# How do I safely dispose of watered-down gasoline? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982 "2009-06-25T20:37:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/1 "2009-06-25T20:37:43Z")
My gas can, which was sitting outside, turned out to have a defective cap, and now I have several gallons of unusable gasoline. What’s the easiest & safest way to dispose of it? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/2 "2009-06-25T20:51:43Z")
Check with your city or county for where you can dispose of hazardous waste. In my area, it’s the county that handles it - batteries, paint, refrigerant, gas, oil, even old computer parts. They have weird hours and are only open a few months of the year, but that’s really our only option. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/3 "2009-06-25T21:07:03Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > but that’s really our only option. Well there’s always a drain. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/4 "2009-06-25T21:19:33Z")
Gasoline and water don’t reasdily mix. They separate VERY quickly, with the gas being on top. If you have a clear glass container and some sihphoning equipment, you should be able to remove the gasoline pretty easily. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/5 "2009-06-25T21:34:39Z")
I would also check with the Fire Department. That is who we take our hazardous household products to here. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/6 "2009-06-25T21:45:32Z")
[QUOTE=Rumor\_Watkins] Well there’s always a drain. [/QUOTE] That’s illegal in most areas. A couple legal ideas: Filter the gas through felt - the gas will go through, but the water will not pass through the felt. Gas in an open-top container such as a bucket - freeze it. The water will freeze and can be removed in one lump. A local auto dismantler may accept it - they already have to drain the fluids out of scrapped cars. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/7 "2009-06-25T22:11:17Z")
A chamois cloth will filter out water too. I’ll be giving the felt a try as it’s lot’s cheaper than getting a chamois. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/8 "2009-06-25T22:17:02Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > That’s illegal in most areas. Eh, (getting caught is) not very probable. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/9 "2009-06-25T22:27:17Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > Gasoline and water don’t reasdily mix. They separate VERY quickly, with the gas being on top. If you have a clear glass container and some sihphoning equipment, you should be able to remove the gasoline pretty easily. This is good advice. Just pour it into a clear glass container and let it separate, pour the gas off the top and put it in the lawn mower or another container. If you are careful you might only end up with water contaminated with a cup of gas or even just a few drops. That water can be put on a few weeds. Or if you live in an urban area where that isn’t a good idea, take it to wherever you take used motor oil for recycling. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/10 "2009-06-25T22:29:34Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > Eh, (getting caught is) not very probable. But getting smote by Mother Earth is. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/11 "2009-06-25T22:40:33Z")
I might be wrong but I thought at one time I heard that gas line antifreeze, will get rid of the water or mix with it and allow you to burn it. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/12 "2009-06-25T22:43:03Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > Eh, (getting caught is) not very probable. [Moderator Note] It’s still not at all helpful to propose illegal methods in response to a GQ question. Let’s try to be more responsible when answering questions in this forum Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Coalcracker0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b38774/32.png) [@Coalcracker0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coalcracker0)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/13 "2009-06-26T00:25:38Z")
Try STA-BIL, sort of like dry gas. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/14 "2009-06-26T01:32:35Z")
You can put it in a metal bucket, and light it. The gasoline will burn off, leaving the water intact! S^G [/d&r] ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/15 "2009-06-26T03:16:17Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > Gasoline and water don’t reasdily mix. They separate VERY quickly, with the gas being on top. If you have a clear glass container and some sihphoning equipment, you should be able to remove the gasoline pretty easily. Seconded - this is easy to do and works well. Much better to use the gas than to discard it. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/16 "2009-06-26T03:25:45Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Check with your city or county for where you can dispose of hazardous waste. In my area, it’s the county that handles it - batteries, paint, refrigerant, gas, oil, even old computer parts. > > They have weird hours and are only open a few months of the year, but that’s really our only option. In my area, the town dump has a tank for used motor oil, and they’re open on Saturdays year round. That’s where I’d take it. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/17 "2009-06-26T03:28:18Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Seconded - this is easy to do and works well. Much better to use the gas than to discard it. Unfortunately, it’s several gallons, and the largest glass container I have is probably about 1/2 gallon. While I would prefer to use it than to discard it, I really don’t want to have to handle it like this (which would require two gas cans, the siphon and the glass jar). Probably easiest to dispose of it in my town’s hazardous waste program. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/18 "2009-06-26T03:38:44Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Gas in an open-top container such as a bucket - freeze it. The water will freeze and can be removed in one lump. Unless you live below the Antarctic Circle, that would be a very dangerous thing to do. Gasoline fumes will concentrate inside a freezer, and it is not inconceivable that the motor, fan or other ignition source could cause an explosion and fire. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/19 "2009-06-26T04:11:03Z")
> [@PatriotGrrrl](#): > > In my area, the town dump has a tank for used motor oil, and they’re open on Saturdays year round. That’s where I’d take it. Our recycling center took away the oil collection container, because people put water and gas in the oil container. Don’t put water or gas in the oil collection container. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982/20 "2009-06-26T04:20:06Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Unless you live below the Antarctic Circle, that would be a very dangerous thing to do. Gasoline fumes will concentrate inside a freezer, and it is not inconceivable that the motor, fan or other ignition source could cause an explosion and fire. Also, when you take the can out of the freezer it will be cold. Water will condense in the gas. You are right about the ignition potential. Laboratories use special freezers that are specifically designed for flammable materials. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-safely-dispose-of-watered-down-gasoline/500982.md?page=2)