13 January 2010

Disposing of fuel

13 January 2010 | By Postalgeek

I went to do a fire drill on the farm on the weekend and tried to kick over the fire pump. I’ve been slack and let it sit for a year, and needless to say it took a lot of coaxing and there was a lot of stalling irrespective of throttle and choke control. So my initial conclusion is that the fuel needs to be replaced. So I have a few litres of old fuel that I can’t burn, can’t pour down a drain, and leaves me with the reluctant options of either letting it evaporate [potentially dangerous] or just pouring it onto a patch of weeds. Do the oil disposal points at tips take old fuel?

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Mordd6:51 pm 14 Jan 10

Yes burn it during a total fire ban period, very useful suggestions people….

weaponx2:09 pm 14 Jan 10

burn it?

willo4:59 am 14 Jan 10

either the meth or dilution with fresh fuel suggestions will work…….but make sure you also replace the fuel filter

Maxxiz12:06 am 14 Jan 10

Make a bonfire with it?

troll-sniffer10:04 pm 13 Jan 10

Just dilute it 25% into fresh fuel it’ll be fine.

damien haas8:10 pm 13 Jan 10

try lawnmower, chainsaw or outboard engine repairer/suppliers for fuel stabiliser.

Postalgeek7:55 pm 13 Jan 10

thanks damien for the meths suggestion. Might try that first. Rather use the stuff than dispose of it. Tried to find fuel stabilisers in the past, but not much luck.

Mike Bessenger7:43 pm 13 Jan 10

Dilute it down with fresh fuel.

lion6:07 pm 13 Jan 10

The Mugga tip doesn’t dispose of old fuel- only oil and paint. Must be someone around town who does it for old aviation fuel and such?

damien haas4:20 pm 13 Jan 10

if it is petrol and not diesel, 50 mls of methylated spirits per litre will let you use the fuel and not dispose of it. this is an old trick ive used when dragging cars out of garages and getting them running, and on old non-two stroke mower fuel.

if you are going to store a car for a length of time you can buy petrol stabiliser liquids to make sure the octane rating stays and the fuel is usable for up to 5 years. the same product can be used for generator fuel supplies. im pretty sure there is a diesel version as well. from memory its called ‘stabil’ or something similar.

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