what colour should stale petrol look like?

[Miller]

Ok, considering the problems I have had with my engine recently and the subsequent lack of use this year I thought I would pump out some of the fuel and see if I had any stale fuel or water separation.

Using the primer bulb I pujmped out nearly 3 jerry cans to see what the fuel was like...a little bit of water;nothing the separator couldnt handle in the first jerry can but most of it is a golden brown colour...Is this good fuel? what colour should good fuel be and also what colour should stale fuel be?

Is there any reason why I cant use it again?

Ta

[Nos4r2]

It'll smell stale if it's gone off. Smell some fresh fuel, then smell what you pulled out.

[matt h]

when its more than 3 years old, its goes a golden colour,will still run but exhaust fume will smell, more than 10 years it smells of old engine oil,and will barely run, more that 25 approx wont come out of the tank, gone to tar,
this car i restored had gone to tar stage and fuel tank had to be cut open, well unriveted,

[JSP]

Originally Posted by matt h

when its more than 3 years old, its goes a golden colour,will still run but exhaust fume will smell, more than 10 years it smells of old engine oil,and will barely run, more that 25 approx wont come out of the tank, gone to tar,
this car i restored had gone to tar stage and fuel tank had to be cut open, well unriveted,

Sorry to hijack this thread. ..... Matt, know much about classic truck restoration?

[matt h]

i mainly do vintage /veteran cars and heavy armour, have done a Zil 131 and a dodge weapons carrier tho,

What you got chap?? this sounds interesting!!

[Miller]

Originally Posted by matt h

when its more than 3 years old, its goes a golden colour,will still run but exhaust fume will smell, more than 10 years it smells of old engine oil,and will barely run, more that 25 approx wont come out of the tank, gone to tar,
this car i restored had gone to tar stage and fuel tank had to be cut open, well unriveted,

The tanks were cleaned out last year and pressure tested so there is no way any fuel in there is 3 years old.

From sniffing it.....it smells like petrol! It looks like p!ss after a good nite out; stuff thats given the kidneys a battering if that helps?!

[matt h]

if it still smell like petrol then use it, i would , mix in some new and happy days,
in some of the old cars i do, petrol in the tanks probally cost £1 a gallon and it was 3 or 4 star, now at £5 per gallon i rarely throw it away, if its really bad i will mix it with some Military Multifuel engines which seem to love it!!

[Miller]

Originally Posted by matt h

if it still smell like petrol then use it, i would , mix in some new and happy days,
in some of the old cars i do, petrol in the tanks probally cost £1 a gallon and it was 3 or 4 star, now at £5 per gallon i rarely throw it away, if its really bad i will mix it with some Military Multifuel engines which seem to love it!!

You try telling that to an optimax engine! It decides to very very picky on what fuel it drinks! Found that out to the tune of £500!...but thats another story.....

[matt h]

really?? even so, its its completely gone off then yes,bin it, But if its slightly discoloured, i would use, it, what happened to your opti

[Miller]

Brand new last year, 40 hrs on clock, flashes up water in fuel, so go back immediately and get filters changed....Then have to get mercury dealer to look at it, reckon fuel pump has gone so need a new one...Fitted that and then tell me an injector has gone so need an new one of those as well!

Now, I was expecting when I pumped out the fuel tank there to be water and no petrol. instead droplets of water, in a 5l container about a couple tablespoon fulls sat on the bottom. This was nothing the separator couldnt handle I thought.

Anyway biggest insult is injector is not covered by warranty, £250 for a new one....For that I was expecting a great big thing, half the size of the block...oh no, about £3 quids worth of plastic and a couple o rings cobbled together!

Lost my faith in the engine already and wish I had my old 2 stroke. Would have happily put up with the higher fuel costs!

[matt h]

blimey, i have a 07 Audi tdi, 70k on it, middle injector went, had to be recovered on a flat bed, throttle just went, £750 for one middle injector fitted and £110 for a small connector!! what was the reason it went??????? none

[Miller]

Originally Posted by matt h

blimey, i have a 07 Audi tdi, 70k on it, middle injector went, had to be recovered on a flat bed, throttle just went, £750 for one middle injector fitted and £110 for a small connector!! what was the reason it went??????? none

not covered by warranty? Thought it would be

[matt h]

nope over 60k miles ,clucking bell...

[Miller]

My optimax has only done about 200 miles! go figure?

[palehorse]

I hate to say it but both those types of outboads full blown tech night mares and a scam. To those that have them and are proud sorry but the kis keep it simple rings true here good luck to all went back to 50 merc 2 stroke then 4 stroke yami but no high tech two strokes have a friend who is a etec dealer he has his oil pump turned up to 50 to 1 stock is 100 to 1 so there it is .

[9D280]

Originally Posted by Miller

, about £3 quids worth of plastic and a couple o rings cobbled together!

errr there's a bit more to them than that!

Originally Posted by Miller

, £250 for a new one

...but not that much!

[JSP]

Originally Posted by matt h

i mainly do vintage /veteran cars and heavy armour, have done a Zil 131 and a dodge weapons carrier tho,

What you got chap?? this sounds interesting!!

I'll PM you about it later mate.