what to do with the gas

Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
74
Sorry for posting this message here, but this question is probably better answered by those in the "engine repair" forum than the "general boating" forum. Every year around fall I end up with extra outboard engine gasoline. I was told you could use your outboard engine gasoline (even when mixed at 50:1) in your automobile as long as the gas is fresh. Anyone know if this is true? I'd rather put my merc gas to good use than dispose of it every fall. With a 6-month winter here in Wis, I can't trust that Stabil would work that long. Thanks for your help and understanding.
 

jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 24, 2004
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13,701
Re: what to do with the gas

Running premix in vechicles with catylatic converters isn't a good idea. The burning oil will plug up the catylist and oxygen sensors. Just add the stabilizer to the left over fuel. Then run the engine in the water or on muffs til the treated gas is in the carbs, then fog it and do the rest of your off season storage. Stabilizers are usually good for 12 months
If you insist on burning it, use it for the lawnmower and/or snowblower
 

Scaaty

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May 31, 2004
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Re: what to do with the gas

With a 6-month winter here in Wis, I can't trust that Stabil would work that long
I use to LIVE that area...Fresh gas, STABIL it ...if I went out in OCT, I would fresh gas and Stabil it too....then the SOB sat for 9/10 months...ZERO PROBLEMS...50 years now, probably 500 motors always Stabiled..I NEVER have done a crudded carb with it...nuf'said..
 

Scaaty

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May 31, 2004
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Re: what to do with the gas

Edit...mis read your post Jimbo..(yep...BAD idea..premix on the OVER sensored motors of today....rather walk..(ya just might))..)
 

cougar1985

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Oct 7, 2005
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1,023
Re: what to do with the gas

Have an older snowblower?Have or should i say use to use my excess pre-mix in my old blower for 20 plus years and the motor is still chugging along great.Unfortunaly the machine was older even than that and finally fell apart body wise.
 

Silvertip

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Sep 22, 2003
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28,771
Re: what to do with the gas

Stabil or SeaFoam the fuel and in the spring, add some fresh and go boating. I'm in Minnesota and go through that routine every year and never have a sour fuel issue. I recycle my generator fuel supply in the snowblower, mowers, and the vehicles (not premixed of course) but premixed boat fuel will stay useable easily for six months if treated.
 

cougar1985

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Oct 7, 2005
Messages
1,023
Re: what to do with the gas

ALSO have to fully agree with Silvertip and Scaaty ,now that i own a boat with a inboard tank i add stabil and have yet to have a problem and our winters are usually a little longer but not by much.Snowmachine is another candidate for excess gas also.
 

Evinrude Boater

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Joined
Jul 6, 2004
Messages
1,144
Re: what to do with the gas

Use it in your chain saw, Weedeater or any other 2-stroke. Bear in mind, you may need additional oil for other 2-stroke engines with different mixing ratios.
 

dajohnson53

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
1,627
Re: what to do with the gas

Use it in your chain saw, Weedeater or any other 2-stroke. Bear in mind, you may need additional oil for other 2-stroke engines with different mixing ratios.

That could work, but understand that 2 stroke oil for air cooled engines (chainsaws, weedwackers, etc.) is different than oil for water cooled engines such as outboards. They have a different certification rating and different formulation. The operating temperatures and other factors are very different, air cooled engines operate much hotter and with a different operating rpms etc. I doubt that it hurts to do it occasionally, but a regular diet of the wrong oil is not a good idea. If I tried to use even 6 gallons of outboard premix in my air cooled engines, it would last forever.

To OP: if it's only 6 month lay up, stabilize the fuel (when fresh), and don't worry about it. Many of us have winters that long and do it every year without problems. If I have really stale pre-mix fuel, I put it in my '86 chevy 4X4, diluted w/ regular gas.
 
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