Bad Gas

[toddtheodd]

So I know I probably have bad gas... I mean... It doesn't smell bad, but it's a funny color... (in my truck... not my... yeah). So... I parked it about a year ago, with what looks like less than a quarter tank. If I fill the tank up the rest of the way and shake the crap out of truck, will it dillute it enough that I should be ok?

[cdowns]

i'd fill up the tank and also add a couple of cans of drygas in case theres any moisture also after running about half the tank out change the fuel filter and dont forgewt to check the airfilter

[68lwb292]

I use Seafoam, but don't use a whole can unless its 20 gallons or more I only used a half a can in my behind the seat tank.

[toddtheodd]

Seafoam? What is that?

[68lwb292]

They sell it at your parts store where the fuel treatment is. It can be kind of expensive but it the best stuff out there but if you use to much it will run crappy till you run it out. I've put it in a running car that was running rough and you could hear it when it got to the motor it smoothed right out. It can also be sucked in through a vacuum hose for a top engine cleaner, and in the oil for an engine treatment it stopped my motor from smoking when i used it in the oil. I poured half in the oil and half in the tank but be sure your tank is full because it is a treatment and it will make it run bad if you use more than needed.

[rwolf9653]

Sea Foam is great stuff an works great. Since your tank has only been sitting for a year it is possible to dilute it with fresh gas and additives, as long as you are sure that there are NO contaniments in there. If there is rust, sludge, too much water, dust from sanding in the tank and you fill it up the rest of the way, you just made everything harder on yourself.

[Sinister]

I would drain the tank from underneath the cab and fill up with fresh gas.

[thejoker]

Originally Posted by rwolf9653

Sea Foam is great stuff an works great. Since your tank has only been sitting for a year it is possible to dilute it with fresh gas and additives, as long as you are sure that there are NO contaniments in there. If there is rust, sludge, too much water, dust from sanding in the tank and you fill it up the rest of the way, you just made everything harder on yourself.

rwolf9653 is right. Sea Foam is awesome! I use it periodically in all my gas engines to prevent carbon build up. I was first turned on to it when I had a very bad rattle in my motorcycle engine. I ran a whole can through it using 1/4 can each tank and cleared the chattering right up. I love the stuff!

[Chada]

If the fuel was ethanol and not stabilized I would consider draining it as well.

[jlolson]

What if it doesn't work? Then you'll have to siphon 20 gallons of gas out of your tank and dispose of it. I just went through this with my truck. It's a hell of a lot easier to get rid of a 4 gallons of bad gas than having to deal with 20.

[Chada]

Originally Posted by jlolson

What if it doesn't work? Then you'll have to siphon 20 gallons of gas out of your tank and dispose of it. I just went through this with my truck. It's a hell of a lot easier to get rid of a 4 gallons of bad gas than having to deal with 20.

I have found that bad gas can be burned in small amounts mixed with good fuel. A couple of gallons a tank usually works out fine.

[toddtheodd]

I know it wasn't chunky or syrupy... yet... because when I pulled the fuel pump off, gas came out of the line. Not the whole tank, but what was in the line. (Surprised the crap out of me to say the least).

[Chada]

It doesnt usually get chunky it turns to varnish.

[UltraBlue71]

Varnished gasoline has a very unique smell to me, kind of like when you crack an old carb open to rebuild it. I had to get rid of 10 gallons of very bad gasline that was in my saddle tanks, please dont just pour it out somewhere whatever you do, be kind to the watertable!

[Hottrucks]

I would syphon it into a 5 gal jug and burn it in the mower then top the tank off and run it

[unclewatts]

Where I live there is a truck that comes around called the "Hazmat mobile." They charge very little if anything to dispose of your old gas. antifreeze, paint, batteries and motor oil. I would look in your phonebook to see if you have a service like that in your area. If it smells or looks funny I sure wouldn't run it through my truck. Noooooooo...

[toddtheodd]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

I would syphon it into a 5 gal jug and burn it in the mower then top the tank off and run it

So this "craptastic" gas will be ok for the lawn mower?

I'll just do that.

[toddtheodd]

Lucky day... my city doesn't charge me to dispose of bad gas. And now I have 4 5 gallon gas jugs to put in the bed for roadtrips.

[ner0]

Originally Posted by toddtheodd

so this "craptastic" gas will be ok for the lawn mower?

I'll just do that.

lol