MacGregorSailors.com

I have a 1973 Chrysler 6hp long shaft motor on my boat.
I planing on go out tomorrow and driving around on the motor some.
My question is the gas I have had been sitting in my garage since fall of 2012 and I'm wondering if it'll be ok to use.
I just looked at the tank and it looked as if there was pressure built up in the tank from the gas so the tank was completely sealed.
Would it be ok to use?

Gas degrades over time, so what may have been 87 octane may be considerably lower by now. It may run OK, but could also prove hard to start and be more prone to pre-ignition (knocking/pinging) that can damage the piston. May want to get some fresh fuel and use the old stuff for your weedeater if the fuel/oil mixture is right. Also, almost all fuel now contains ethanol, which attracts water and may cause additional issues. The fact that the tank was sealed may negate this concern, but I'd err on the side of caution. Finicky two-strokes can be enough of a headache without additional fuel-related issues, and many a "finicky" symptom can be traced to poor fuel.

ntzman28
Eagle Mountain Lake
Azle, TX

To avoid the potential headache that you can have from using the old fuel, get some fresh gas.

The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man can get out of situations which a wise man would not have gotten into in the first place.

Actually, this resembles a Dirty Harry event. "“Are you feeling lucky?"

Be wise. Get some new gas.

Ray

I'd drain it out and use it in your car, in small doses to top off the tank. Then fill the boat motor with fresh petrol and some Techron gas additive. I don't normally recommend an additive but I assure you, that stuff DOES actually work... it completely resolved hesitation in both my Miata and my MINI. I think it's way better than SeaFoam in terms of cleaning up a somewhat gummy fuel system.

No.

Get some new gas - save the old gas (mix it with some new) for your lawn mower.

cub21rak wrote:I have a 1973 Chrysler 6hp long shaft motor on my boat.
I planing on go out tomorrow and driving around on the motor some.
My question is the gas I have had been sitting in my garage since fall of 2012 and I'm wondering if it'll be ok to use.
I just looked at the tank and it looked as if there was pressure built up in the tank from the gas so the tank was completely sealed.
Would it be ok to use?

Got new gas now looking through my owners manual to figure the gas/oil mix.

50:1

Thanks! Found it in the manual. I bought 3 gallons to mix just sucky part is that I sure wont use it all.

Post should have been...Using old gas in an even older motor
But yea. New gas, even for lawn equipment. For anything actually. I Use rec90 (no alcohol) if you can get it. Marinas will sometimes stock it. It is more expensive though. I use it in all my equipment. The REC designation stands for "recreational" vehicles like outboards and jetskies. (so I was informed)
Ix

You can always try to get some 100LL from a local airport. If you pull up with your boat on trailer, they might sell you some from the truck. Doubt if they would let you out on the ramp. Not supposed to sell it for road use, so they have to be careful. Don't worry about the higher octane, your engine will only use what it needs. Octane is a rating of resistance to preignition (pinging). The lead content could cause plug fouling, if you are not running a proper mixture.

~Rich

Good idea but 100LL is expensive. Place the gas tanks on a dolly wagon and wheel them onto the airport gas-up area.

Update from another thread: This is a 1979 motor.

~Rich