Safe to drive around with 5 month old gas?

G

GP20

Senior member
My current tank of gas has been in the car for almost 5 months now. I'm just wondering if it's absolutely safe to drive around with 5 month old (winter) gas? The tank is about half full right now. I never added any fuel stabilizer either. Should I at least try to fill up the tank with fresh gas before I start doing a lot of driving? Seriously, I apologize in advance if this sounds like a stupid question. But I don't wanna take any risk that might hurt the engine any bit.

TIA. :thumbsup:
 
Why not?? Gas does not have an expiration date..I've had the same fuel in my ole 325is (and it sits) and she still runs..
 
Should be fine, but if it worries you, don't push the car hard.

Feel free to top off with the highest octane you can find to mix up the old gas.
 
pbdm4k said:
Should be fine, but if it worries you, don't push the car hard.

Feel free to top off with the highest octane you can find to mix up the old gas.
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Fuel is fuel dude..shouldn't matter how 'hard' he/she pushes the ride..lol
 
The only problem you could have is water from condensation. Add a can of fuel treatment and fill up the tank, you will be fine.
 
FIVE MONTHS????!!!! There shouldn't be any reason why you haven't driven it through our PNW winter. So are you trying to tell me you've been driving your beater Lamborghini this whole time? :poke: Shame on you. :lol:
 
z44me said:
The only problem you could have is water from condensation. Add a can of fuel treatment and fill up the tank, you will be fine.
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Agreed, that's not long enough for into have turned into goop yet. I'd add fuel stabilizer and a bit of fresh fuel and go for it.
 
IDK what BMW recommends, but I do know that some mfgs recommend NOT using fuel stab.
Fuel stab won't help gas that's already stale anyway....

Either way I wouldn't add it at this point;
Top up right away with the best gas you can get & you'll be fine.

:edit:
If anything it'll be condensation absorbed into the gas that's the issue.
This is especially true if it was stored the 5 months at half tank (always best to store with full tank)
In which case a bit of isopropyl alcohol (gas anti-freeze) will help re-absorb & burn it off.
 
I know I once read somewhere that gas is good for about 6 months and then it need to be filtered to removed sedimate and then should be mixed 50/50 with fresh gas and used as normal.
 
inTgr8r said:
IDK what BMW recommends, but I do know that some mfgs recommend NOT using fuel stab.
Fuel stab won't help gas that's already stale anyway....
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I asked about this and the Service Manager at my local dealership recommended using fuel stabilizer. My car has been sitting since November with a full tank of Shell V-Power and fuel stabilizer. I think I will take it out in the next week or 2. There are LOTS of potholes around this year because of the harsh winter. We had a sprinkling of snow last night :cry:
 
We had a freak 1/4 inch snow storm this last weekend. Just enough to get my newly washed car dirty again....

I think God is mad at me for some reason :? cause that is the only precip we got!
 
enfield said:
...There are LOTS of potholes around this year because of the harsh winter. We had a sprinkling of snow last night :cry:
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Do the potholes get fixed, in the UK we just leave them :(
 
^^^ yeah - they will get fixed once the temperature stays above freezing. That will probably happen sometime in April but the Z will be out soon. I think I will do the honors on April 1st :D
 
Thanks for all the advice. I'll go ahead and top off the gas and put some fuel stabilization in the tank. Doesn't look like I'll be able to really drive the car for another 2 weeks though. :(
 
Rick Hunter said:
So are you trying to tell me you've been driving your beater Lamborghini this whole time? :poke: Shame on you. :lol:
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Well I needed the AWD with all the rain and snow we have had when it's almost April. :D
 
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