Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

Ok to leave petrol in container over winter months?

Comments

  • #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,288 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    petrol does go off, so you may find in the springtime that the mower won't start for you.


  • #3
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,666 ✭✭✭Worztron


    magicbastarder wrote: »
    petrol does go off, so you may find in the springtime that the mower won't start for you.

    Hi MB.

    Is it worse to leave the petrol in the lawnmower or petrol can? Since the can is airtight - would this prevent it going bad?

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



  • #4
    lazybones32
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,647 ✭✭✭lazybones32


    I'd run the mower to use up the juice that's in it (when you're sure you won't need it until Spring) but the petrol in a sealed can should be okay. I've never had to dump it for being 'flat'.


  • #5
    BadCharlie
    Registered Users Posts: 2,614 ✭✭✭BadCharlie


    I would not leave it in the lawnmower. Empty it out of the lawnmower or just use it up. Keep it in the can if you have to. And add new petrol to the can come spring.

    Lots of people each year have problems starting the lawnmower come spring, mostly due to old petrol or letting the petrol sit in the lawnmower over the winter.


  • #6
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,666 ✭✭✭Worztron


    BadCharlie wrote: »
    I would not leave it in the lawnmower. Empty it out of the lawnmower or just use it up. Keep it in the can if you have to. And add new petrol to the can come spring.

    Lots of people each year have problems starting the lawnmower come spring, mostly due to old petrol or letting the petrol sit in the lawnmower over the winter.

    Hi BC.

    But if I kept it in the can then would it be good for spring? Why buy new petrol then?

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Musketeer4
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 657 ✭✭✭Musketeer4


    I've often used old petrol out of a can that had been left for months. No problem.

    But do not leave fuel sitting in the mower all winter. It'll go off and clog up the carburettor which is a pain to get right, even when you know what you're doing.

    Let the mower run dry before you park it up for the winter. Drain any remaining fuel out of the carburettor also.


  • #8
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    It will be fine in the can but run the mower dry if putting it away for a few months.


  • #9
    aujopimur
    Registered Users Posts: 3,953 ✭✭✭aujopimur


    I'm currently using 15 year old petrol in my lawnmower.


  • #10
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,666 ✭✭✭Worztron


    aujopimur wrote: »
    I'm currently using 15 year old petrol in my lawnmower.

    :eek:

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



  • #11
    Worztron
    Registered Users Posts: 8,666 ✭✭✭Worztron


    Musketeer4 wrote: »
    I've often used old petrol out of a can that had been left for months. No problem.

    But do not leave fuel sitting in the mower all winter. It'll go off and clog up the carburettor which is a pain to get right, even when you know what you're doing.

    Let the mower run dry before you park it up for the winter. Drain any remaining fuel out of the carburettor also.

    Hi Musketeer4. So I'd need to remove the carburetor to empty petrol from it?

    Mitch Hedberg: "Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something."



  • Advertisement
  • #12
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Worztron wrote: »
    Hi Musketeer4. So I'd need to remove the carburetor to empty petrol from it?

    No, just run the mower until it's out of fuel.


  • #13
    gctest50
    Registered Users Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭gctest50


    Get a litre of

    http://eastbrothersmachinery.ie/product/aspen-4-alkylate-4-stroke-petrol/

    https://www.donedeal.ie/gardenequipment-for-sale/aspen-alkylate-petrol/3561058

    and run a bit through it before you put it away for the winter


  • #14
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    gctest50 wrote: »
    Get a litre of

    http://eastbrothersmachinery.ie/product/aspen-4-alkylate-4-stroke-petrol/

    https://www.donedeal.ie/gardenequipment-for-sale/aspen-alkylate-petrol/3561058

    and run a bit through it before you put it away for the winter

    That does as it states but I honestly don't think the average domestic lawnmower needs it. How many of us have had mowers for decades (my last one for 32 years) without problems relating to winter storage?


  • #15
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    Kamila Nutty Gesture wrote: »
    That does as it states but I honestly don't think the average domestic lawnmower needs it. How many of us have had mowers for decades (my last one for 32 years) without problems relating to winter storage?

    I can't count how many mowers I have seen with fuel problems related to modern fuel.
    The stuff you buy now has a percentage of Ethanol added to it by law, what percentage? who knows?
    The problem starts because Ethanol is hygroscopic, it attracts moisture from the air, which means in a climate like Ireland the fuel can quickly become contaminated with water and if you have stripped carbs that have old fuel left in them they are badly corroded and blocked with deposits.
    The typical look is a green slime and/or white corrosion on metal parts and brass jets can get pitted and eaten away.
    This is a fairly recent problem since biofuels became mandatory in fuels.
    You may have gotten away with it for years because fuels didn't have these added until recently.
    4 strokes aren't bad but two strokes really suffer from it.
    Best thing is to drain and fill with alkylate petrol or if you can't do that use some fuel stabiliser to try and mitigate the effects of ethanol.


  • #16
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    CJhaughey wrote: »
    I can't count how many mowers I have seen with fuel problems related to modern fuel.
    The stuff you buy now has a percentage of Ethanol added to it by law, what percentage? who knows?
    The problem starts because Ethanol is hygroscopic, it attracts moisture from the air, which means in a climate like Ireland the fuel can quickly become contaminated with water and if you have stripped carbs that have old fuel left in them they are badly corroded and blocked with deposits.
    The typical look is a green slime and/or white corrosion on metal parts and brass jets can get pitted and eaten away.
    This is a fairly recent problem since biofuels became mandatory in fuels.
    You may have gotten away with it for years because fuels didn't have these added until recently.
    4 strokes aren't bad but two strokes really suffer from it.
    Best thing is to drain and fill with alkylate petrol or if you can't do that use some fuel stabiliser to try and mitigate the effects of ethanol.

    How recent is 'recent'?


  • #17
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,288 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    http://www.whatcar.com/news/new-e10-fuel-will-cost-uk-motorists/


  • #18
    fox0512
    Registered Users Posts: 268 ✭✭fox0512


    Storing petrol in a plastic can is ok if its in regular use over summer months but otherwise mental can....u can drain your machines manually for winter storage but I always run machines over winter... Not sure why anyone would want to store 7/8 eur worth of fuel in a plastic can and then head scratch the following spring... + 1 on what CJ said with ethanol....ive never seen so many 2 strokes suffering from carb issues and top ends burning out prematurely....if you have a full tank/can of of mix or straight just use it to warm up your machines over winter....


  • #19
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,822 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    Just tip the old fuel out & then loosen the bolt at the bottom of the carburetor float chamber to drain any remaining fuel. If you leave fuel in then drain the carb & flush fuel through it to remove any moisture that has accumulated over the winter. You don't need to remove the carburetor.


Advertisement