Really old gasoline question
 

While not directly a Model A question, but maybe related. I have a 1977 Ford Econoline flatbed truck that has not been driven for several years. I'm in the process of draining the gas tank to investigate what is going on. The gasoline that I am pumping out is the color of Coca-Cola and really stinks. Is this normal deterioration? I've never seen this before.



I was able to get the Econoline to run on this gas with a little effort, but not well. I will have about 10 gallons of this bad gas when I am done and wondering if it would work in my Model A in a pinch.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Why would you chance it??
That’s not $25 worth of gas.
The “pinch” would have to be really significant

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

10 gallons of gas here would be $38.90. I will probably just keep it for washing parts.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Yes, that is normal deterioration of gasoline. I'd use it to clean parts, not to run the machine. I'd also flush out the tank and lines as well as clean the carb before trying to restart the engine.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

It is also a good weed killer.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

you fellas still was parts with gas???

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I've just recently tried to use a truck and fire up an 87 gt mustang I've let sit for several years. Yeah I know I'm a moron that just let it get away from me. I tried using the truck, 3500 chevy 4x5 dump. I wound up having to take the tanks out and trash them on both vehicles. I'd let them sit in an insulated shop with about a quarter tank of gas in both. Everything above the line of gas rusted like crazy. The smell of that old gas could start wars.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Get a big bag (or two) of the oil absorbent material and use it to absorb the gasoline. Once it is completely absorbed into the material you can dispose of it in the landfill since it will be considered a solid.
Your local Health Department may have a house hold hazardous collection site / day that you can take it to and have it disposed of for free.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Sign in my shop.

Gasoline is for washing parts.
Alcohol is for drinking.
Nitro makes cars go fast.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

But who wants their parts smelling like Nasty Stale Gasoline. I hate that smell. :p:p

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Do not run your engine on that old gas! It will not burn completely and will leave a sticky, varnish-like goo on the exhaust valve stems, which will make them stick!

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I did some experiments with old gas, first in the lawnmower--- it would spark knock in heavy grass--- the model A was empty, I put that gas in the A wet to the steepest hill around, the ocean city bridge, full advance from 10 mph at the bottom, crested at 45--- no spark knocking
When I was driving a Mercedes 240D I ran it on a lot of spoiled gas, used transmission oil, and once on a gallon of pure antifreeze--- I did that by accident, the next day I went looking for it by draining the tank, and fuel filter-- it was gone, never noticed any difference in running

It's not something to put in the tank and park the car, I only use old gas in the A if I am going to drive enough to use it all and run fresh gas enough to have flushed the concoction out the tailpipe

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I would blend it w/fresh gas about 5 parts fresh to 1 part old and run it in any vehicle.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

You ran an engine on pure antifreeze?? :rolleyes: I don't know what you are using for anti-freeze but I didn't realize anti-freeze was flammable. :eek:

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I've run gas like that mixed about 50/50 in my 601 Ford tractor, no problems.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

It was a Mercedes diesel--- I panicked when it happened, quickly drains tank and filters and it was already gone, the car would run on bacon grease too--- used cooking oil, one of the best cars I have owned, put 100,000 on it and sold it fo twice what I paid

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Not now days but back in the ancient past, some of the anti-freeze was methanol.
One of the name brands was "Zerone".

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Old highly oxidized gasoline has a smell like varnish/turpentine on steroids. If you get it on you, you will reek of it until it wears off. I'm not partial to that odor at all.

I like my 1956 Ford 850 tractor well enough that I would drain that out and kill weeds with it. I like to keep that old Marvel Schebler carb and that engine top end in good shape. That old crap ain't gas anymore and mixing it with good gas doesn't make it any better.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

This is out of the tank of my old Econoline truck! No wonder the fuel pump was not working! Also.....explains all the crud in the tank which I am still in process of draining. What in the world would corrode a dip tube like this??

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Forgot to mention: it's an aluminum dip tube.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

The World would, combined with condense and possible dis-similar metal corrosion. Metals like to find there way back to the earth in the form of oxides. Highly oxidized gasoline helps some as well.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Mine looked like yours in my mustang. I just removed tank and all as I tried to clean the tank on my chevy dump truck with a pressure washer. I couldn't tell I'd even been there. I read some info about putting gravel or nuts and bolts in the tank and sloshing them around. I guess it rubs the corrosion off as it is moved around. You could also seal the stuff in. Since both of mine are more modern I'm just getting new tanks. Fortunately they're both found at a decent price. The tanks of both are sitting in the back of another truck, empty and able to breath outside my shop (will go for scrap). If you get anywhere close you can still smell that old gas.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

If I leave gas in my mower over the winter, I have trouble starting it in the spring.
I have since learned to drain and runn out during winter storage.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

none of you fellas ever hear of fuel stabilizer?

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

One more thing to buy that has limited effect. For small engines, it's not worth the money. Here is Texas, it's too hot for any stabilizer to last very long. It will last longer in cooler climates but even the stabilizer only lasts for 2-years setting on the shelf. If you use it, check the date if it has one. It only works for fuel fresh from the pump. If it's already set for two months than no stabilizer will help it. They say that stabilized fuel will last for 24-months but they also have the fine print about the longevity in warmer temperatures and higher humidity environments.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Kurt, My current "daily driver" is a Mercedes 1980 300SD. It is a slow restoration project for me. I figure once I fix it up I will be able to put a few hundred thousand miles on it and might even add a spare fuel tank to switch to/from waste veggie oil.

As for old gas, I give it away to the landscaper. Let him screw up his mower.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I guess where I live it works much better. I use it in all things that sit for most of the year. gensets, lawn mowers, ect ect. works well here

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

It's normal for the new CRAP gas to do this kind of damage. That corn crap attracts moisture and corrodes (rusts) things like crazy. At least the new vehicles with plastic gas tanks don't have to worry about rust from the new crap gas. The shelf life is very short with crap gas, so if it's more than about 6 months old, I'd use it to kill weeds or to start my recreational fire.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I've seen a couple comments about using stale crap gas to kill weeds. My wife says almost everything in our desert yard qualifies as a weed. I'm hesitant to pour gasoline around as it might get into our ground water. Ideas?

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I always have a hard time finding a way to dispose of the
Old fuel . Oil easy old gas not so .

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Just put it in an old metal bucket and burn it.
If you leave it in an old bucket, it will also just evaporate, but them we will get to smell and breath it.

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

I found out today that our local land fill takes motor oil and crap gas and puts it in barrels to be taken to where they can properly process it. Yay!

Re: Really old gasoline question
 

Or you save it for winter, and you light one of those oil burner heaters. There's some good designs that heat the oil, burn it, and somehow heat & re-burn the gasses left before it goes out the smoke stack. Supposed to be pretty clean & odor free.