How to Dispose of Stale Gasoline Properly and Safely

The world is highly dependent on gasoline. In the United States alone over 337 million gallons of gasoline are used up daily. That is a staggering amount. With all the industries depending on gasoline to power their equipment, it is no surprise that there are millions of used gasoline lying around.

When it comes to disposing of gasoline, there are a lot of things you need to take into account. How do you know when it’s time to get rid of your gas? What are the proper steps for disposal? In this article, we will answer all your questions about getting rid of stale gasoline safely and effectively. So read on to learn more!

Why You Shouldn’t Just Dump Stale Gasoline?

Some people might wonder why you don’t just pour old gas into the ground. After all, most volatile compounds in gas evaporate quite quickly – so does it hurt anything to just pour it out on the ground.

Yes, yes it does do damage.

Gasoline can be dangerous as it contains a combination of over 150 chemicals that can destroy both animal and human lives. Compounds such as benzene are known carcinogens and should be kept out of the water and soil. While not all the “bad” chemicals will end up sticking around, some will. You’ll end up polluting your soil.

It’s also against the law to dump your gas. You’ll definitely get a fine if caught. If you dump enough gas, you’ll likely end up being charged with a crime that will have jail time attached. It’s not worth the risk.

How Can You Tell If Gasoline Has Gone Bad

When is gas too old to use? You may be wondering what causes your power tool to run poorly after several months. Old gas will have a sour smell and will appear thicker than fresh gasoline. Additionally, older gas can cause engine problems. In any case, you should never use contaminated or stale fuel unless you have a reason. It’s best to dispose of it properly to avoid the inconvenience of repairing the engine.

It’s difficult to tell whether a gas is too old to use. It’s a matter of judging by the smell. While most gasoline will definately stay fresh for about a month, it can still be several months old and work just fine. If you’ve been leaving it in your tank for more than a month, the gas will start to degrade and oxidize. At this point, it’s a matter of time before you begin to see performance deteriorate.

The easiest way to tell if a gas is too old to use is to compare it with a fresh tank. A container made of glass should allow you to compare two different containers side-by-side. If the gasoline is slightly darker than the fresh one, it’s still fine. If the gasoline smells sour, it’s probably too old to use. If it smells bad, it’s probably too stale and needs to be disposed of.

How to Get Rid Of Stale Gasoline

Many people are unaware of the dangers of stale gasoline and thus dispose it in an irresponsible way. This makes us exposed to elements that might harm future generations to come. Here are a few ways on how to dispose stale gasoline:

• If you have a lawn mower , gas snowblower or gas weed eater, you can use these devices to burn through the gasoline. You need to make sure there to mix the bad gas with a majority of new gasoline. If you are using it in a two-cycle engine, make sure you get the right gas:oil mix as well.
• You can mix the old gas in with your new gas in your car. Don’t mix more than a gallon per full car tank just to be safe. Mix the old gasoline with fresh one and bam! Your car has fuel and you can be able to dispose of those gallons of stale gasoline.
• Recycling stale gasoline is hard due to its compounds and flammability. There are institutions that make it their business to dispose of such waste. A hazardous waste center is recommended if you have no way of reusing or disposing of the gasoline. Check with your local government for more information.
• Used gasoline makes an amazing at loosening up joints and bolts. I wouldn’t recommend it but it does work.
• If you love camping and have a couple of the old Coleman lanterns, then you are in luck. These lanterns are created to run on unleaded gasoline. Your used unleaded gasoline can be used to save you some cash, and still dispose gasoline that might be taking up space in your garage.
• Most people see this as controversial but gasoline makes an efficient cleaning solvent. Although great precaution is to be taken when handling stale gasoline, it does in fact make a decent motorcycle parts cleaner. It can be used to soak old gaskets and take grease off. Do you have a motorcycle and a some used gasoline? Well, get cleaning.

In the end, you need to burn it or take it to your local waste facility. Those are really the two best options.

Final Verdict

Those are just some of the ways on how you can dispose stale gasoline if you are in locations that do not have hazardous waste centers. With these methods you are able to save your environment and still in a way, recycle waste. All the best employing these methods and remember, safety comes first.