View Full Version : bad gas
not just referring just to my fishing partner's problems,..but does it seem to you that gas stored in cans does not last as long? Or are motors more touchy to requiring fresh gas? Seems like I could store well-sealed gas longer w/o having problems starting my small engines. (Its taken a while but now add gas stabilizer to each container as soon as i get gas) I don't remember having to do this years ago. Although I can remember as a boy, I lived on a lake,and noted how many guys were pulling on starter ropes, again and again,......amazing how far cussing travels over water. I credited the EZer starting engines today on better spark with the new ignition systems. Perhaps people are more careful about gasoline,...(?) I've had gasoline in a container for a few months and it wouldn't start my mower,..getting fresh gas and it ran fine,...(maybe a local blend problem?)
Cheap Beer
12-02-2001, 10:34 AM
Yea.....I get bad gas too!
perchjerker
12-02-2001, 11:07 AM
Yes, gasoline formulations are different than they used to be. With the additions of methanol and other additives to try to reduce pollution. My suggestion if you are concerned is try to buy your gas at a well known place that is busy. The reason for this is that the gas has less chance of getting stale sitting around in the underground tank, its getting replenished more often. Also in older stations, the tanks may be questionable. Also try not to get gas from a station that has the fuel tanker in the lot, sometimes the fuel getting pumped in the ground can stir up sediments in tanks of an older design. Thats just my opinion, I mean, sometimes you cant avoid it or you dont know it the truck was there 2 minutes before you get there, either. Just something to look out for.
I think I have bad gas as we speak. It took forever to start mine the other day, and I've had trouble ever since I got new gas. I added Sea Foam, new plugs, and some 104 plus octane boost today. Hope that helps next trip, otherwise I'll be that guy cussing across the lake lol!
DR
Cangl
12-02-2001, 07:17 PM
I avoid all older stations that I know have old equipment and tanks that are below water level. Which rules out most stations anywhere near the lakes and rivers. Mobil and Marathon the boat and other gas opt's nothing less. 89 oct and top off with 90's oct, back to 89 and so on when its cold or preparing to troll. No gas strores well anymore, especially "cheap" gas.
I understand bypassing older stations (if they haven't upgraded) but around here its hard to tell,...it DOES seem that they make stations,even the older ones upgrade their tanks,.&.plumbing. The 5 stations that I always use around here seem to get new tanks and are always torn up.(maybe its a state thing. But wouldn't higher octane gas go bad faster? (since it burns slower) Isn't the volitiles that evaporate and older gas harder to ignite?
Obie kaybie
12-02-2001, 09:17 PM
What does a guy do with a tank full of bad gas?? I have an outboard motor tank full of gas that is almost 1 year old.
curt quesnell
12-03-2001, 04:58 AM
i hope i dont get jumped on here...but i would put it in my car
or truck. If your gas can is 5 gallons i would put a couple of
gallons at a time into a vehicle with a near full tank. even if
it is mixed with some 2 cycle oil just pour it in and burn it up.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????
right?
curt quesnell
If the gas is not too bad, you can do like I did, add stabilizer and 104 plus octane boost and usually burn it down to the point where you can add good gas and keep chucking right along. Running it in a push mower/weed eater also can work until its gone.
DR
Cangl
12-03-2001, 09:52 AM
Big V8 without feul injectors could "pass" twigs with a octane boost.
With feul injectors you may want to screen or filter it before putting in the car then top off that tank with good gas. One guy here in Michigan poured 4 gallon on a brush pile and threw a match into it, unfortunately not only did the impact throw him it threw ignited feul also, burns over more than half his body. Now thats bad gas.
Mother
12-03-2001, 10:20 AM
Obie -
I agree with Mr. Quesnell . Pour into into the ol' pick-up
or whatever, she should burn it up just fine .
Now that it's winter and gasoline being hydroscopic - it
probably absorbed a bit of water , you should add a few oz's
of Isopropyl alcohol to prevent any possible freeze-up .
Mother
Would that hurt/kill your catalytic emmissions unit? I know a tank full of leaded gas use to,..I don't know what additives they put in 2 cycle oil,..
The service center where I take my car has a furnace that burns old gasoline along with the normal fuel oil.
If you suffer from the other type of gas problem stay away from my wife's or fishing buddy's cooking.
perchjerker
12-03-2001, 02:17 PM
Good point. It would not be good for a modern catalyst, it could also foul your oxygen sensors among other things. But in small quanities diluted, its probably not going to do any harm. I would not risk it in my $25000 vehicle, though. I would rather burn it in a lawn implement, or better yet, take it to a hazardous waste facility, pay a few bucks, and be done with it.
I believe they don't allow the burning of waste auto oil here anymore. Apparently its loaded with cadmium and other heavy metals from internal engine parts,..used to be loaded with lead,..I remember asking an oil chemist about the grey band that would always settle in waste oil,..he said it was very highly concentrated lead salts and super toxic. I guess not a factor now but there are a lot of other nasty metals that can become airborne when oil is burned. Some metals are much more harmful inhaled than ingested..I think Cadmium and mercury are examples.
Not waste oil. Normal #2 fuel oil and up to 5% gas in a specially designed furnace.
Rick: "Bad Gas", is that when your fishing partner eggs for breakfast, chile and onions for lunch, and sauerkraut and beans for dinner??? I think I had some BAD GAS around last week!! Sorry I couldn't pass this one UP. Looking for CLEAN AIR....Kaz