Random "old fuel" question

comsnark

comsnark

New Member
Apr 10, 2007
4,106
NJ Shore
Boat Info
SeaRay SunSport
Engines
5.7LX
So - I need to run an older 2-stroke engine for a few hours in a few days.

The tank has 2 (or is it 3?) year old gas in it. . probably 3-4 gallons. I figure "better safe than sorry", and want to swap out the old gas with new gas. Having fuel problems while on the water just will *not* be acceptable. The fuel has been pre-mixed with oil (50:1)

Question: How do I get rid of this old crap?

I figure dumping the old fuel into the garage sink is NOT the correct answer. Making a flame thrower for show-and-tell at work is also probably not an acceptable idea. So what *is* an acceptable disposal method?

Thoughts?
 
Contact some local garages and ask what they do. I would think three or four gallon is not too much to deal with properly. The main problem you may have however is all the gas still left in the fuel line and carb on the outboard. I know from past years experience old gas containing oil is even more prone to sour and kill your engine. A few years back I took some old gas and decided to run it in my ridding lawnmower. I probably had 3 or 4 gallons. It still smelled normal and I decided to use it up. Well it was not long until I had intake valve problems on the lawnmower and ended up tearing it down to remove some awful looking gunk that was essentially unburnt gas deposits. So I would recommend to you not to use it in any engine. What I have started doing since then is keep the old sour gas in a seperate can and use it to clean paint brushes. Yes there is now a bare spot on the ground where I clean paint brushes and wash parts near my workshop but so far Al Gore and the Green Boys have not showed up.
 
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How about a nice camp fire... easy way to get the fire going...
 
True... but this is old fuel and not nearly as combustable as fresh fuel... sorry no better ideas from me I'm sure the other CSR brethern will have a better answer. What ever you decide be safe!
 
[ QUOTE=electricaldoctor;529344]Red neck idiots laughing their heads off while their buddy is engulfed in flames.[/QUOTE]

Its only funny until someone gets hurt..... then its hilarious....

No but seriusly do be careful it is fuel..
 
I always use old fuel it in my lawn mower a little at a time. The 50:1 is very light on oil and when mixed with new fuel cannot tell the difference.
 
You can put it in your car. Put about a gallon at a time (depending on your tank size) to a nearly full tank and it'll be just fine. I've done it many times with no problems whatsoever.
 
electricaldoctor said:
Red neck idiots laughing their heads off while their buddy is engulfed in flames.
Click to expand...

And even better is that the camera person doesnt even think to put the camera down to see if his buddy is seriously hurt or burning like a french fry!!!
 
I must admit that I am scared to put the stuff in my car. . DO NOT want to louse injectors up -> especially on the 100+ mile drive home.

But. . .the SeaRay has much bigger tank (125 gallons). And carb'd engines. So. . sneak a gallon at a shot in there should be ok? I really have not heard any other viable options. The fuel was stabilized . . but still. . . I want the outboard on fresh fuel/oil tomorrow.
 
You really are OK to put it in your car - put a half gallon in if you feel better about it. But, that's OK - do what is comfortable for you. If you're going to put it in your boat, just dump it all in.

2-cycle is meant to be burned - even going through injectors. Think of it this way... When we winterize fuel injected marine engines, we push 2-cycle through at a ratio of 10:1, gas to oil. That's a full gallon of oil for every ten gallons of gas. Your gas is mixed at 50:1, right? Really, if you wanted to, you could run that 3-gallons straight into your car's engine and not even dillute it.
 
Won't the oil foul the catalytic converter? I heard that Mercruiser no longer recommends the 10:1 mixture for fogging engines with converters. I wouldn't put it in the car either. I used my extra fogging fuel in my lawn tractor but ended up replacing the plug a few times when I didn't dilute it much.
 
Lazy Daze said:
You can put it in your car. Put about a gallon at a time (depending on your tank size) to a nearly full tank and it'll be just fine. I've done it many times with no problems whatsoever.
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Sorry (says the 30 year auto tech) .....Bad move
2 cylce oil can damage catalytic converters and foul oxygen sensors
My 77 jeep would run on it but why take the chance over a few bucks in bad fuel

makes good weed killer for the fence row
 
moparlvr4406 said:
Sorry (says the 30 year auto tech) .....Bad move
2 cylce oil can damage catalytic converters and foul oxygen sensors
My 77 jeep would run on it but why take the chance over a few bucks in bad fuel

makes good weed killer for the fence row
Click to expand...

Hi Mopar. Do you think the amount we're talking about will really matter? Even new boats have cats and sensors and Merc still recommends the 10:1 ratio cocktail mix for winterizing. Keep in mind, he's got 50:1. I think sometimes there's "theory" and then there's "real world". And please know that I'm not belittling your response or your opinion. But, based on my experience and the amount we are talking about he'll be fine. Obviously putting it in his boat is a no brainer, but the minimal amount he'd put in a car will get burned off very easily.

Well, let's look at it this way. An average car tank is 15 gallons. If he puts all 3 gallons of that 50:1 gas into his tank, that would represent about 8oz of 2-cycle into 1,920oz. That's effectively a 240:1 ratio. And that's with putting the whole 3 gallons in.

Again, I'm not discounting your opinion at all. I just think that we (including me) all get caught up in "by the book" answers from time to time, when many times there's another answer out there.
 
What a bunch of morons! It is a good educational video to show what gasoline vapors do though. That guy most likely smells of burnt eyebrows and arm hair!
 
possibly not BUT.....
the ECM parameters for catalyst efficiency are so tight that "at best" a service engine light would probably come on.
At 50:1 in small quantity would probably not damage anything but the oil does tend to separate out and settle.
Just saying over the waste of a few bucks I wouldn't do it in my cars.
 
moparlvr4406 said:
the oil does tend to separate out and settle.
Click to expand...

With the older 2-cycle stuff that was very true. I remember putting a little 2-cycle in, then some gas, then some 2-cycle, then the gas, then pick the 6-gallon tank up and swirl/slosh the gas around...:smt101 The newer 2-cycle mixes much, much easier - plus the gas will be sloshing around as the car moves, anyways, so there won't be any chance of sucking up a higher concentration of oil to gas.

In the end, everyone needs to do what they feel is right for them, but it really is OK. But, no hard feelings if someone doesn't want to put it their car. There's also the "old dog, new trick" thing that comes into play here, as well...:smt001

You guys ever notice that gas really isn't that good at killing weeds? They always seem to come back a lot quicker than I would think. Round Up works much better.
 
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