What to do with Old Gas?

[Basilius]

My Ranger has been off the road for repairs since October 2021 (22 months), and I just got around to draining the fuel tank (~1/2 full). I know that gas can go bad (color, smell) if it's been sitting for that long, however when I drained the fuel tank the gas was clear (no brown color) and it smelled like normal gasoline.

Can I add the old gas to the fuel tank of another vehicle and use it, or should I just not risk it and get rid of the old gas?

 

[ThatOneGuy]

I would have just left it in the tank topped it off with some premium gas. Sure mpg won't be great but it works

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Use it to start a bonfire.

Or dump a gallon or two at a time back in the tank with fresh.

 

[racsan]

Try it in your sisters new buick, “test drive” that warranty.

 

[sgtsandman]

You can run it. Maybe a couple or a few gallons at a time so it’s good and diluted in the good gas. Or if you don’t have particularly picky power equipment, run it in them.

 

[Blmpkn]

If just run it if it looks and smells fine, it's probably fine.

Or just light it on fire... that's always fun

 

[19Walt93]

I burned up some 5-6 year old gas by adding a gallon or so to a tank nearly full of fresh gas a few times. I have some 8 year old gas out of the 68 Mustang I'm working on that I'll dispose of when we have a hazardous waste day at the transfer station, though, because it's orange and smells vile. I suspect my vehicles would burn it in small doses if I wanted.

 

[scotts90ranger]

It's mostly going to be a bit lower on octane, mix it in with other fuel a bit at a time and run it...

 

[RobbieD]

Use it to burn witches.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’ve used it for cleaning stuff, or mixing with used oil for starting fires.

I would have left it in the tank and filled up. Dump a bottle of injector cleaner and dry-gas just to cover bases a little

 

[Ramcharger90]

I remember reading years ago in one of those old army surplus field manuals about how to refresh stale gas and supposedly you can take a propane tank and put the hose into the bottom of a jerry can filled most of the way with old gas and the propane will stay liquid in the gas. Never got to try it or even if it works but maybe this is a perfect time to test it. Maybe it doesn't work with ethanol based gas who knows.....

 

[franklin2]

It's mostly going to be a bit lower on octane, mix it in with other fuel a bit at a time and run it...

Don't forget about the water that the alcohol attracts.

 

[superj]

if it smells and looks good, its still good enough

 

[scotts90ranger]

Don't forget about the water that the alcohol attracts.

Which separates (even visibly) when it is a thing and goes to the bottom of the tank. The water thing isn't as much of a big deal on a plastic tank as it is with metal tanks

 

[BroncLander]

I did a 2 year gas test with 40 liters (10 gallons) and Kleen Flo fuel stabilizer. It sat for 24 months with the recommended amount of stabilizer, in plastic Scepter gas cans.

I had my YJ down to 1/8 of a tank, poured both cans in it and drove it. I didn't notice any difference in the fuel from the fresh stuff.

So now for me, because I've personally tested it, I can confidently use Kleen Flo at least for 2 full years and the gas will be good enough to use.

Results may vary.
I used regular fuel.