The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: arobwk on November 25, 2017, 03:36:16 pm

Title: Disposal of petrol
Post by: arobwk on November 25, 2017, 03:36:16 pm
Lbarron's thread about disposing of propachlor herbicide prompts me to ask how other folk dispose of contaminated fuel.  I was pleased to find that my local civic amenity centre does take old engine coolant, but disappointed to find they won't take stale/contaminated petrol.  "Try the Police" I was advised!!   Can't think why the Police would be taking in old petrol so I haven't actually made that call!
I'm talking about the odd bit arising from garden machinery maintenance/repairs if I don't feel happy to pour any drained fuel back in. Thankfully I don't have much so I'm just storing it for now.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Me on November 25, 2017, 05:15:10 pm
I hear its good for cleaning cat litter trays
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Womble on November 25, 2017, 07:38:34 pm
See if you can find somebody with a petrol camping stove, and then just leave it running. It will go for a while, but at least you'll be rid of it safely.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: chrismahon on November 26, 2017, 07:24:11 am
We have found the 98 octane petrol lasts longer than the 95, although it is more expensive.


Bought a cheap syphon pump and tube assembly which we use to drain off petrol from equipment that is used infrequently. This was a result of trying to start a Honda generator which hadn't been used for two years- then read the Honda instructions properly and that's what you are supposed to do!


Dodgy fuel starts the bonfire, but it is a risky business and the camping stove sounds a better idea.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: SallyintNorth on November 26, 2017, 08:17:14 am
Dodgy fuel starts the bonfire, but it is a risky business

Up in Cumbria, it was quite common to start fires - indoor and out - with diesel. On one occasion a neighbour was having an outdoor party and sent a friend off to get some diesel to start the fire.  His friend brought back the tin of petrol instead.  The neighbour did realise, but decided it would be okay if he was careful.

Ambulance, paramedics, hospital and significant burns ensued.  And he says he was lucky it wasn’t worse.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: arobwk on November 26, 2017, 10:53:19 pm
The mind boggles Me!  I'm sure there's other cleaning agents for litter trays  :D
I recall once being confused by the appearance of a work colleague on our first meeting that week - he looked rather ruddy in the face and rather more youthful than his years.  It really didn't dawn on me until after our discussions that he hardly had a single hair on his head - he was very lucky to get away with just a rosy complexion and free haircut (inc eye-brows etc) from, I found out later, tossing petrol onto his bonfire.  I won't be trying that. 
Never heard of petrol-fueled stoves:  I doubt they would take kindly to any 2-stoke fuel mix, but I might look into that. 
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Womble on November 26, 2017, 11:43:15 pm
I doubt they would take kindly to any 2-stoke fuel mix

Well, I guess it might get a bit smoky, but I'm sure it will burn ok.  I have an MSR Dragonfly stove that I've run on both petrol and diesel before. TBH, I think it will burn just about anything  :) .

(https://d1l67pfsx3wblg.cloudfront.net/images/product/large/msr_dragonfly.jpg)
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: harmony on November 27, 2017, 09:30:43 am
There must be a legal way to dispose of it as garages must have to do this when they drain fuel tanks. Why not ask your local one.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: harmony on November 27, 2017, 11:55:51 am
I dread to think what he did to the cat!  :o
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: arobwk on November 27, 2017, 02:53:04 pm
There must be a legal way to dispose of it as garages must have to do this when they drain fuel tanks. Why not ask your local one.

Yes indeed: there are local companies who deal with duff fuel for "recycling", but only in bulk.  I could try a local garage I suppose (a few quid might achieve a deal), but I'm liking the idea of Womble's Dragonfly stove!  Am wondering whether a cuppa-soup will taste quite the same, but I can think of other uses. 
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: arobwk on November 27, 2017, 03:16:36 pm
Just been searching for multi-fuel stoves:  I find I might already have a multi-fuel capable Primus stove (web advertised item looks identical to one I already use for camping, which I assumed only worked with butane).  Might only need a multi-fuel tank and, I imagine, appropriate fuel supply tube to go with it - that would be good  :)   However, complete kit options at around £50 (from searches so far) not going to break the bank.  Thinking will be the solution for me.  Thanks all for your inputs, especially to Womble for the hot tip!
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: cloddopper on November 28, 2017, 08:57:06 pm
I dread to think what he did to the cat!  :o
He turned the cat into a dog by sitting the cat in the petrol soaked liter & throwing a lit match in the same direction It went , " WOOOOF "
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: cloddopper on November 28, 2017, 09:12:28 pm
Lbarron's thread about disposing of propachlor herbicide prompts me to ask how other folk dispose of contaminated fuel.  I was pleased to find that my local civic amenity centre does take old engine coolant, but disappointed to find they won't take stale/contaminated petrol.  "Try the Police" I was advised!!   Can't think why the Police would be taking in old petrol so I haven't actually made that call!
I'm talking about the odd bit arising from garden machinery maintenance/repairs if I don't feel happy to pour any drained fuel back in. Thankfully I don't have much so I'm just storing it for now.

Try asking the local fire brigrage if they want it for trainig .

 Or  pour the petrol in with the waste engine oil & recycle it  as all the oil will be heated in special tanks to evaporate & collect any volatile fluids out of the waste oil before it is boiled up & put through centrifugal cleaners to clean it for recycling with new additives for a lower grade cheaper  oil .
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: arobwk on November 30, 2017, 06:12:11 pm
Food for thought, thanks, cloddopper! 
Especially so because I now know that multi-fuel "camping" stoves are not all equal.  Was starting to wonder whether I should get one that does not require a fuel-jet change-over for different fuels.  There are a few designs that can burn any liquid fuel without swapping jets:  a "one-jet" design should surely overcome any quandary over the jet to use for 2-stroke fuel.  As might be expected though, there is a price differential!
No panic yet - my 5 ltr waste-fuel container is far from brimming.   
I shall think about your comments/investigate:  while I know that used-oil recyclers are not happy if coolant has been mixed into the oil (it happens frequently apparently), I had not considered that old-oil re-cycling processes can tolerate a bit of fuel in the mix!
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: pgkevet on December 02, 2017, 11:05:51 pm
Or just pour older petrol into your (petrol) car tank... a litre at a tme mixed in with a 40-50L full tank will work just fine.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: arobwk on December 03, 2017, 12:52:16 am
Very good thought pg'.  However, my car is a diesel and I would be reluctant to pour any amount of a 2-stroke mix into anyone else's petrol tank for fear of the possible consequences if they should ever break-down cos of some fuel system issue.  'Tis a good thought though for anyone running a petrol car with a big tank.
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Me on January 19, 2018, 02:30:04 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USS4nqgqIJo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USS4nqgqIJo)
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: cloddopper on January 22, 2018, 11:40:19 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USS4nqgqIJo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USS4nqgqIJo)


 I'm sure some seeing that on the internet will believe it's the right thing to do ..... GAWD help the rest of us
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: bazzais on February 07, 2018, 12:34:19 pm
If you have a car to scrap you can put all you old fuel and oil in the petrol tank before pickup - you can also fill the boot with plastic and break the lock  ;)
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Me on February 07, 2018, 03:55:04 pm
Also a much cheaper funeral option for any deceased loved ones
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Womble on February 07, 2018, 03:56:16 pm
^ That would require a substantially bigger cat litter tray though?  ;)
Title: Re: Disposal of petrol
Post by: Me on February 07, 2018, 06:19:15 pm
Depends on the size of the cat