Disposing of old petrol

Pondrew

Pondrew

Active member
Help me out here people....
I want to get a nearly full tank of petrol out of a car as I have no idea what it is, or how long it's been in there (I think it's at least 3 years).

I can get 20 litres out and put it in a jerry can, but how can I dispose of it? I can't keep it as I won't use it and I only have one jerry can anyway, so I need it for the rest that is in the car.

OR...
Do I just leave it in the car (it runs OK with it) and when I eventually start using it, just keep topping it up with better fuel to dilute the old crap?

I don't really want the old petrol going through my engine, as it had a major engine service just as it came off the road 18 months ago.
 
As the car runs OK on it, the fuel hasn't completely degraded so, assuming the tank holds about 50L, I'd buy another 20L Jerry can and fill that, then refill the tank so that you're diluting the older petrol at at least 4:1 - then keep refilling as normal but leaving enough room to add the last 5L or so from one of the Jerry cans.

Petrol's too expensive to waste.

Alternatively, put it in your wife's car - you'll probably be selling that before you get through all the fuel....
 
The petrol in your tank is unlikely to have significantly degraded. It’s quite a stable product, except when you ignite it in the presence of oxygen. Petrol sitting in pipes for a prolonged period is more likely to attack the pipes (if rubber /plastic) and contain dissolved material, but you will have run that through if running the engine occasionally.
If I were you I would take 20l out in your Jerry can and fill up with fresh petrol, then put back in 5l with each tank to use up the old petrol.
If you’re really not happy to use it, you can dispose of it in the oil bund at your local tip.
 
If the car runs fine and the fuel is only a few years old it should be fine, as suggested drain it off and use it in another vehicle. Shame to waste it.

I imagine some of the fuel in my old M140i was sitting in it for years as it did so little mileage, car always ran fine.

Tim.
 
I had issues with the fuel filter of the Golf that had petrol for a number of years in it, but once I replaced the filter - the petrol was absolutely fine. I did add some stabiliser in it. Note that it is E5 though, no the watery mess of E10
 
pvr said:
I did add some stabiliser in it. Note that it is E5 though, no the watery mess of E10
Click to expand...
What is this stabiliser you speak of Paul?
I have no way of knowing what fuel it is, other than I know it's petrol and not diesel. It could be 4 star for all I know.
 
Zedebee said:
you can dispose of it in the oil bund at your local tip.
Click to expand...
I didn't know this, thanks. Knowing my local tip, they will probably have a host of reasons why I can't get rid of it, or try to charge me (on top of the £3,500 p/a I pay the bastards already in Council tax).

edit: just checked and there is a 5 litre at a time limit. That's fecking useful. :x
 
Excellent test. If it is E10, there will be so much water floating on top that there are no fumes.

In any other case, well, at least you knew
 
IMG_0828.jpeg
Pondrew said:
pvr said:
I did add some stabiliser in it. Note that it is E5 though, no the watery mess of E10
Click to expand...
What is this stabiliser you speak of Paul?
I have no way of knowing what fuel it is, other than I know it's petrol and not diesel. It could be 4 star for all I know.
Click to expand...
 
PerryGunn said:
Redex isn't actually a fuel stabiliser, it's an additive that claims to help clean the system and improve combustion.

A proper fuel stabiliser is something designed to prevent fuel degradation during long-term storage
e.g. this one on Amazon

Sta-Bil.jpg
Click to expand...

Used this when storing the car over winter, whether it actually worked I will never know, how would you test it :?

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
PerryGunn said:
Redex isn't actually a fuel stabiliser, it's an additive that claims to help clean the system and improve combustion.

A proper fuel stabiliser is something designed to prevent fuel degradation during long-term storage
e.g. this one on Amazon

Sta-Bil.jpg
Click to expand...

Used this when storing the car over winter, whether it actually worked I will never know, how would you test it :?

Tim.
Click to expand...

If your car started it worked Tim… :poke: :D

Total waste of money for a 6 month winter store though, that length of time won’t cause any issues. :driving:
 
john-e89 said:
TitanTim said:
PerryGunn said:
Redex isn't actually a fuel stabiliser, it's an additive that claims to help clean the system and improve combustion.

A proper fuel stabiliser is something designed to prevent fuel degradation during long-term storage
e.g. this one on Amazon

Sta-Bil.jpg
Click to expand...

Used this when storing the car over winter, whether it actually worked I will never know, how would you test it :?

Tim.
Click to expand...

If your car started it worked Tim… :poke: :D

Total waste of money for a 6 month winter :idunno: store though, that length of time won’t cause any issues. :driving:
Click to expand...

True John :lol:

I guess at what point would you use it, if you were storing a car for years I'm puzzled how you would know it had worked unless the proof is the car starts OK or you dismantle the fuel system :?

Tim.
 
TitanTim said:
john-e89 said:
TitanTim said:
Used this when storing the car over winter, whether it actually worked I will never know, how would you test it :?

Tim.
Click to expand...

If your car started it worked Tim… :poke: :D

Total waste of money for a 6 month winter :idunno: store though, that length of time won’t cause any issues. :driving:
Click to expand...

True John :lol:

I guess at what point would you use it, if you were storing a car for years I'm puzzled how you would know it had worked unless the proof is the car starts OK or you dismantle the fuel system :?

Tim.
Click to expand...

Back to back tests Tim. Store for 2 years with, 2 years without, which is logistically not going happen obvs.

Storing over winter needs nothing apart from topping the tank up as Perry says, and even then if you didn’t the car would still be fine, it’s only 6 months. :driving:
 
john-e89 said:
Back to back tests Tim. Store for 2 years with, 2 years without, which is logistically not going happen obvs.
Click to expand...
Strictly speaking, you should store a minimum of two identical cars - more would be better - in an identical environment. 50% should have fuel stabiliser and 50% just fuel.

Set up a separate testing environment for each brand of fuel stabiliser...

Then go back and try and start them every, say, six months - after 10-20 years you should have a good idea of how effective each brand of fuel stabiliser is...
 
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