Petrol 'shelf life'
Discussion
I have a jerry can full of fuel I bought about 2 years - filled up for a track day, never used it and forgot all about it. I don't want to put it in the car if it's either 'spoiled' or there's a chance it's going to have corroded the inside of the jerry can and I pour a load of rubbish into my tank.
Will this still be good to use?
Will this still be good to use?
I'm not sure how good it will still be as fuel (the RAC chap once said that most fuel >6 months old starts to go off, hence why an MGB wouldn't start - citation needed), but it certainly shouldn't cause any problems with corrosion. If in doubt give it a shake and pour some into a glass.
Where do these myths come from?
Petrol does not "go off" in an airtight container. However, if the container isn't fully sealed then over time the more volatile compounds will evaporate off leaving you with petrol which makes it much harder to start an engine. As many lawn mower owners will be able to testify next month!
If you have old petrol hanging about just sling it in your car when the tank is 3/4 full with fresh stuff - but make sure you don't tip any rust and gunk into your car!
Petrol does not "go off" in an airtight container. However, if the container isn't fully sealed then over time the more volatile compounds will evaporate off leaving you with petrol which makes it much harder to start an engine. As many lawn mower owners will be able to testify next month!
If you have old petrol hanging about just sling it in your car when the tank is 3/4 full with fresh stuff - but make sure you don't tip any rust and gunk into your car!
Ozzie Osmond said:
Where do these myths come from?
Petrol does not "go off" in an airtight container. However, if the container isn't fully sealed then over time the more volatile compounds will evaporate off leaving you with petrol which makes it much harder to start an engine. As many lawn mower owners will be able to testify next month!
I don't think it's a myth mate. It does start to become more viscous as time goes by regardless of being in a sealed container or not. Quite a complicated bit of chemistry is petrochemicals and additives nowadays.Petrol does not "go off" in an airtight container. However, if the container isn't fully sealed then over time the more volatile compounds will evaporate off leaving you with petrol which makes it much harder to start an engine. As many lawn mower owners will be able to testify next month!
It was a chap from Shell was lecturing me about it when I had 12 month old petrol in my Golf. He knew what he was talking about. Obviously I wasn't listening otherwise I'd be better placed to discuss the point.
I used it anyway of course.
Prof Prolapse said:
What car you going to stick it in?
If it's just a daily I'd whack it in and then dilute with decent fuel.
I'd be more hesitant for a performance engine of most descriptions.
Integra Type R.If it's just a daily I'd whack it in and then dilute with decent fuel.
I'd be more hesitant for a performance engine of most descriptions.
Sounds like I'll be OK but I'll go 50/50 with new fuel then just to be sure.
Yes petrol can turn into jelly, usually it's in the tank of a barn find thats been standing for 20+ years. We used to get the MoDs dregs from the sump of their syatem at the RAe. It had been deployed to the services, not used within its shelf life and than shipped off to places like research establishments where the MT wasnt potentially a matter of life or death. It was stored for years with us and some of the fuel bowsers would then take a month to burn off a tankful once it got into a vehicle. No fails to proceed ever. Mind you the Landies would pink a bit if you were having a laff with them.
SMGB said:
Yes petrol can turn into jelly, usually it's in the tank of a barn find thats been standing for 20+ years. We used to get the MoDs dregs from the sump of their syatem at the RAe. It had been deployed to the services, not used within its shelf life and than shipped off to places like research establishments where the MT wasnt potentially a matter of life or death. It was stored for years with us and some of the fuel bowsers would then take a month to burn off a tankful once it got into a vehicle. No fails to proceed ever. Mind you the Landies would pink a bit if you were having a laff with them.
I wish I understood this.itz_baseline said:
SMGB said:
Yes petrol can turn into jelly, usually it's in the tank of a barn find thats been standing for 20+ years. We used to get the MoDs dregs from the sump of their syatem at the RAe. It had been deployed to the services, not used within its shelf life and than shipped off to places like research establishments where the MT wasnt potentially a matter of life or death. It was stored for years with us and some of the fuel bowsers would then take a month to burn off a tankful once it got into a vehicle. No fails to proceed ever. Mind you the Landies would pink a bit if you were having a laff with them.
I wish I understood this.
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