3year old gas

[cr2k]

Re: 3year old gas

A shop vac? Seriously? You want to kill these people? Keep the shop vac away from anything that goes boom or burns. Stupid thing to do. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 3year old gas

I ran a red light the other day, and did not get in an accident or get a ticket, so I'm telling everyone it's OK to run red lights.

It doesn't matter what anyone else did once with old gas. There are way too many variables involved. The OP's tank is the only tank that's relevant.

But the OP should not make the mistake of cranking up his motor with that gas until he either knows it's good or inspects it. Always best to test engines on new used boats with a remote tank.

As for running old or suspicious gas in other things: fine for a tractor or that 1986 F150. Risky so for cars and even big trucks with computers. And since small engines don't handle funky gas as well as big ones, which is why you're not running it through the outboard, lawn equipment is not always a good idea, too. In any event, dillute it with good gas.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 3year old gas

A shop vac? Seriously? You want to kill these people? Keep the shop vac away from anything that goes boom or burns. Stupid thing to do. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

+10 !!!

At one time, I had a shop vac with a noisy motor.
I sprayed some WD40 on the bearings and fired it up to check the fix.
The sparks from the brushes lit up the WD and it shot a 2 foot flame out the exhaust for a second.
Nothing caught fire, including me, Thanks!

Keep the Shop Vac away from Anything Flammable! Liquids, Vapors, or dusts!

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: 3year old gas

A shop vac? Seriously? You want to kill these people? Keep the shop vac away from anything that goes boom or burns. Stupid thing to do. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Really? A little dramatic don't you think?

On a sliding scale of dangerous things I've done in my life...a shop vac hose adding a quick burst of air to a tank rates somewhere between taking the trash out and clipping my dogs nails. I'm not dunking the thing in the tank...and the motor is probably 4 feet away. I create more of a charge while crawling around on the carpet doing maintenance(ungrounded) and replacing the F/W strainer.

I suppose risk management is a personal issue! Better not take the thing out in 1 foot seas if this makes you nervous.

 

[joe009]

Re: 3year old gas

you could use pri-g it used by the army to rejuvenate old gas.the stuff works

 

[Jim Hawkins]

Re: 3year old gas

All good points, but hard to say whats relevant until the OP tells us what motor he's running and if he has already run the boat with this gas.

I also never have problems with old gas, unless it has water in it. I like Uncle Willies test (the one with gas not wd40, well actually both).

If he hasn't run the boat already (and that's scary by itself) I would pull the fuel line to the carb and pump fuel through and inspect it. Drain the carb bowls (unless fuel injected) Add or make sure there is a good fuel/water separator in the fuel line whether it's already been run or not and run it.

 

[gm280]

Re: 3year old gas

WOW, I was thinking the exact same thing on the Shop Vac statement as well...NO! NO! NO! Keep anything that could spark from gas fumes of any quality or type. Even bad gas could ignite with sparks that are made when any Shop Vac is used...period! He doesn't need to build a new boat. Just determine if the gas is usable or not. With around $300 dollars at stake with the suspect gas, I agree with Bubba1235. Your carbs will probably be your worst concern with crud remaining in them after the gas evaporated from them over the three years. So you should attend to those issues before or after the gas quality is confirmed either way. That will save you much time with problems before you take it out again. Trying to run the outboard with suspect gas AND surely curded up carbs will only exacerbate your problem(s). I mean if you went out without a thoroughly cleaning of the carbs, which issue would be your problem if any occurred...the carbs or the gas?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: 3year old gas

WOW, I was thinking the exact same thing on the Shop Vac statement as well...NO! NO! NO! Keep anything that could spark from gas fumes of any quality or type. Even bad gas could ignite with sparks that are made when any Shop Vac is used...period! He doesn't need to build a new boat. Just determine if the gas is usable or not. With around $300 dollars at stake with the suspect gas, I agree with Bubba1235. Your carbs will probably be your worst concern with crud remaining in them after the gas evaporated from them over the three years. So you should attend to those issues before or after the gas quality is confirmed either way. That will save you much time with problems before you take it out again. Trying to run the outboard with suspect gas AND surely curded up carbs will only exacerbate your problem(s). I mean if you went out without a thoroughly cleaning of the carbs, which issue would be your problem if any occurred...the carbs or the gas?

Or both? I had 50 gals pumped out. The guy said it didn't look "that bad". That was bad enough for me. It was 2 years old. I don't want to find out the hard way the gas was bad by being stranded in the middle of the lake. If you get stranded, that 75 gals all of a sudden has 0 value. Drain it and fill it with fresh for peace of mind.........JMO

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: 3year old gas

Now we REALLY know what happened. Who knew they had Shop(Franken)-Vacs back then?
Hindenburg Crash - How It Really Sounded - YouTube

Remember...I'm only talking about using it to BLOW air into the tank...not to PULL fuel out of it.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: 3year old gas

On the rare occasions I have had to drain gas it has been by gravity or fuel pump.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: 3year old gas

I don't believe a shop vac is gonna blow up the boat. But an easier way is to just smell under the gas cap...

And geez. some of these stories would have one believe that if you attempt to run old gas in a boat engine you better have $7 large saved up for a new engine! Because-- because... well, because what exactly? The old gas will turn into alien acid blood and melt your pistons and dissolve your gas lines, and eat thru the hull? The absolute worst thing that can happen with old gas is the engine won't start. Period.

If it starts, use it up. It's the easiest, "greenest" and most practical thing to do with it. Boats use up gas FAST. Take the boat for a long cruise, most of that gas will be gone before you can say "what the hell was I worried about?" And when you fill up, the new gas will stabilize any old gas left, and the crisis will be over.


And just an aside, anyone ever watch when they fire up an alcohol dragster, how they shoot fuel into the scoop? This is because engines will RUN on pure alcohol, but they won't START on pure alcohol.

If your old gas will start your engine, it should make it thru the day.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: 3year old gas

If your old gas will start your engine, it should make it thru the day.

That is not peace of mind, IMO........

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 3year old gas

Gasoline that is that old will have a lower octane, it can gum up your carb or fuel injection. It can cause more expense than the cost of the gasoline to replace what you need to get rid of.

Using it is penny wise pound foolish.

 

[gm280]

Re: 3year old gas

This post has become an assortment of so many personalities and opinions. I know each of us would do most anything to use the gas if this was our own situation. But advice is like...well you all know. In my situation and the places I fish and such, there is always so many other folks (boaters) around that I would run it myself and have no problems feeling okay doing that. However, I know exactly how to service most any problem that could arise if it turned bad. But others may go out to lakes and places that may never see another boat the entire day. That could change my thinking completely. It is not that I am cheap or anything like that. But it simply is the huge quantity of gas that would sway my thoughts. I have no idea where to dispose of such large amounts of spoiled gas... So I would try my best to run it through the outboard if at all possible. I mean it isn’t like spoiled gas will dissolve the engine. And even if the gas was bad, it still has to flow through the filters and that would remove any solid contaminants likely to be in it. I’d start the engine and if it sounds okay, have at it...

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: 3year old gas

IF it were me(assuming I lived through the smell test, it started and ran)...I'd run it, fill it when it hit around ? tank or so as usual and then(using my best Joe Pesci) "FUGHETTABOUTIT"!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 3year old gas

This post has become an assortment of so many personalities and opinions. I know each of us would do most anything to use the gas if this was our own situation. But advice is like...well you all know. In my situation and the places I fish and such, there is always so many other folks (boaters) around that I would run it myself and have no problems feeling okay doing that. However, I know exactly how to service most any problem that could arise if it turned bad. But others may go out to lakes and places that may never see another boat the entire day. That could change my thinking completely. It is not that I am cheap or anything like that. But it simply is the huge quantity of gas that would sway my thoughts. I have no idea where to dispose of such large amounts of spoiled gas... So I would try my best to run it through the outboard if at all possible. I mean it isn’t like spoiled gas will dissolve the engine. And even if the gas was bad, it still has to flow through the filters and that would remove any solid contaminants likely to be in it. I’d start the engine and if it sounds okay, have at it...

A most sound, logical argument!

That is not peace of mind, IMO...

A boat that has been sitting for 3 years has at least a dozen other things that May/Should/Could go wrong and ruin the day other than gas that is "Old"; Whatever that means.
I continually hear the statement that the gas is Bad, Old, Unstable, No Good.
But never can get a definite answer as to just what that means and how to tell.

Gas is just a mixture of hydrocarbon solvents.
There are no "Spirits" in it that give it a soul.
It doesn't mysteriously die and leave behind a lifeless tank of worldly fluids.
Enough of the magical mystery theories!
let's see some hard testable evidence.

Poorly stored gasoline slowly turns into the approximation of kerosene.
A typical, COLD, gasoline engine will not START if supplied with kerosene.
But surprisingly, will RUN on kerosene once it is warmed up and the Carb is re-tuned.
Diesel engines will not start cold either, they don't have spark-plugs, but they do have Glow Plugs that preheat the cylinders before starting.

I offer the "Head test" as described above.

If the engine will start cold on the vintage fuel it will run on it, Top off the tank with some fresh gas for good measure, and go have fun running out the tank with the fuel you were going to dispose. Consider it Free gas!

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: 3year old gas

I've seen old cars fire up on 20 year old gas. That said, follow the advice and give it a sniff test. You don't need a shop vac to smell the difference. I would be concerned about the carburetor being gummed up though. You can always ask this boat shop with the "good reputation" what their normal winterization procedures would have been 2-3 years ago. Ask if they drain the carbs before winterizing, stabil the fuel, etc.

I'd still run the thing if the gas smelled fine. The worst that you'll need is a carb rebuild, which is something this rig is likely due for anyway.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 3year old gas

Using it is penny wise pound foolish.

Wasn't pennywise an ugly clown?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 3year old gas

So question for all you guys that think 3 year old gas is fine to use...do you guys use a fuel stabilizer? If so, why if fuel isn't degrading?

 

[cr2k]

Re: 3year old gas

Having been a firefighter for 30+ years, NO. There is no limit to the STUPID things ppl will do. I have seen a rescued many ppl from things like this. Electricity (in any form) and flammables together are not a good idea.