That old Stale Petrol Debate

[Bigplumbs]

I was tidying out one of my outbuildings at the weekend and came across my little petrol generator (Not been used much)

I turned on the petrol and gave it about 5 pulls and it started and ran fine.

It is a two stroke petrol and I cant think how long the petrol has been in the tank but it must be well over 3 years.

Makes you think

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

Makes you think

Does it?

...

Actually you are right. It's made me think:

- how long did it run without gumming up
- how much air was in the space above the tank
- how was it stored (hot, cold, damp?)
- would it differ for a 4 stroke

[Sutty]

Nope, I have just unearthed a Honda generator that started after 4 or 5 pulls. Not been used for at least 4 years. If you don’t want gummy petrol use Esso Super Synergy, the only petrol in the UK with NO ethanol.

[Bigplumbs]

Answers Below for the Theory monger

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Does it?

...

Actually you are right. It's made me think:

- how long did it run without gumming up - 28.74 hours
- how much air was in the space above the tank - 36.55257 cm3
- how was it stored (hot, cold, damp?) Medium Rare
- would it differ for a 4 stroke - Nope

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Sutty

Nope, I have just unearthed a Honda generator that started after 4 or 5 pulls. Not been used for at least 4 years. If you don’t want gummy petrol use Esso Super Synergy, the only petrol in the UK with NO ethanol.

No, if you don't want gummy petrol use Aspen 4t.

Originally Posted by Esso

What is the ethanol content of your fuels?
The majority of unleaded 95 Octane petrol sold in the UK contains up to 5% ethanol as required under the Government’s Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).

There is currently no requirement for renewable fuel (such as ethanol) to be present in super unleaded (97 grade petrol).

Esso super unleaded petrol (Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97) is ethanol free (except in Devon, Cornwall, the Teesside area and Scotland). We would therefore advise anyone who has concerns about the presence of ethanol in petrol to use Synergy Supreme+ – providing they do not fill up in Devon or Cornwall, the Teesside area or Scotland.

In any case,in my experience it's not ethanol that causes the gumming.(yes, you do get effects from the ethanol)Fuel from pre-ethanol days used to go brown and stink if left too long. I've done plenty of carb strips on bikes that have been standing in pre-ethanol times and they gummed up just as badly.
However, had those (now ancient) bikes been standing with the carbs full of E5 they'd have buggered seals on top of the gumming.

[Tim M]

Make me think I'll carry on my usual procedure of making sure my tanks are always spotlessly clean with fresh fuel....a generator conking out is an inconvenience. An outboard somewhat more so.....

[Fenlander]

>>>a generator conking out is an inconvenience. An outboard somewhat more so.....

Exactly. I have proof that petrol many years old has been fine in hedge cutters, strimmers, mowers, old cars etc... also in a 4hp river use outboard left unused for over 5yrs.

Would I use it at sea... no thanks.

[Bigplumbs]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Make me think I'll carry on my usual procedure of making sure my tanks are always spotlessly clean with fresh fuel....a generator conking out is an inconvenience. An outboard somewhat more so.....

You carry on boy.... Ignor the real world evidence and believe the theory mongers and the myth spreaders

Each to their own.... Just showing some evidence

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

You carry on boy.... Ignor the real world evidence and believe the theory mongers and the myth spreaders

Each to their own.... Just showing some evidence

Actually....I've made up my own mind based on 100k+ sea miles as master and engineer on big boats. You don't really want to conk out in the middle of the South Pacific. I apply everything I would apply crossing a large ocean to a short potter in my 4m RIB. So far so good

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

You carry on boy.... Ignor the real world evidence and believe the theory mongers and the myth spreaders

Each to their own.... Just showing some evidence

You don't understand the words "real world evidence" so please stop using them. This is the RWE this is n=1 they are entirely different.

RWE would collect evidence from EVERY engine with old fuel in it and allow a comparison. If they randomised those engines between fuel change and not and then started and could show that 99% of old fuel started and kept running and the same for new fuel (and the numbers were good for scientific comparison) then I will accept your evidence.

Currently your evidence is of one generator. It shows nothing except that generator works. Loads of other people will say the same. But then someone will be along to say theirs didn't and they changed the fuel and all was OK...

My friend told me drinking water would make my sore hand go away. I drank water and the next day I had no pain. I thought friend is was a genius. Turns out lots of sore hands get better by themselves.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

You carry on boy.... Ignor the real world evidence and believe the theory mongers and the myth spreaders

Each to their own.... Just showing some evidence

Tell me... Did you ever attempt to build a 65' catamaran from plywood?

Have you ever gone by the name 'Hot Rod'?

There are remarkable similarites.

https://swdlocal.wordpress.com/more-...ed-and-adrift/

[Phil M]

To be fair, I have a 4st honda genny that sat in the barn for about 12 - 15 years, left from the previous owner. A fiend needed a genny for a few weeks so i fired the old girl up and she ran. Bit smokey I'll admit but the tank ran through with no other problems plus many more tanks. Old honda's seem to thrive on neglect though.

This is probably more a story about how resilient Honda engines are rather than using really old fuel. I certainly wouldn't use fuel more than a year old at sea.

Phil M

[lakelandterrier]

Last week as weather outside river was bad, pumped up the Zodiac 2.6m and mariner 4-stroke not used for 18 months, connected 10l tank with fuel at least 18 months old.. She started first time and ran fro 2 hours up the river not missing a beat.
Not sure what that says ITRW.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Last week as weather outside river was bad, pumped up the Zodiac 2.6m and mariner 4-stroke not used for 18 months, connected 10l tank with fuel at least 18 months old.. She started first time and ran fro 2 hours up the river not missing a beat.

Not sure what that says ITRW.

Makes you think[emoji57]