[OldTee]

My advice to me:

This new find has 3/5 tank of gas which has been sitting for 9 years. What the hell I would do with 14 or so gallons of old gas eludes me. So, what I think I will do is fill it up with the best gas I can find locally and mix the new with the old and go driving. What is best? Amaco or Sunoco?
ARF

[hoophead]

I'm interested in the answer too...read on.

Whatever you do, don't mix it with new gas. The new gas (at least around nova) has ethanol - there is probably a decent amount of water in your old gas, and the ethanol will pull it out and separate.

I just spent this last weekend doing the "gas shuffle" because I mixed some probably 7 year old gas from the new coupe into the mercedes tank. It didn't have an "old gas" smell to it, so I thought it was ok, but fortunately I wasn't confident enough to run it through the 911 engine. So I put it into the mercedes, the thought being that it gets such crappy gas mileage that it would burn anything. But I think I ended up with water separation and the engine died after running through the good gas already in the FI lines. So I had to drain the mercedes tank - storing it in the engine-less targa tank for the time being.

The stuff seems to work fine in the mower, however. But it's going to be a lot of grass cutting to burn all of that off.

[HoodPin]

IMHO, I would not run that fuel thru the 911's engine. I think best would be try and drain/siphon it out into another container, to validate its condition. Put fresh gas in the 911, and use the drained gas (to the extent it doesn't look funky, in lawn mowers, etc. Gas that sits for a long while may have broken down, turned to varnish, mixed with condesate, etc. etc., none of which is particulary good for a sophisticated engine. You may even have some "layers" in the tank.

However....if you insist on running the car with the gas in the tank, I would consider adding some Fuel Stabilizer. It may not actually be totally effective after the fact (fuel breakdown-wise), but it may help. Additionally or alternatively, some Gas Drier may also help recombine any condesate/water that may have accumulated in the tank.

Furthermore, if a layer of condensate did settle into the tank, after 9 years be wary of possible rust in the tank which may foul filters, etc. If there's any way to peer into the tank, I would do that first before adding/using what's in there.

Good luck....

[kaefer]

This is a good question. I've also wondered what to do with 15 gallons or so of old gas.

[BillJ]

Drain it and take it to be recycled. That stuff will cause havoc with your motor. I tossed 100 octane after a year and a half of sitting in a race jug for this same reason. Was it probably ok? Sure. Was I willing to risk the motor, no!

[HoodPin]

Originally Posted by kaefer

This is a good question. I've also wondered what to do with 15 gallons or so of old gas.

My dad once used a couple gallons to try and burn/kill a large hive of bees he discovered under the bushes behind our home. It wasn't a pretty picture.....and I'm surprised the fire dept never showed up.

But seriously, as long as it hasn't gelled, and hasn't layered due to condesate, it should be fine for lawnmowers, etc. Until its finally used, its probably a good idea to add some Fuel Stabilizer to it. Know any friends/neighbors/dorkis with a couple of acres to cut?

[Trak Ratt]

NOT IN A CIS motor! ditch it, or keep it and run in the mower.

[Jazzbass]

Drain it. What to do with it? Drive about 2 blocks from your house and drop it off at the MoCo transfer station at the hazardous waste section. See? Your taxes do pay for something you can use.

[jerome951]

As Jazz said, take it to the Shady Grove collection site. The stated limit is 15 gallons, so you're just under.

If you need jugs to transport it, let me know. I have 5 5-gal fuel jugs that I'm not using at the moment.

[pookie]

Bad gas in a CIS system will be a giant pain in your arse. The CIS is a fickle beast and if you anger it with bad gas it will not go well for you. If the car sat for 9 years with 3/5 of a tank that is a lot of sitting and a lot of room for condensation and water to build up in the tank. I'd drain it refill with a high octane and roll.