will be fine. I recover a lot of fuel on enviro sites and thats what happens to it ...... it's just put back into the hopper . Just make sure no water is in it . Siphon off the top

 

[aytee]

6 months, run it... 6-12(still looks like pump gas slight old gas smell) add some octane booster... 1-2 year (yellowish color old smell) blend it.. 2+(orangeish color smells like turpentine) fire starter... ancake:

 

[surfjunkie]

thanks for the input. glad to know i dont have to use it all at my next protest

 

[Crab]

Nothing but trouble, e10 evaporates fast and absorbs water like a mofo.

 

[gc4]

I filled the tank on a boat in 2007 and never ended up running it after that. It sat in storage for 5 years before I pulled it out again. Fuel stabilizer was put in during the first year of storage but that's it.

Put it on the hose, it started up fine on the gas. Put it in the water and the same results. Use about half the tank before refilling with fresh gas but did not have a problem all summer. I think the fact that the tank was full help keep the volatiles in the gas.

On the other hand I used 2 year old gas in a 10 hp outboard and it gummed it up. Took a little effort to get it running correctly again after that.

 

[Idok]

mix and burn!

 

[btonns]

I would mix it with a higher octane fuel and you should be fine. The marina that I work at uses Valvtect fuel treatment in their fuel. It helps with ethanol problems and stabilizes the fuel.

 

[surfjunkie]

have started adding it to my tacoma. so far so good. thanks for the responses.

 

[lanmine657]

have started adding it to my tacoma. so far so good. thanks for the responses.

+1, why even bother with old fuel, if u think its old, drain it all put it in lawn mower or if it really stinks and you dont want to waste it put it in ur neighbors car, haha, 20$ in fuel is cheap to avoid a bad day on the water