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When and HOW to dispose of spare gas?

T

thatsright

Diamond Member
I have a 2.5Gal can of gas in my trunk for an emergency. I might of gotten in it March 2015, thus its 6 months old. I thought it didn't matter how long I kept it, but just read it does. Sitting in my trunk through brutal NE cold and then this summer, no es bueno. (I live in Boston MA.) I read that the gas starts to degrade if kept for so long and putting in the tank now could possibly damage the car. Sound right? If its 'too old' what should I do with it? Some mention to dilute it over a couple of fill-ups. Yes? No?

If I can't use it anymore, how do I safely dispose of without having to pay? Don't want to just dump it on the ground or in a gutter.
 
PottedMeat said:
yeah, just pour some of it into your tank when you fill up.

or give it to someone with a lawnmower/snowblower
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Would it damage the lawnmower/snowblower? If so, I'd feel like a dick.
How long is it safe to keep spare gas?
One the canister is empty, wash it out with water or it doesn't matter?
 
My county has hazardous waste disposal drop off sites. I disposed of old lawnmower gas that way. Check your municipal or county website.
 
Jumpem said:
You drive around with a gas can in your trunk? That is incredibly dangerous!
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Its not like I have it in plastic bags. Its a smart thing to do. Especially when my gas gauge is busted on my Saab 93. Would cost ~$1,200 to fix. I'd rather drive around with some spare gas......
 
PottedMeat said:
yeah, just pour some of it into your tank when you fill up.
Click to expand...

The advice to add a little less than a gallon in your tank each time you fill up and you will have the gas gone in three fill ups is the best solution.

Some advice; gasoline is not flammable in its normal liquid state; the fumes are very flammable. Use more care when the 2.5 gallon can is less than full as the fumes will build up. Make sure the lid is tight. When your tank is empty either store it safely till you fill it up again or make sure all the gas and fumes are out of the tank. Easiest way to do that is after you have drained the last drop of liquid gas is to add a small chunk of dry ice to the can and wait till the CO2 has evaporated. If you ain't got dry ice; air dry at home or a gas station using the air to expunge the gas fumes OR just keep the lid tight and in a safe place till next March.
 
I keep 20 gallons of gas on hand at any given time. Five of those gallons are in the generator and the other fifteen are for the mower. When I empty one I fill it. With frequent power outages the method to what to some may seem to be madness is to have plenty on hand for the generator.

Twice a year I put fresh fuel in the cans. Spring and Fall. I empty the generator and fill it with fresh. All the cans get emptied into our cars. Five gallons at a whack so it can take a couple of weeks to get the cans emptied and replenished with fresh gas.

I've been doing this for decades. Not one problem yet. So yes, you can put it in your car. I typically do it when the tank is half full so I know it will take the full can and there is plenty of fresh to mix with the old.
 
Jumpem said:
You drive around with a gas can in your trunk? That is incredibly dangerous!
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Balderdash. Most of us drive around with a large gas can under our trunk; it is called a gas tank. That is more vulnerable than a properly stored approved gas can in the trunk.

Disclaimer #1: gas cans should contain all fumes and be sturdy enough to withstand normal atmospheric pressure changes such; Death Valley or Pikes Peak and weather temperature changes such as Nevada or New England temperature. Any gas can sold for that purpose complies with and will function properly.

Disclaimer #1: Don't be a Darwin awards winner; safety store a gas can. I carry mine in a milk crate along with oil,12 volt compressor, stuff to fix a flat tire, and clean shop rags. The crate is bunged corded to keep it in place and everything around it isn't loose. You don't want an errant pick to attack your gas can when you hit a pot hole. Common sense prevails.
 
Gasoline sits longer than that in the tank of a new car off the assembly line, not to mention used cars. 6 months is nothing for modern gasoline.
 
K7SN said:
Balderdash. Most of us drive around with a large gas can under our trunk; it is called a gas tank. That is more vulnerable than a properly stored approved gas can in the trunk.
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I expect a gas tank under the car to hold up in most collisions. I wouldn't expect the same of a gas can.

Whenever I need gas, it is the shortest trip directly to, and back home, from the gas station. I have always thought that it is incredibly dangerous to get gas this way, and that they should have a gas truck come by your house to fill portable containers instead.
 
thatsright said:
I have a 2.5Gal can of gas in my trunk for an emergency. I might of gotten in it March 2015, thus its 6 months old. I thought it didn't matter how long I kept it, but just read it does. Sitting in my trunk through brutal NE cold and then this summer, no es bueno. (I live in Boston MA.) I read that the gas starts to degrade if kept for so long and putting in the tank now could possibly damage the car. Sound right? If its 'too old' what should I do with it? Some mention to dilute it over a couple of fill-ups. Yes? No?

If I can't use it anymore, how do I safely dispose of without having to pay? Don't want to just dump it on the ground or in a gutter.
Click to expand...

I've had 5 year old gasoline that works just fine. The most important thing about storing gasoline is not letting the VOCs dissipate. The good thing about modern EPA gas cans is that they do not leak. Fuel in a gas can that is only a few months old is DEFINITELY OK unless the top was completely removed from the can and the VOCs escaped.
 
I finally had it with cheap ass plastic gas cans. These are worse than useless. I finally bought a couple of solid cans like this one.

QpHAT7D.png


It not only has a heavy spring-loaded, metal cap but inside the fill hole is a screen to prevent flames from traveling up the stream of gas and into the can. I have one this size and a one gallon model. I'll never go back to using plastic cans.
 
Charmonium said:
I finally had it with cheap ass plastic gas cans. These are worse than useless. I finally bought a couple of solid cans like this one.

QpHAT7D.png


It not only has a heavy spring-loaded, metal cap but inside the fill hole is a screen to prevent flames from traveling up the stream of gas and into the can. I have one this size and a one gallon model. I'll never go back to using plastic cans.
Click to expand...

Safety cans are awesome... I love them.
 
You can also keep an empty can in the trunk. Not all gas stations sell them, and when they do, they're a billion dollars. Additionally, if people see you walking with a can, sometimes you can get a ride.
 
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