Fuel

[John Wood]

Removed and drained a fuel tank yesterday, there was probably around 3 Gallons of petrol in it. The car has not been used for over 20 years. Questions are: would this 20 year old stuff be usable?, what happens to unused petrol over time? Needless to say I won't be using it and it was disposed of.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[FI Spyder]

Gas is a mixture of components. It seems the lighter components evaporate, it oxidizes changing it's chemical composition with varnish settling out in your gas tank/float bowls. This makes it smell different. It becomes less volatile/explosive. On Ice Pilots NWT they were picking up a C-46 in Manitoba in winter that had been stored there for a year. After servicing it wouldn't start. They poured some fuel on the runway and threw a torch (N/A meaning) on it and the torch went out, it didn't burn. After draining the fuel and putting in fresh it started right up. It was Avgas at -20 but the same principles apply. Fuel stabilizers work for up to 12 to 15 months.

- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[John Wood]

I did notice the different smell.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint

[saabfast]

Don't just throw it, keep it in a few petrol cans and use it for degreasing, washing parts etc. Too expensive to just throw at £6+/gallon, and it will save a lot in Gunk!

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
Saab 2.3 LPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

[Marko]

FI Spyder said it all.


And that fuel probably has a good amount of moisture in it.

[John Wood]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by saabfast</i>

Don't just throw it, keep it in a few petrol cans and use it for degreasing, washing parts etc. Too expensive to just throw at £6+/gallon, and it will save a lot in Gunk!

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
Saab 2.3 LPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

When that petrol was put in the tank it was only about £2.00 a gallon. Total wastage £6. It was also in the car on purchase.

1975 TR7
1977 TR7 Sprint