Can Petrol Go "Off"?

[leef78]

Morning People!

How is everyone?

Just a silly question really. I've got a can of unleaded in my boot, been there for about 2 years, can petrol go "off" (like a sell by date)

Thanks in advance!

Lee

[punky]

Petrol doesn't go off, but it will evaporate slowly. It has to be stored in a vented container, legally.

In theory damp shouldn't really affect it, as petrol is oil based and not water soluble.

Petrol might separate in certain conditions (break down into component parts), so have a look before you use it.

EDIT:According to this: http://www.chevron.com/products/prod...term_gasoline/ storing for more than a year isn't advisable, so you should probably just dispose of it. Gawd knows how.

[marky]

Originally Posted by punky

Petrol doesn't go off, but it will evaporate slowly. It has to be stored in a vented container, legally.

In theory damp shouldn't really affect it, as petrol is oil based and not water soluble.

Petrol might separate in certain conditions (break down into component parts), so have a look before you use it.

i beg to differ petrol does not burn only the fumes so after a while the petrol starts to lose octane and an can as they say go off and you can smell the difference we once drained a classic car and tried to light it ( like trying to light deisel)

[Chris]

I've heard it said that you can use a bucket of 'off' petrol to extinguish cigarette ends - they just go out as if dropped in water, apparently. It's the fumes that are key here - they are explosive, but there is another chemical component of petrol that is somewhat flammable but not explosive. So once the fumes have evaporated away, you are left with a liquid that can burn, but not with any enthusiasm. I don't know anything about chemistry but knowing CF, some boffin will turn up shortly to explain this properly with diagrams.

[marky]

oh and what you get left with smells like paint thinners xylene i think

[punky]

Originally Posted by markymoan

i beg to differ petrol does not burn only the fumes so after a while the petrol starts to lose octane and an can as they say go off and you can smell the difference we once drained a classic car and tried to light it ( like trying to light deisel)

Cheers for that mate, duly noted

[Flubflow]

After a quick google, it is difficult to find the definitive answer but one thing is clear though. Petrol certainly does go off. Some sites say as little as 6-8weeks and some say 4-12 months. Problems you get are poor starting/running and gummed up engine.
I've certainly noticed that when you open the filler cap of a petrol lawnmower or an outboard motor for the first time since the previous summer then you can tell just by the smell that it is not fresh petrol (not that I'm a petrol sniffer you understand ).

So, I'd certainly get rid of 2 year old petrol. I suppose the safest and easiest way to do it would be to actually use it in your car gradually by mixing it with a couple of allmost full tank fill ups (it would be so diluted that you wouldn't experience any negative effects).

[leef78]

I'll ditch it then..... it aint going in my car thats for sure.


Cheers people!

[SMHarman]

Where are you going to ditch it though? You can't just pour it down a drain. Can you combine it with all the oil in the council oil recylcing at the local tip?

The safest option is to put the litre in with another 59 odd in your next fill up. Maybe use premium to compensate for the octane difference.

Anyway, I thought you were not supposed to carry the spare tank around full, is that legal?

[leef78]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Where are you going to ditch it though? You can't just pour it down a drain. Can you combine it with all the oil in the council oil recylcing at the local tip?

The safest option is to put the litre in with another 59 odd in your next fill up. Maybe use premium to compensate for the octane difference.

Anyway, I thought you were not supposed to carry the spare tank around full, is that legal?

Let me worry about where to ditch it but thanks for the advice on the enviromentally friendly way to do it

Legal or not, if I ever run out of petrol I've got a nice green gallon petrol container full to get me home or to the nearest station, so don't take this the wrong way it's not a dig at you, but I couldn't give a toss if its "legal" or not to carry petrol around in the boot of my car. I can't really see the police charging me with anything for that!.

[ian@huth]

Ring your local council and they will advise on disposal in your area.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by leef78

Let me worry about where to ditch it but thanks for the advice on the enviromentally friendly way to do it

Legal or not, if I ever run out of petrol I've got a nice green gallon petrol container full to get me home or to the nearest station, so don't take this the wrong way it's not a dig at you, but I couldn't give a toss if its "legal" or not to carry petrol around in the boot of my car. I can't really see the police charging me with anything for that!.

More a personal safety thing I personally would not want to be in a car crash in a car with a gallon of the volitile stuff floating around in a plastic can in the boot. That said at least it is only a gallon and it is in a proper plastic can that should be burst proof.

The HSE says you can keep two of them in the car!

and the quantities that can be stored are:

i) two containers can be kept on any motor vehicle, motor boat, aircraft or hovercraft;

ii) plus two further containers can be in a safe place in any domestic premises;

iii) plus two more containers can be kept in any other safe place at least 6m from the first.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/65-9.htm

I generally keep the cars tank full to 1/4 full thus the likelyhood of running out of petrol is low, though the distance to empty on the fuel computer is scarily accurate (e.g it has read 30 miles and refulling to full has indicated that about 5l of fuel was left in the tank).

[gazzae]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

though the distance to empty on the fuel computer is scarily accurate (e.g it has read 30 miles and refulling to full has indicated that about 5l of fuel was left in the tank).

I don't trust the range on car computers anymore! If it reads anything under 100 miles I refuel. I once drove to work and it said 60 miles remaining. I was going to fill up after work only to find when I left it wouldn't start and I had to walk to a garage to get fuel.

[leef78]

Originally Posted by gazzae

I don't trust the range on car computers anymore! If it reads anything under 100 miles I refuel. I once drove to work and it said 60 miles remaining. I was going to fill up after work only to find when I left it wouldn't start and I had to walk to a garage to get fuel.

Luckly, my car is so s*** it doesn't have a range computer, but does have a massive petrol gauge, when it gets to just under a 1/4 I tend to fill her up.
I don't trust these electric gizmos myself, the gauge and my peepers tell me when to fill up. Dice!

[zoombini]

I'm sure that there must be someon that wan't to chance using it, perhaps adding it toi an almost full tank to thin it out?