# Using Old Gas

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701>\
**Category:** Power/Fuel\
**Tags:** gasoline\
**Created:** [September 17, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701 "2008-09-17T21:14:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JDConcord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@JDConcord](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JDConcord)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701/1 "2008-09-17T21:14:53Z")

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I have some gas stored in an approved plastic gas can that was for lawn mowing. It has been there about 18 months. I was considering using it with the local shortage caused by Hurricane Ike. Is there any concern about using this in a car, such as gum deposits, etc?

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701/2 "2008-09-17T21:20:56Z")

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Just add it to a almost full tank and you won’t have a problem.

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701/3 "2008-09-17T21:50:16Z")

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And use STABIL next time you but new gas to be stored.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701/4 "2008-09-17T22:26:30Z")

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A few gallons won’t make any difference. In the future use fuel stabilizer in gas you will be storing for more than a month or two.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/using-old-gas/19701/5 "2008-09-17T23:24:25Z")

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Pour a little in a glass container. Fresh gas is water clear to a SLIGHT green or blue color. Degraded gasoline turns a murky orange color and smells like old paint thinner. DO NOT attempt to use anything that looks/smells like that…