Got an old gad tank that needs to be emptied? Or found some gasoline that’s a little past it’s recommended “use by date X”? Need some ideas of different old gasoline uses? So did I. After hours of researching, I made a list of the top ten ways to reuse and repurpose old gasoline.
I had to clean my entire car out recently and one of the items I dug out of my trunk was a small container of gas. I forgot it was there. It must have been back there for a long time. At least 8 months I’d say.
It’s been many years since I had old gasoline that I had to get rid of. I rarely carry any since I don’t drive much. I forgot about all the different ways you can put it to good use.
Two hours later, I started writing this post. After digging around I found a few good ways to either use the old gasoline or repurpose it. Either way, it’s much better than what many do which is improperly dispose of it which harms the environment.
So what should you do with old gas? You can’t exactly just throw it away or dump it out on the ground. Below in this post, you’ll learn plenty of different ways to reuse gas that’s expired.
Below are ten ways I discovered how you can re-use, re-purpose, or dispose of it if you wish.
Uses For Old Gasoline
1) Local Landfill
Landfills usually have a tank of gas and related substances that they use for chemical disposal.
2) Bug Killer
Use it to kill fire ants
3) Weedwhacker
Gasoline, new or old works well for killing weeds. Use a dish detergent bottle. Good for sidewalks and edges.
Mix it with palmitoyl and you have a killer weed whacker.
4) Fire Department
Call your local fire department, they will be able to tell you what to do with it.
5) Firestarter
Gasoline is one of the most flammable substances there could be. Nothing does a better job at catching a flame than some gas.
Perfect for bonfires.
6) Use it for old lawnmowers
This is one of the most popular choices when people want to reuse old gasoline.
Do this at your own risk. But many have good fortune with using the older gasoline is also, older lawnmowers. Some use it for older trackers as well. It works fine for some, and others suggest not doing it.
- Traditional lawn mowers
- Old work Tractor
- Mix it in with your lawnmower gas
7) Evaporate it
evaporating old gasoline is risky as well. One option is you could pour it in a flat pan and put it in the hot sunlight.
Give it 24 hours and it will disappear. But, you see where this hot situation could turn into an even hotter situation. Someone could spill it, mess around with it, do who knows what with it if you leave it outside. And I doubt you’d like to spend 24 hours chaperoning a tray of old gasoline.
8) Disposal Center
Properly dispose of it at a municipal disposal center.
9) Junk Yard
Some junkyards will take it off your hands.
10) Stabilize It
Fuel Stabilizer, especially for the Winter. If you have an RV or something similar with a larger gas tank. Adding fuel stabilizer to the gas is a good idea, even if it’s only a month or two old. We’re making a mixed gas to use as if it would new and fresh oil.
What NOT To Do
Just as important we went through what you can do with old gas, it’s just as important to know what NOT to do. Here are some guidelines for what is recommended to avoid.
- Don’t use it as a cleaner. It’s flammable.
If you’re pondering over using the old gas for your car, it’s not recommended to use old gas in cars, especially newer ones. Do you really want to potentially damage your car over some used gas? Unless you hate your car with a passion like myself… stick with putting the fresh stuff in your V8 and use the old stuff in a lawnmower or something that’s not going to give you a 72-hour headache if it shudders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does old gasoline go bad if it's been sitting for a few weeks?
A few weeks, no it will be fine. Typically it takes a long time for gas to actually become “old”. One mechanic told me gasoline takes a significant amount of time for it to actually be classified as “old gas that’s no longer useable”. At that point, he would put the old and no good gas into a recycling tank specifically for gasoline.
What does old gasoline look like?
It’s difficult to tell whether or not gasoline “goes bad”. It’s not like an apple where it’s obvious that when it’s bad, it’s bad. Gasoline, however, doesn’t change much at all in ways that we can see or smell. It’s gasoline, it already smells putrid and we can’t sniff it too much in general.
Will old gasoline burn?
Yes, gasoline will burn regardless of whether or not it is new or old. The compounds that allow gas to burn are volatile in nature.
Will Old Gasoline Evaporate?
Gasoline, new or old will evaporate if you leave it in direct sunlight on a nice steamy hot day. It won’t evaporate as fast as ice would melt, but give it 24-36 hours. A tray of gasoline would be evaporated.
Conclusion
Now you know what to do with old gas for the future. If you don’t want to use it in an attempt to run an old lawnmower or an easy campfire starter, I don’t blame you. We covered different ways you can properly recycle the gas so it doesn’t cause any damage to something or someone.
Bottom line: Using old gasoline in a lawnmower, snowblower, a car, or any other engine that runs with gas, is risky. It’s better to be safe and mix it with a divergent. If you don’t have much, you’re better off recycling it.
Do you use old gasoline for something that no one else does?
Want to see more ways to use and repurpose everyday items that most people waste? See the guide on Survival Hacks.
