Old Gas: So a couple of years ago my son and I bought a 15 foot aluminum boat with a 20 horse outboard. Both are pretty old. We took it out a few times and then he got a girlfriend and...

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

So a couple of years ago my son and I bought a 15 foot aluminum boat with a 20 horse outboard. Both are pretty old. We took it out a few times and then he got a girlfriend and didn’t have time to go fishing with Dad. Then I had both of my knees replaced and I never ended up taking it out last year.
There’s been gas in the tank for nearly two years. I’m pretty sure I put Stabil in the tank when I put the gas in. What are the chances that gas is okay?
If it’s bad, and it probably is, what do I need to do? Of course with this virus thing going on the county’s hazardous waste drop off is closed. I could sure use some advise on how to make sure I get this mess resolved.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

First shake the tank, then add Dry Gas and clean the plug(s). That's where I would start.
Other choice would be to empty the tank and then fill it. I'd still clean/replace the spark plug(s).

bggent204 Loc: On Lake Meade in East Berlin PA

yea what he said
Are you using leaded gas?
cause that corn oil is not good for your engine I'm in PA and almost all the stations use corn oil gas just a few have leaded so have to drive some to stock up on it. Boy how I hate to store gas even a bit of it . We just bought the newly built home on the lake.

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Try two tums . But don’t chew them just let dissolve on tong. This will get rid of your bad gas. Oh if you can squeeze out a Fart that will fix it too.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

bggent204 wrote:

yea what he said
Are you using leaded gas?
cause that corn oil is not good for your engine I'm in PA and almost all the stations use corn oil gas just a few have leaded so have to drive some to stock up on it. Boy how I hate to store gas even a bit of it . We just bought the newly built home on the lake.

I don’t think there’s anywhere here that you can find leaded gas. It’s hard to find ethanol free gas even.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

audigger53 wrote:

First shake the tank, then add Dry Gas and clean the plug(s). That's where I would start.
Other choice would be to empty the tank and then fill it. I'd still clean/replace the spark plug(s).

Thanks for the info. I guess I’ll go buy a gas can to put the old stuff in until I can drop it off somewhere.

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

stuco wrote:

Thanks for the info. I guess I’ll go buy a gas can to put the old stuff in until I can drop it off somewhere.

Smell the gas. If it smells like varnish it has gone bad. Storing it in a new can is a good idea. If it has gone bad then you’ll probably have to either clean or rebuild your carburetor because varnished gas will plug the jets and harden diaphragms etc.

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

If its not a lot just mix in the gas tank in the car or truck and fill that tank to mix it. Sounds like only a couple of gl so doubt it would cause any damage.

threeCs Loc: Allen Texas

stuco wrote:

So a couple of years ago my son and I bought a 15 ... (show quote)

Here is what I would do: Drain old gas and replace with new gas and add Sea Foam additive from Auto Parts store on first tank. Sea Foam will help clean carburetors that are probably gummed up some or totally. If it will start then the Sea Foam may clean out the gum. As to handling old gas this is what I do: Add about 1/4 tank in lawn mower until old gas is used up. The lawn may smoke a little because of the oil but a 4 cycle will handle old gas with out a huge problem. I use Stabil in everything except auto. I do not keep gas over three months. With the ethanol that is added to the gas today, it will have a tendency to attract moisture so watch for water in bottom of any container.

During times that I am not using boat on a fairly regular basis, I start it and let run for few minutes to prevent carburetors from gumming up.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

Ronniejw wrote:

If its not a lot just mix in the gas tank in the car or truck and fill that tank to mix it. Sounds like only a couple of gl so doubt it would cause any damage.

It's a two stroke. Will the oil in the gas mess with the truck?

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

stuco wrote:

It's a two stroke. Will the oil in the gas mess with the truck?

Doubt it. I always emptied my boat tanks into the car. Make sure you fill up.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

threeCs wrote:

Here is what I would do: Drain old gas and replac... (show quote)

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. I took the lid off the tank. It didn't smell bad. I'm hoping there wasn't any gas sitting in the carb, but I don't remember if we ran it dry last time out. We didn't know at the time it would be the last time out for nearly 2 years.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

Ronniejw wrote:

Doubt it. I always emptied my boat tanks into the car. Make sure you fill up.

Will do, thanks.

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

stuco wrote:

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. I took the lid off the tank. It didn't smell bad. I'm hoping there wasn't any gas sitting in the carb, but I don't remember if we ran it dry last time out. We didn't know at the time it would be the last time out for nearly 2 years.

If it didn’t smell bad then you probably got lucky. Put in new gas and the additives the other guys are talking about and see what happens. Good luck.

bucky buckner Loc: murrells inlet SC

I would dump gas out filter , it might b bad and make it hard to start. good luck