# I put too much oil in my trimmer's gas tank
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 4, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283 "2009-08-04T12:29:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/1 "2009-08-04T12:29:59Z")
The bad news:
When I bought my new trimmer last week, I bought a new gas can exclusively for it, as well as oil for the gas mix (it’s a 2 stroke engine). I filled the gas can up on the way home, using the oil. BIG MISTAKE. When I got home, I opened the box, and saw this tiny little 2.6 oz container of oil to use for every 1 gallon of gas. I used way too much oil.
The good news:
I didn’t put the gas into my trimmer.
So - a few questions. What do I do with this gas mixture? I’m not going to pour it out, obviously. Will someone out there dispose of it for me (for a fee, I would imagine)? Can I actually use it in my trimmer (which I’d find unlikely)?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/2 "2009-08-04T13:26:52Z")
People normally figure out the ratio they really mixed the gas at and then add gas to get the correct mixture.
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/3 "2009-08-04T13:59:00Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#):
>
> People normally figure out the ratio they really mixed the gas at and then add gas to get the correct mixture.
Exactly. Get another gasoline container, fill with the appropriate amount of your oil-rich gasoline, and dilute with fresh gas.
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/4 "2009-08-04T14:06:56Z")
I would just put it in my car.
That’s how I always disposed of pre-mix that I didn’t need. Having a variety of boats and other two-cycle engines means extra gas all over the place in the Autumn.
Car Talk covered this and they said a gallon or so is just fine.
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### Author:  [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/5 "2009-08-04T14:17:39Z")
Either of those suggestions cover what I would do. And have done.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/6 "2009-08-04T16:32:37Z")
I have two 1-gallon cans, one mixed with oil for my trimmer, and one unmixed for my mower.
Naturally, the first time I mixed the gas, I put in twice as much oil as was required. To correct it, I eyeballed: every time I filled the trimmer, I’d fill about half the tank with my mixed gas (the trimmer has a clear plastic fuel tank, so it’s easy to see how much you’re putting in), and fill it the rest of the way with the unmixed gas. Ta da! Correct ratio. And I didn’t have to spend money on a third gas tank that I didn’t need.
Edited to add: you asked if you could use it in your trimmer, and it’s possible that you could, depending upon just how much extra oil you put in there. In my case, it probably just would’ve meant more smoke while I used the trimmer. But if you put a whole quart in or something, I wouldn’t try it.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/7 "2009-08-04T17:00:20Z")
Nice! The suggestions keep getting easier and easier as we go. Everyone keep posting - soon, my yard will trim itself!
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/8 "2009-08-04T17:55:46Z")
How much more oil did you add above the recommended ratio?
A little extra oil is fine. That’s why we need to know. Give us some measurements.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/9 "2009-08-04T18:08:04Z")
> [@Philster](#):
>
> How much more oil did you add above the recommended ratio?
>
> A little extra oil is fine. That’s why we need to know. Give us some measurements.
I’d love to, but I threw the container away when I filled the gas. I wasn’t a quart - probably 6 oz or so. I have to go by the hardware store some time this week - I’ll check then.
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/10 "2009-08-04T18:11:53Z")
Don’t bother with extra gas cans, or remixing and releasing a bunch of vapors/ozone. If your car has anything more than a half a tank of gas, dump it in there.
Really, the best thing to do is keep it simple. Start fresh. Keep it all clean and enviro-friendly.
Then put in the small bottle of oil and then gas the can back up to the proper ratio.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/11 "2009-08-04T18:53:24Z")
> [@Munch](#):
>
> Nice! The suggestions keep getting easier and easier as we go. Everyone keep posting - soon, my yard will trim itself!
Pour the oil/gas mix wherever you would normally use the trimmer. To speed things up, toss a lit match onto the lawn afterwards.
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### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/12 "2009-08-04T23:56:18Z")
> [@Philster](#):
>
> Don’t bother with extra gas cans, or remixing and releasing a bunch of vapors/ozone. If your car has anything more than a half a tank of gas, dump it in there.
Really? Will the car smoke more than usual? Won’t it hurt the spark plugs? I take Car Talk for gospel all the time, but this is really counter intuitive for me.
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### Author:  [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-put-too-much-oil-in-my-trimmers-gas-tank/505283/13 "2009-08-05T02:37:55Z")
The oil burns off without fouling plugs. It’s designed to do that, and at such diluted levels, it really does very little, if anything.