Petrol. How old is old

[sandspider]

Ive used year or so old petrol in my saw and hedge trimmer. Worked fine. Having said that, neither my saw nor trimmer are particulary high end kit...

[cornish wood burner]

I remember along time ago.. Motocross guys used to use old fuel as they said it was better.

Iirc it's the oil that degrades with time, ie the petrol breaks it down.

 

Would be interesting to experiment but I never have the time.

 

I have a car here that was last filled with fuel in 2008. Starts fine but not sure about the performance.

Years ago I did experience stale fuel preventing a car starting but it had a different smell. Jerry cans normally seal well so highly unlikely to be any water ingress which I believe is the biggest issue.

Rather than worry, feed it to a car or mower as GK suggests

[onyx landscaping/fencing]

had tesco fuel go bad real quick on more than one occasion caused me a shed load of problems! never had it with any fuel from any other place though

[cornish wood burner]

had tesco fuel go bad real quick on more than one occasion caused me a shed load of problems! never had it with any fuel from any other place though

My 2008 fuel was from tesco

[Sandworks]

My Honda powerhouse gets any dodgy or old petrol/2stroke mix..... Never misses a beat..... Think it would run on cats urine really... Was given 60 l of petrol diesel mix.... Forecourt faux pas. Ran fine on it.... Found a gallon of 2stroke I left in a hedge last year.... Threw it in the powerhose... Grand..... I certainly wouldn't put it in a saw though.......

[GardenKit]

To be honest, if petrol smells ok it probably is ok, ish.

Starting may be slightly impaired and power may be reduced. These effects are tangible, but the real danger may come from the engine running lean because of the lower calorific value, and I would not risk this in a small highly stressed engine.

If it smells different, maybe a little like old paint, and a smell which really lingers, then it is well beyond useable.

 

Every machine I service has the original fuel removed. Some will be OK, some stale, but it all gets mixed together and poured into my CRV. It does not perform as well as with fresh fuel, but performs well enough. The exhaust steams like a train in cold weather though, until the cat warms up. I put this down to the moisture content due to absorbed water.

[agg221]

My old stuff, including the petrol which smells like paint, gets thrown in an old Westwood ride-on mower. It won't start on the really bad stuff but pour some good stuff in the air filter and it starts and warms up enough to run on pretty much anything. Mowing the grass takes about 10l, so it gets through it pretty well.

 

Alec

[spudulike]

To be honest, if petrol smells ok it probably is ok, ish.

Starting may be slightly impaired and power may be reduced. These effects are tangible, but the real danger may come from the engine running lean because of the lower calorific value, and I would not risk this in a small highly stressed engine.

If it smells different, maybe a little like old paint, and a smell which really lingers, then it is well beyond useable.

 

Every machine I service has the original fuel removed. Some will be OK, some stale, but it all gets mixed together and poured into my CRV. It does not perform as well as with fresh fuel, but performs well enough. The exhaust steams like a train in cold weather though, until the cat warms up. I put this down to the moisture content due to absorbed water.

 

Blimey Barrie - you didn't mention Aspen on a fuel thread, are you feeling OK, you havent been cloned, face off or cocoon type assimilation.......I am worried:001_huh:

[GardenKit]

Blimey Barrie - you didn't mention Aspen on a fuel thread, are you feeling OK, you havent been cloned, face off or cocoon type assimilation.......I am worried:001_huh:

I am a bit worried too Steve.

Must be an age thing.......

 

Maybe I should refresh my mind about Aspen

The real story of Stale Petrol - -

[spudulike]

I am a bit worried too Steve.

Must be an age thing.......

 

Maybe I should refresh my mind about Aspen

The real story of Stale Petrol - -

 

Ahhhh, that's better:thumbup: