Question regarding old gasoline:

[speeder]

I have a car that has been sitting for a couple years that I'm getting running again. I drained the old gas and put fresh gas in it+ cleaned tank and strainer, etc. I really have no idea of the exact age of the old gas or how to dispose of it, (bought the car not running so 2 years is a guess), I also do not know how to determine condition of gas by looking at it.

It appears darker yellow than the new Chevron 91 that I replaced it with, but still pretty clear. Smells like gas, no horrible varnish smell. Doesn't smell exactly like fresh gas, either, though. Can I mix it in with the new gas and gradually burn it off? Car is a MB 420 SEL w/ CIS, if that matters.

If possible, let's limit responses on this one to actual experience or fuel experts. I can come up with anal-retentive Porsche owner opinions on my own. (Winky face). TIA.

[Les Paul]

Pour it on an ant pile and light it. They hate that.

[tonypeoni]

Depends on what additives were added during the refining process. Whatever you do don't run that in a 2 cycle. That gas will destroy the diaphragm. You might be ok running it in a 4 cycle lawn mower/tractor.

[URY914]

Use it for cleaning parts.

[trekkor]

How much do you have?

I'm going to the local garbage dump/transfer station in a few minutes.
They allow up to 15 gallons per visit of gas, paint, thinner, etc for free.
Check it out locally.


KT

[dhoward]

Wait 'til it's dark, then pour it down the sewer in front of the neighbor's house.
(you were thinkin' it..)

I usually just mix old gas with new in the lawnmower...

[Joeaksa]

I pour a bit in the cars tank then fill it up.

Using a half gallon of the old fuel in the car every time I fill up the car is not going to hurt anything and will use the fuel up properly instead of wasting it or polluting the place by dumping it.

[dtw]

I have an SC that sat for 2-3 years. Gas smelled fine, but very yellow. I got the engine running again and it seemed happy with it. Pulled 12 gallons out of the tank. Put 10 gallons of it in my '01 BMW. Figured if there was anything wrong with that gas, the car would let me know- it is 'smarter' than the '83 SC engine. It was on empty when I put the old gas in. It ran just fine and burned all the old stuff w/o complaint.

Saved the other couple gallons, still the cheapest parts/floor cleaner around at $3.40/gallon.

[speeder]

Don't anyone worry, it's not getting dumped down a sewer. I'm going to mix it w/ the new gas and I'll let the board know if anything horrible happens. I'd bet dollars to donuts that not a damn thing would have happened if I left it in and just ran it. I don't own a lawn mower or tractor, so in the Mercedes it goes. BTW, I have about 8 gallons of it so that's way too much to keep for parts cleaner. Mineral spirits are a lot better/cleaner for that anyways.

[fingpilot]

The MB with the mechanical FI won't care. Especially if mixed with newer stuff.

[vash]

burn it in your State work truck....uh...nevermind,