Old Gasoline

Dave in GA · Jun 3, 2011

It's common knowledge that you should get rid of old gas in a gas tank and replace it with new when a tractor or car or truck has been sitting for a long time. My question is, how long is gas good before it's considered old and unusable? How many years can it sit in a tank and still be able to ignite properly? Does the ethanol in the newer gas blends make any difference?

dixon boy RL · Jun 3, 2011

from what i am seeing in mowers etc 6months/year f lucky wth gasohol less. first thing is if its been setting awhile drain fuel period it will save you lots of headaches and issues

Michael Soldan · Jun 3, 2011

My friend had an auction sale for his father's estate. Cars and trucks had sat for five years in storage.We added fresh gas to what was in the tanks and had mixed results.The tractors generally started but these were antique Massey Harris tractors that will run on low octane,the '32 chev car would not start,but when we put fresh gas in the carb it fired up and would run on the old gas/new gas mix,it just wouldn't start on it. Car and pickup started on the old gas/new gas mix....its only a part tank so fill it with fresh and it will likely work, once the engines were warmed up they seemed to run fine on the fuel mix ,fuel stabalizer for future periods of storage will prevent all this.Good luck. In addition my experience is that gasoline doesn't have to sit very long before it breaks down and losses its potential..maybe six months in a chain saw or lawn mower..my mower wouldn't start this spring,dumped it, added fresh and it fired right up.

ericlb · Jun 3, 2011

if the gas is recent bought it will be good for 6 months, if luck is with you, it may start the engine within a year, if the gas is old, it may be good longer i started a 1964 corvair truck i inherited from an estate the gas in it was 5 years old, i primed both carbs with new gas, and drove it home, now that the vehicle is in your possession, add some stabil to the tank when you park it, it will start even if it sits a year or more

pete 23 · Jun 3, 2011

Gasoline will store for a long time in cold temps but a week of exposure to the hot sun can leave a lot of gum. That is not with the "new" gasoline either. I have seen new combines standing on the lot where the sun really cooks them and had to remove carbs to soak them clean, same carb stand all winter with no problem at all. I never worry about my equipment that is stored during winter but summer storage is totally different story.It is about evaporation of the higher ends of the gasoline.

msb · Jun 3, 2011

Old timers used to whoop up gasoline octane by adding some mothballs.

jackinok · Jun 3, 2011

I dont have a lot of problems with my tractors starting or burning old gas,at least for 2-3 months which is about as long as one of mine would set.What i have noticed though with the newer gasahol is that i'm having a lot of problems with carb gaskets drying out and leaking when i run a tractor out of fuel before parking.cant recall exactly but its either three or four i had to replace gaskets on this spring.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 3, 2011

Old gas has a bad smell. I put old gas in one of my tractors, and had a bad case of sticking valves. NO more old gas im my machines. Now diesel will sit for years and be fine. stan

Anonymous-0 · Jun 3, 2011

I've bought premium gas immediately added Sea Foam and I've run started and run the plastic Chevy for brief periods during the last four years. Not going for a fifth and plan to siphon out and refill. Hate to dump nearly 25 gallons, but port injectors can be finicky.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jun 3, 2011

I'm not an old timer, but my 68 Torino really liked about 6 moth balls in Sunoco 93.5...

Old Gasoline

Dave in GA

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dixon boy RL

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Michael Soldan

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ericlb

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pete 23

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msb

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jackinok

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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