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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

What to do with old gas!

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/01/2004 : 08:37:51

Hi All,

With launch day, hopefully, right around the corner I'm puttering around getting Adventurous ready for the water. I noticed that I still have some gas in my tank from last fall. I did not put any stablizer in the tank, and it feels like there might be a few gallons in there. I don't want to run it through the engine in case it's bad. Any ideas what I should do with it?

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 09:01:37

Hi Ben,

I'd definitly not run it through the OB, I usually put it in one of the gas tractors though I always use Stabil in my gas and diesel. If these options are not open to you it might serve to clean gook from parts and there's always the recyclers when all else fails.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 09:12:13

I have it on good authority from a professional environmentalist that, if the amount is less than a gallon, you can flush it down the toilet (flush it 3-4 times), and the sewage treatment plant can handle it. For larger amounts, I put it in my truck's gas tank and fill the tank with fresh gas. If you really have a lot, put part of it in the truck tank, run it out, and then put the rest in. The truck smokes a bit until the oily gas burns out, but it hasn't hurt anything, as far as I can tell.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 09:43:14

Ben,

I agree with running stale gasolene through your street vehicle ... slowly. I've diluted some rather bad gas 10:1 in my fuel injected Nissan, and haven't had any obvious problems. I don't suggest dumping it straight into any engine. I tried that with a lawnmower, and it gummed up a valve stem so bad the mower wouldn't restart until I cleaned the valves.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 11:39:11

Here's what I do with my 50:1 oil/gas fuel mix....

I keep a close eye on my fuel tank and, as the season starts to wind down, I purposely let my tank get low so I don't end up with a full six gallon tank at the end of the season. I usually aim for somewhere around 1/2 tank (or less

) by the end of the season, but if the tank starts getting too low I'll just mix a gallon at a time to add to the tank.

At the end of the season when the boat is on the hard, I take the leftover fuel and fill the tanks in my 2-stroke snowblower and weedwacker plus I fill my one gallon home 2-stroke fuel can. If there is any fuel left after this, I fill the tanks and gas cans of the family and friends who have 2-stroke snowblowers. Doing this allows me to get rid of the gas and for those receiving the gas, they get fresh fuel delivered free to their doors.

If by chance I have a half gallon or so leftover in the tank, I simply mix it with the fresh gas in the spring.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 12:18:36

Saturday I sent the tank with my son to the gas station, they dumped the gas for us. He brought me a new tank of gas back.

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 15:39:00

Before buying the 2-stroke Nissan, I'd bring the 4-stroke gas home, put in the lawn tractor, and go merrily about my business cutting the grass.

I'm not sure that I want to do this with the oil mixed in, although in very small quatities that might work. I suspect I'll watch the fuel tank and work it down toward the end of the season. Thanks Don for the suggestion!

Edited by - on

cat30
1st Mate

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73 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 16:19:38

Holy smokes- we work with sewer guys in NYC and the surrounding areas- pouring gas down the sewers creates a potentially very dangerous explosive situation- besides being illegal.. so i'd say its not a good idea.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 16:47:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">...pouring gas down the sewers creates a potentially very dangerous explosive situation- <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Nobody suggested pouring gas into the storm sewers, which is dangerous. The sanitary sewers dilute a relatively small amount of gas quickly, especially when you flush the toilet 3-4 times immediately afterwards, and it is no more explosive than the methane gas that is normally found there.

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2004 : 20:59:22

I've always just ran old gas through my car. Never been a problem. Think of how many cars, RVs, tractors, etc that sit for months with old gas. Come to think of it, we never really worried much about old gas in the plane either.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 07:32:32

Thanks all. I think I'll start putting the stuff in my gas tank, or if I'm in a hurry, my neighbor's gas tank, all at once, late at night!

Just kidding. I wouldn't do that.

Edited by - on

cat30
1st Mate

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73 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 08:20:18

i never mentioned pouring gas in a storm sewer- it is illegal to pour gas or flush gas into the sanitary sewers- and methane gas is also extremely dangerous to sewer workers. if their handheld gas detector indicates the presence of methane or other explosive gases the field guys can't enter the sewer and may also call the local hazmat crew to locate the source of the gas. sorry to go on about this but some of my best friends are sewer workers- "HEY NORTON"

Edited by - cat30 on 03/02/2004 08:26:43

dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 09:05:18

don't dump in sanitary sewers!!
gas is still oil and seperates from the water

i know a guy that did this in a floor drain in a shop to have another person throw a cigarette in the drain because it was wet from water. the entire area including the guy with the cigarette was burned.

dave holtgrave
5722
tr/sk

Edited by - on

Ellis Bloomfield
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 10:49:31

Of course there's always the point that if the gas runs ok in the lawnmower, it will also run ok in the outboard. I have the feeling that the makers of stabilizers are doing a good job of selling their product. We never do witchcraft with the lawnmowers or outboards. Just top them off in the spring and they never seem to miss. Letting them sit for several years would be another thing. If you really need to get rid of a gallon or so of gas dump it on the ground and light it or better yet put it in the charcoal grill with a briquette floating in the pool and light it. Nobody ever questions charcoal lighter.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 16:26:39

I use max 6 gallons of gas a year for osmepneo. I run the ob, ususally for ten minutes at a time. At the end of the year, even if I have a full tank that has sat for a month because I didn't get to sail, I take it home and run the lawnmower for three or four hours to cut the grass. Also, I suspect from post re. my old honda, that the marine ob industry is more stringent than the lawn mower industry re. polution.

so, I think in the car or lawnmower, if its straight gas,; still not sure if its mixed with oil.

Edited by - on

NuNees
Navigator

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USA
125 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 17:39:32

Just a thought ... If the lawn tools stop working in the middle of their job, who cares?
If you O/B quits in the middle of it's job ... you have to ask "How many paddles do you have?"
My marina will suck up the old fuel and use it for winter heating ...
6 Ggallons X $2 last me all year ...

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 19:45:46

I strongly urge that nobody ever pour gasoline on the ground and light it, or try to burn it off in any way. Unconfined gasoline can easily explode when an ignition source is applied, since it gives off highly explosive vapors that are ready mixed with an adequate fuel-air ratio for a catastrophe to occur.

It may well explode and kill or maim you.

Gasoline can be burned off using a container that has a small surface area as opposed to its volume such as a deep tin can.

But I would not recommend that anyone ever try this since it's not worth the risk. I bring my gas to my local service staion where they dispose of it properly.

Edited by - oldsalt on 03/02/2004 19:52:02

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 21:07:45

Very good point, Mark.

My Dad did it once and was nicely burned

, second degree over most of his front.

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2004 : 21:31:48

Just run it through your car a half gallon or a gallon at a time. It'll be such a negligable amount compared to a full tank it won't matter. It'd probably work fine in the lawn mower too.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 10:48:26

I have a mortar tub filled with kitty litter. I use it to put under a vehicle to catch oil drips. When I have to dispose of small quantities of flammable liquid (gas or paint thinnner) I pour it in the kitty litter, and place the tub outside, well out of the traffic pattern. After a day in the sun the litter is dry again. DO NOT, repeat DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER, POUR FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS DOWN A TOILET...

(Did I over emphasize that?

Oscar, in Austin TX, making bu's.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 15:31:01

Oscar, you shoud have placed much more emphasis on your suggestion to never dispose of flammable liquids down the toilet.

The water seal in the bowl is there to prevent gasses such as methane and sulfur dioxide that naturally occur in the pipes from migrating up into your living spaces.

No matter how many times you flush, these gasses will remain in your pipes and adding volatile gasoline vapors to the mix may well cause you to recall the scene from one of the "Lethal Weapons" movies; the one with the exploding toilet.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 15:53:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">When I have to dispose of small quantities of flammable liquid (gas or paint thinnner) I pour it in the kitty litter, and place the tub outside, well out of the traffic pattern. After a day in the sun the litter is dry again.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Oscar, don't you realize you're polluting the air that we all breathe, and destroying the ozone layer!!!

Edited by - on

Ellis Bloomfield
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 17:04:04

Mark, Ask one of the backshop people how they "dispose of it properly". And as a technical point, unconfined gas can't explode though it very well may flash up and ignite the vapors above it which certainly could cause horible burns if you were leaning over it. I guess I was assuming some degree of common sense. Advice withdrawn.

Edited by - on

coach
Navigator

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USA
231 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 17:50:47

I was told by a buddy who works runs our sewer system here and he said pouring gas down the toilet is one horrible idea.

I say, put it in your car and just burn it up that way.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2004 : 19:47:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ellis Bloomfield
 Mark, Ask one of the backshop people how they "dispose of it properly". <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

They dump in right into one of their 6000 gallon underground tanks and sell it back to me.

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