OT old gas - big problems
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 766
Likes: 6
From: south Fl.
OT old gas - big problems
I had some old gas in a gas can at my house i needed to get rid of, so today I poured a good amount into my lawn mower and mowed the yard for an hour without any problems. I finished, washed off the mower, then About an hour later I went to start the mower to put it away. When I tried to start it, it popped thru the carburetor, then it had no compression. I removed the cylinder head and found the intake valve was stuck open. I got the valve free and the motor is again running. What I was told is that oil gas becomes sticky like glue from heat and that it is very common to have intake valves stick when burning old gas. I talked to two friends that are familiar with this and both said that this is common, one is a auto mechanic, the other a small engine mechanic. No more old gas for me, i drained the tank and will be going back to fresh rec 90 gasoline.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,290
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From: NM
I bought a "builder" car that had sat for 7 years; a modern car with plastic gas tank, and sealed cap. The engine couldn't be run, so it sat with 16 gallons of gas the whole time. It reeked! But I mixed it about 50-50 with what was in my '52, and burned it off over a period of a year with no problems. I also put some in a Chevy truck I had with TBI at a higher dilution and no problems there, either. This was back when gas was $$$$$
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,963
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From: East KY
I drained six gallons of ancient 20 year old gas out of my truck when I bought it. Looking back on it, I'm surprised it actually drained out. I had it in two 5-gallon buckets behind my garage. It was in the heat of the summer. I went a couple days and kept thinking about how I could get rid of it. I went back to get it and dispose of it properly. It was gone. I guess that thief named "evaporation" took it from me. 
Just sayin......
Just sayin......
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
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From: south Fl.
It was a few years old, but being in the florida heat didn't help much either, I speculate. The motor started and ran fine so i continued on. My problem could be totally unrelated, but when my friend quoted my exact problem without me finishing my story, i figured I had a known problem. I did a quick google search and found related stories quite easily.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Louisville
Gasoline will eventually become varnish-like as the lighter portion evaporates. Ethanol is distilled from organics, corn, etc. and, surprisingly, un-sold Easter and Halloween candies. I read a couple articles some time ago that explained how the holiday candy market operated and how the manufacturers were so happy to have an outlet for their un-sold products. Nothing like running your Benz on circus peanuts and candy corn! ;-)
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I drained six gallons of ancient 20 year old gas out of my truck when I bought it. Looking back on it, I'm surprised it actually drained out. I had it in two 5-gallon buckets behind my garage. It was in the heat of the summer. I went a couple days and kept thinking about how I could get rid of it. I went back to get it and dispose of it properly. It was gone. I guess that thief named "evaporation" took it from me. Just sayin......
Just sayin......
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
If it's truly bad fuel and varnished up, I wouldn't run it through anything I cared about, it will **** a carb all up, stuck rings, maybe reed valves, etc. Not worth it. Use it to kill weeds.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 791
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From: Louisville
^^^ Agreed. We went to 'canned' fuel for fire and rescue chainsaws, etc. due to crappy new, fresh from the pump fuel issues. Nothing like trying to get a chainsaw started on a roof or the jaws of life at a crash and having to pull-pull-pull... (especially while wearing ~70# fire gear, on a slope, fat gloves, chance of roof collapsing, people dying...) If ya wanna save a few pennies and screw around with crappy gas and don't care if it may/may not run worth a dang, go for it!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
For those purposes, Coleman fuel works perfect, a first distillate of gasoline. That's what's in the canned product ("light" Naptha) no doubt. About 50 octane, but it won't gum or sour or turn to varnish. No additives. Coleman or Blazo is about $10 a gallon, but it's worth using in generators and "jaws of life" or anything that has to start first time, every time. Also known as "lighter fluid", VM&P etc., at big markup, but the type supplied for paint use may not be suitable for this purpose.
Have seen camp stoves with 30 year old fuel light right up. Regular automotive gas will not do that. If someone is lazy and isn't real good about draining fuel tanks in their lawn equipment over the winter season, use it in that "last tank" of the year. Waaay cheaper than the hassle and expense of a carb rebuild anyway.
Have seen camp stoves with 30 year old fuel light right up. Regular automotive gas will not do that. If someone is lazy and isn't real good about draining fuel tanks in their lawn equipment over the winter season, use it in that "last tank" of the year. Waaay cheaper than the hassle and expense of a carb rebuild anyway.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 791
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From: Louisville
We always used 'white gas' in our stoves and lanterns for that reason. Haven't seen it around in years, used to be available at some gas stations just like kerosene used to be. Never tried running it in any engines, mainly because it cost more. But it was always a heckuva lot cheaper than Coleman branded fuel.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Once ran it with 2 cycle oil in the lawnboy. Couldn't tell any performance issues really, it cut the grass anyway. I'm sure too it has been used more than once by folks camping to get out of the woods in a pinch, but with the low (no) octane it would not run very good. But it won't "spoil" like regular gasoline is the important part, it's useful for that. If you like Zippos, it's a lot cheaper than lighter fluid, which comes out to 90 bucks a gallon or whatever lol.