Spoiled fuel while mixing 2-stroke

So not paying proper attention, I managed to add chainsaw-oil rather than 2-stroke oil to 5 litres of unleaded petrol. I spotted the mistake as I went to put the lid back on the incorrectly opened chainsaw-oil, so I haven't actually tried to use it. I expect that the fuel I mixed is useless, but not really knowing anything about it I thought it worth checking first. Assuming it is spoiled, what's the best way of getting rid of it, or should I save it to light next years bonfire? Do I need to dispose of the fuel-can too, or can I reuse that once it's empty?

Reply to
kdband
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If you have a petrol car, I would add it to the tank when it is nearly full. It will burn to well for use on a bonfire.

Reply to
Michael Chare

I wouldn't. I once added a few litres of 2-star to a petrol car in order to get rid of it, and it ran like a pig until it was gone. Also, the oil may well ruin the catalyst on a more modern car.

Take it to your local tip. They may well have a tank for hydrocarbon waste. Don't use it to light bonfires - petrol is too dangerous for that.

Reply to
Huge

Cue AJH:-)

For environmental reasons chain lubricating oil is likely to be organic but I don't know how that might impact on combustion in an engine or the fuel filters.

I have an idea that fuel stations may have some provision for disposing of petrol/diesel blends:-)

Reply to
Tim Lamb

I was wondering if the op actually shook the petrol can to mix the (chain) oil into the petrol or not, as if not, it may well just be sitting in the bottom of the can?

Then he might be able to tip the clean petrol off and then use it in a lawnmower or other 'low spec' 4/ engine where a bit of oil wouldn't typically harm anything (or my kitcar). ;-)

Or, if it was mixed, I wonder if it would settle out, given time (and that it wasn't designed to be mixed)?

I'd be tempted to transfer it to a suitable clear glass container (demijohn) and see what it does (just OOI etc).

Cheers, T i m

Reply to
T i m

I would use it up in an old four stroke lawn mower probably and accept that I might have to clean the plug a few times. Definitely *wouldn't* but it on a bonfire. Petrol is just scarily flammable and it's vapour (pre-ignition) crawls invisibly where you almost certainly don't want it to go.

Tim

Reply to
Tim+

I think I'd just add the right amount of 2-stroke oil as well and use it. Garden equipment 2-stroke engines are pretty basic and unfussy.

Reply to
Chris Green

My neighbour tried to light a bonfire with petrol and had to be taken away in an ambulance to the specialist burns unit.

Tim ~W

Reply to
TimW

No one has come up with why you can't use it in the two stroke engine it was intened for. Think I'd add a bit of proper two stroke and try it being prepared for rather more smoke than normal and maybe having to clean the plug a few times. I'd also keep a careful ear on the sound of the engine and how much power it was producing,

"a bit" say 25% of what you'd normally add to 5 l of fuel?

With 5 litres it depends how much of the neighbourhood you want to decorate with your bonfire. Bruncefield...

You really do not want to use petrol as a "fire lighter" BTDTGTTS. Medium camp fire, table spoon of petrol, if that, lit match was inches away when it went WHUMPF and the entire fire lifted up and inch or so, I didn't lose my eyebrows but the fringe was singed. And it didn't really start the fire very well as it burnt off so quick. Paraffin (28 sec oil) is better and safer, diesel (35 sec oil) is quite hard to get going but once going is good.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Or maybe dilute it a bit across a couple of petrol cans topped up with fresh fuel and do as you suggest?

True and worst case you might have to clean the plug and exhaust.

Cheers, T i m

Reply to
T i m

More of a worry to the catalytic convertor if fitted. They can be very sensitive to some additives used in oils. And expensive to replace. I'd be inclined to use it - diluted - in that two stroke engine (obviously with the correct oil added)

Two stroke oil is relatively new in the scheme of things. At one time you just added ordinary engine oil.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Chain oil was never intended to go in a 2Stroke engine, the oil added to the petrol is the only lubrication it gets would it work or not I dont know but I would not chance it Best advice has been to use it in an old 4 stroke mower

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Reply to
Mark

Well *one* good reason is that chain oil contains "stickyness" additives, these are probably organic and quite likely to form gummy deposits on your piston ring grooves.

+1 to everything.

OK to re-use the can, though.

Reply to
newshound

Was it me?

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Reply to
ARW

Whoops. At least I just burned all the hair off my legs.

Reply to
Huge

I'm assuming you mixed 50:1 (i.e. 2% oil)?

Certainly useless for lighting a fire even if you retire to a safe distance, works for lighting a tyre better than gasoil.

So would I to my car but I'd not do it to one with a catalyst or injectors. I'd also dilute it with proper 2T mix with another shot of synthetic 2t oil and use it in my saws or hedgecutter but probably not a new autotune saw.

You called ;-)

Most are straight mineral oils with something added for tackiness, so are emulsions with water and many, like I used to, use straight OSR from the supermarket.

Nor do I but it would pass straight through the filters as it will dissolve in petrol, it will smoke a bit and it will make catalysts get hot but not really worth the risk given their cost.

I added it to the red diesel tank, I know military vehicle enthusiasts take it for the machines with the K60 engine, which is a diesel but accepts petrol below 85 octane or mixtures with diesel.

AJH

Reply to
news

WTF? Still had eyebrows! Or were they originally like Dennis Healy's?

Reply to
Richard

Ouch, no kissing allowed for how long?

Reply to
Fredxxx

You could keep the can in your car and offer it to the first person you encounter who has run out of petrol... :-) After all, he won't be able to chase after you once it clogs his fuel system. :-)

Reply to
NY

I thing my glasses saved them.

I still owe the idiot that threw the petrol on the fire a kick in the bollocks.

Reply to
ARW

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