Fuel - how old is too old?

[VViCKiD]

Hey guys, 

just wondering what you think is too old for fuel? 

Also how do I tell if my fuel is too old? Will there be discolouration in my fuel water separator?

[Fab1]

14 hours ago, VViCKiD said:

Hey guys, 

just wondering what you think is too old for fuel? 

Also how do I tell if my fuel is too old? Will there be discolouration in my fuel water separator?

Have a read of the pined post on fuel storage above.

I transfer my fuel to my cars/garden gear usually after 3 months and refill the tank.

Saying that I've have gone six months or so with the same fuel over a period of over 20 years or so without any signs of ill effect in various machinery including outboards,motor cars etc and all times it was plain fuel or mixed 2 stroke in the fuel.

I think you'll find it will be quite some time before you see any fuel seperation/staining issues in your seperator if any.

I think the safest bet would be that if your in doubt,throw it out.Or use it in other equipment.

[antonywardle]

I've also wondered about this, and like Fab says, after a few months, I like to remove the fuel if I haven't been using it

for a while and put it in to something else. Main issue is that I only have petrol mowers, all the cars are diesels, so with 50

litres in the boat, storage and be complicated. I suspect that fuel is probably a lot better at long term storage than we expect

but there is nothing wrong with a little bit of paranoia when it comes to being offshore in your boat.

[Smasher]

You can get fuel stabilizers to add as an additive that supposedly work to prevent fuel from gummying up and losing octane, for up to 2 years (so the labels say).  

E10 is particularly vulnerable to seperating and absorbing water from condensation after periods of time. 2 stroke also tends to seperate though my lawn mower never complains about running on ancient fuel.

My boat mechanic said 6 months max on any fuel. 

 

My biggest issue is what to do with excess fuel?  I don't have a big yard that I can tip it onto. The last time I tipped 20L down the side onto the fence my whole house stunk like petrol and the mrs was not impressed. 

Edited August 2, 2017 by Smasher

[Berleyguts]

I use fuel stabiliser always and just decided I need to use my boat more! ?

[Welster]

41 minutes ago, Berleyguts said:

I use fuel stabiliser always and just decided I need to use my boat more! ?

Just keep using the boat all year it's necessary for good preventative maintenance.   It's not that I want to go fishing I have too!   Anything else would just be irresponsible.

Edited August 2, 2017 by Welster

[Fab1]

5 hours ago, Smasher said:

You can get fuel stabilizers to add as an additive that supposedly work to prevent fuel from gummying up and losing octane, for up to 2 years (so the labels say).  

E10 is particularly vulnerable to seperating and absorbing water from condensation after periods of time. 2 stroke also tends to seperate though my lawn mower never complains about running on ancient fuel.

My boat mechanic said 6 months max on any fuel. 

 

My biggest issue is what to do with excess fuel?  I don't have a big yard that I can tip it onto. The last time I tipped 20L down the side onto the fence my whole house stunk like petrol and the mrs was not impressed. 

And it's illegal.Be careful.

42 minutes ago, Berleyguts said:

I use fuel stabiliser always and just decided I need to use my boat more! ?

You and I both.

[Berleyguts]

1 hour ago, Welster said:

Just keep using the boat all year it's necessary for good preventative maintenance.   It's not that I want to go fishing I have too!   Anything else would just be irresponsible.

Yes, that's what I tell the missus! lol

But now I'm living in paradise it is a lot easier to use the boat regularly!

[VViCKiD]

Thanks guys! Sounds like I should be alright and more fishing is definitely the answer!