How do you dispose of old/bad gasoline?

[jkarolyi]

My '73.5 Targa 3.0 has about half a tank of gas (5-7 gallons) that has been sitting there for at least a year, probably two or three. I can drain it out into a five gallon gas can, but then what? Will a recycling center know what to do with it? I live in California...knowing this state there is probably an official way to dispose of it. Any ideas?

[Jgordon]

Light it, stand back.

Sorry.

[jkarolyi]

I should have seen that one coming. Don't think I didn't consider it.

[rzepko6194]

Use it in your lawn mower or better yet, your neighbors lawn mower. Assuming that you guys on left coast have lawns!

[speeder]

At today's prices, I'm sure that someone would still use it in their $8.00 car. At least in my neighborhood.

[Crachian]

I mix it with a tank of good gas...in my truck.

[Jim Sims]

Mix with an appropriate amount of good gasoline (3 new to 1 old) in a non fuel injected older vehicle. Jim

[pwd72s]

Agreed...my pre cat 1977 MOPAR truck could eat it. I do suggest filtering it through something before pouring in the tank tho...get the chunks out. Maybe a double layer of old T shirt cloth?

[jkarolyi]

I don't have a lawn mower (condo complex)...but I do have a carbed BMW 2002 I could gradually run it through with mostly good gas. But this gas probably has water in it, rust, or other crud that I'd hate put through the BMWs fuel system. Could I filter it somehow?

I'd really rather just get rid of it, some kind of recycling center?

[pwd72s]

water usually seperates to the bottom of a container...ditto rust chunks. Perhaps some careful syphoning? Do you have any friends in the agricultural community? Perhaps they could use it as a fire starter for brush burning? As you can tell, I'm not a condo dweller...

[randywebb]

Yes, call the local recycling center in your town or someobdy in city govt.

You could air strip it - leave it out to evaporate. But Riveside has plenty of air pollution already. You could take it over to Malibu and air strip it there, but the fumes would just wind up in Riverside.

I'd just filter it and add it to good gas - up to say 20% old to good. That will get out any tiny rust particles - if there's water you'll see it and yes it will be on the bottom.

[jmarenas]

Wifes Lease car.

[adomakin]

parts cleaner!

to be honest, id get some friends round and light it!

[vash]

i found myself in the same situation, 13 gallons of bleeech, fuel. i dropped it off at a hazmat site. they are all over california. i called my garbage guys and they gave me a number. you will lose your gas can tho. they dont pour off into a bigger container, they just take yours, so look for old containers. i used fry oil containers i picked up at a local chinese food restaurant. it worked great. drop off and containers were free to.

[TerryH]

Once a year a Hazardous Waste Disposal mobile unit is set up locally for a weekend. I'm betting there is one near you, but you will have to find out when and where.

[lendaddy]

I use it to kill ant mounds

Otherwise give it to someone who drives an old beast.

[jkarolyi]

>You could air strip it - leave it out to evaporate. But Riveside has plenty of air pollution already. You could take it over to Malibu and air strip it there, but the fumes would just wind up in Riverside.

LOL Yeah, it seems we get all of LA's pollution collecting right here. It's nice and clear here in the winter though when the winds are blowing like they are today, so I won't feel guilty.

It's worse than I thought...I have a friggin full tank...13 gallons or so. How would one set up such an "air strip"? Just leave the cap off the gas can? Maybe I could let it sit in some of my metal paint roller trays in my back yard. I'm sure the neighbors would love it.

[Joeaksa]

Put it in my Honda and fill it up with premium. Runs fine and gets rid of it the way it was designed.

JoeA

[randywebb]

Surface area is the thing - got any neighbors you really dislike? You could pour it out on the street as they drive past....

[Por_sha911]

You could put it in an old container (maybe even add a little water) and "accidentally" leave it outside for a few evenings. See if you have a less than honest neighbor (with a car that suddenly won't start). On a more serious note, donate it to someone with an old beater or a lawnmower.