Disposal of Fuel

[Mike]

I know what to do with my old oil. I can bring it to a local auto shop, recycle station, or oil-change station.

But, what can I do to get rid of fuel/gas/petrol? I used to be of the 'irresponsible' type and just drain it in the street. But, there's got to be a better way to get rid of this stuff.

It's not good enough quality to put in my lawnmower or other gasoline engine. In fact, it's over 15 years old and probably well settled.

I've been thinking about sprinkling it out in a field behind my house. But, I don't want to put anything in danger.

Any ideas?

[2ManyZs]

Last time I drained old gas out of one of my cars I used it up in the lawnmower with no problem. I just took about 1/2 gallon of old gas and put it into a 5 gallon can of fresh gas. I t didn't bother tha mower and it sure beat what could have happened if one of the neighbors had called in about me dumping gas on the scrub brush along the railroad track out back. Took a while to get rid of it all but it sure beat paying a big fine!

[kmack]

Gonna be bar-b-queing any time soon?

[24OZ]

Mike,

Unless the fuel has become contaminated with water it should be okey to burn off in the lawn mower.

Burning it in the lawn mower is the most environmentally friendly way of getting shot of it.

[Zed2k]

If it's mostly petrol you could use it to clean the grease and grime off some of your oily engine/suspension parts if you have any.

[Mike]

Trouble is... this gas is soo old. It's almost like a laquer of some kind at this point. It's not yellow. It's orange and thicker.

[2ManyZs]

Darn, if it's turned into varnish I wouldn't put it in the lawnmower.

[24OZ]

Varnish!!!

No, forget I mentioned the lawn mower.

You're stuck with it unless there's a recycling depot near you who'd take it.

Ask the local fire department for advice, maybe they'll even take it off your hands, there always practicing how to put fires out in their training exercises.

[SMW]

Hi Mike:

When I lived in Corvallis, I think the landfill/dump on Hwy 99 (Coffin Butte?) just north of town had a couple of haz-mat days a year. If memory serves, you could bring them just about anything on a particular weekend. Might be worth giving them a call.

Cheers,

Steve