Let’s say you have just dug up a can of bad gasoline that you remember putting aside for your car – but, for mysterious reasons, it completely slipped off your mind!
Throwing it away is far from an economical move, so what would be the right thing to do? Fortunately, here is some good news: methods on how to rejuvenate old gasoline turns out not to be a myth.
Our article will give extensive insights on all there is to know regarding fresh gasoline reconditions, saving you both time and effort. Buckle the seatbelt and get going!
How Long Do Gasoline And Diesel Stay Fresh?
Both can sustain their potency for a year. While diesel fuels require no preservation methods, gasoline is a bit more complex, which we will unveil in further discussions below:
1. 30 Days to Three Months
For starters, regular ethanol gasoline can last up to three months – for modern automobiles with a sealed gas tank.
However, an open fuel tank is not so lucky. Gasoline stored in those unvented vessels (often found in older vehicles) can only stretch their lifespan to approximately 30 days.
After this benchmark, there is no point keeping it around.
2. Six months to A Year
Wish to keep your gases longer than three months? The good news is that there are airtight containers to support you with such tasks – as long as extra charges are not a huge problem.
Gases preserved in these insulated environments could survive up to half a year, given that the internal temperature never exceeds 60 degrees Fahrenheit (or 16 degrees Celsius).
Otherwise, your unused liquids would lose all of their remaining strength.
Still not enough? Then fuel stabilizer solutions come to the rescue! Gasoline treated with these additives can retain quality for a year at best.
Can You Rejuvenate Old Gasoline?
Can old gasoline be restored? Yes and No. Yes, if it is just… well, old, and might be subjected to further renovation.
And No, if the gasoline has gone bad beyond your control – not necessarily because of age. The causes might be chemical reactions, pollution, or something even you cannot decipher.
Old gases can be rejuvenated, but stale gasoline treatment is hopeless. Your precious time and money will go to waste for such futile attempts.
For better understanding, let’s delve into their safety levels and some indicators to differentiate old and stale gasses.
1. How Long Can Old Gasolene Be Safe for Usage?
In essence, gasolene will start to degrade right after its production. Still, most varieties can retain their major strength for a couple of months without hassles.
Even after the two-month mark has passed, these kinds of petrol are still harmless, with only minor decreases in quality and performance.
However, for gasolene older than one year (or contaminated), clogged injectors, engine stalling, and sputtering start to occur at an ominous rate.
Worse, there is no way to determine the exact age of the gasolene shelf life when we first pump it into the fuel injectors.
But one possible and immediate solution is to empty the gas of the tank to avoid engine harm.
2. How to Differentiate Old and Stale Gasolene?
And now, our critical concern is: what are the telltale differences between old (recoverable) and stale (unrecoverable) gasolene?
To assess the current state of your suspicious gas:
Step 1. Collect some of its samples in a transparent glass vial or plastic container.
Step 2. Pit them against another can of gasoline, which you know for certain is still fresh and new.
Step 3. Compare both.
Old gasolene will only darken a few degrees compared to fresh ones. On the other hand, distinct layers (like oils) floating on the ground water indicate the presence of blended ethanol fuel, the biggest culprit behind stale gas; do not use it.
Foggy looks, unusual hues, or visible volatile compounds are also red flags.
To sum it up: Clear and consistent hues (though a few shades darker) mean there is still hope to revitalize old gas.
Meanwhile, foggy layers and uneven hues are clear signals of gasolene deteriorating beyond save.
How To Rejuvenate Old Gasoline?
Let’s head to the most-awaited section of our article: How to make old gas usable?
Two methods are at play, one tailored for low-performance models and the other for fancier cars:
Method 1. Mix Old and New Gasolene In A 1:1 Ratio
Why can this simple strategy restore old gasoline? The science behind this phenomenon is a bit complex.
Gasoline production is far from the filtered, extracted crude oil we tend to see everywhere.
It must undergo numerous refining steps, each embarked under strictly regulated and monitored circumstances.
Also, gasoline has gone through fractional distillation, not pure petroleum.
Hence, the high volatility distillate implies a gradual breakdown of the brisk combustion over time, leading to a dramatic decrease in octane.
But now, as we have added fresh gas to an existing mixture, several combustible ingredients have been reintroduced, reviving the gas’ potency!
The process only requires two main stages, which are straightforward even for a novice:
- Step 1. Add in some new and high-quality (or at least well-functioning) gas. Keep the old and new in a 50/50 proportion.
- Step 2. Gently shake the container to achieve a thorough mixture.
Due to inevitable dilutions, the final blend will boast a much lower overall octane than the original fresh fuel you have used.
Nevertheless, its performances are still decent, falling within the acceptable limits of the required octane rating.
Of course, as you might have guessed, this method does not really suit high-performance or super-fancy engines. It would be best not to opt for it in the long run – unless there are no other choices.
Method 2. Use Octane Boosters
Another common method is to adopt octane boosters, a liquid additive for vehicle gasoline tanks that helps improve the octane rating.
High-octane gases have a better surviving rate in the engine’s combustion chamber than their low-octane counterparts, which is why octane has finally gained the recognition it deserves.
Aside from a tremendous boost of octane ratings, octane boosters also clean up the car’s combustor and fuel lines, which help minimize engine knock, ping, and other technical issues.
Follow the steps below to obtain favorable outcomes!
- Step 1. Fill the tank to less than a fourth of its capacity. But what if you already have more than one-fourth of the gas tank? Then transfer part of it to another compartment. Fill the remainder of the container with high-octane gasoline.
- Step 2. Add some octane boosters to the tank.
- Step 3. Drive the car around until the gas tank is far less than one-fourth full.
- Step 4. Refill the vehicle’s tank to a quarter of its capacity, using the previously extracted fuel.
- Step 5. Repeat the last three steps (Step 2 to Step 4).
- Step 6. Fill the tank halfway with high-octane gas and octane boosters. Repeat for about three times.
How About Other Options for Gas Rejuvenation?
Aside from the approaches mentioned above, fuel additives or long-storage fuels are two other viable options regarding how to restore old gas? Let’s explore their ups and downs.
1. Fuel Additives
Certain fuel additives can work wonders in prolonging gasoline shelf life.
These handy concoctions extend the gas duration between three and twelve months, an incredible advantage that all drivers should contemplate!
Unfortunately, not all additives yield the same results, failing to resurrect tainted or separated gas. They only work best when the gasoline is still at its purest form.
Worse, if you spend some time inspecting the ingredient listing of several common products, you may realize lots of them are merely petroleum distillates.
No special components or ingredients are included to transform deteriorated gasolene into brand-new fuels.
In such cases, they only produce the same decent “octane shot” you will likely receive when adding new gasolene to the old one (a method introduced in the preceding sections), but at a much more staggering price.
2. Long-Storage Fuel
The best method for gas reconditions is to avoid old gasses in the first place! Just kidding.
But what we want to say here is that several manufacturers produce fuel blends with varying octane levels and long shelf lives, which can last one or even two years.
Even better, there is no need to add any extra ingredients! They come in leaded and unleaded varieties, presenting a diverse range of additional attributes to suit all preferences.
All you need is a Google Search scour for all regional brands that seem to suit your needs and locate within a short distance from your house.
Some other practical accessories include ventless tanks (to prevent water contamination) and emergency supply kits.
Of course, due to their exceptional durability, these petrol varieties are far more costly than regular gas purchased from local stations.
Well, stop for a second to think about those stormy days when you do not feel particularly fond of driving, and you will realize that this product is worth all the extra charges!
How Does Gasolene Get Old?
Depending on specific gas varieties (pure or ethanol-blended), the fuel may expire in one of these two ways.
Either it sheds off combustible qualities – owing to oxidation – or split into separate gasoline and ethanol constituents.
Both result in improper or no combustion of the fuels. Given the ever-present threat of contamination, our clock might tick sooner than you would think.
The octane rating keeps dropping till the gas is reverted to its ineffective states, unable to provide sufficient energy for consistent internal combustion.
1. Ethanol-Blend Gasoline
Premium gas losing its bite within 90 days is far from an uncommon phenomenon. That sentiment particularly rings true for those who utilize ethanol-blend fuel often available at local gas stations.
As the ethanol separates, it will absorb a substantial quantity of water (which is understandable due to its hydrophilic nature).
That signifies the start of our disaster, tainting the gas with water to leave it utterly unusable.
2. Pure Petrol
Pure petrol tends to last longer – often five to six months. Regardless, its eventual deterioration is unavoidable, owing to the breakdown of volatile chemicals at a molecular scale.
This splitting causes a noticeable decrease in octane rating, which only worsens until the fuel stops its ignition.
Thus, there is no need to blame yourself for the stale gas; no matter how well-kept they are, their spoilage is only natural.
The best tactic is to use all these liquids within their given time frame or devise some techniques on how to fix old gasoline.
The latter, gladly, has been dealt with in our previous section, which you can always turn back to.
FAQs
1. How Much Old Gas Should Be Rejuvenated?
Though there are no scientific answers to this question, we suggest it would be better if you have at least two liters of old gasoline for rejuvenation.
Any lesser number than that is not worth our trouble in the first place.
First, let’s consider the costs of those old-age fuels. Add that to the charges you must pay for the octane boosters and new gasoline (to create the old-new mixture).
Assess the effort and time required, and you will realize the entire maneuver has wasted so many resources for such trivial outcomes!
Not to mention, certain vehicles might encounter engine troubles due to their low compatibility with old gas.
2. Is It Alright to Use Rejuvenated Gasoline for Fuel-Injected Cars?
No. Fuel-injected engines are not compatible with stale or expired gasolene.
Reconditioned petrol can never fare against new fuels, which lowers the vehicle’s overall performance and leaves residues behind.
Considerable risks of clogging injectors are also abundant, rendering old gasolene unsafe in the long run.
Conclusion
This article has analyzed all critical methods on the long-standing inquiry: How to rejuvenate old gasoline? Octane boosters and gas mixtures are the safest and most immediate solutions.
However, you may always turn to long-storage fuels or adopt fuel additives, as long as their staggering costs do not give you any financial struggle.
Do you still need help? Feel free to write to us via email or direct messages.