# Use gasoline instead of weed killer?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 9, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374 "2008-06-09T21:34:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@milk48](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milk48)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/1 "2008-06-09T21:34:55Z")
Even at $5.00 per gallon, gas is still cheaper than weedkiller. A friend told me that gas poured on soil prevents anything from growing there. My question; why not use gas as a cheaper alternative to weedkiller?
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/2 "2008-06-09T21:43:03Z")
Gasoline is dangerous, polluting and flammable. Three reasons to stick with Roundup.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/3 "2008-06-09T21:55:08Z")
In most cases, people use weedkiller to kill off weeds either prior to planting something else that they _do_ want growing there, or they use it to carefully kill weeds that are growing below, around, or amongst other cultivated plants they want to keep. Gasoline would not perform well in these most common of scenarios.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/4 "2008-06-09T22:01:40Z")
Pollution more than anything. Gasoline will stay in the soil, not break down, and establish a dead zone.
True story. When I was about 12, a car dropped its gas tank right in front of our house. We waited a couple of days to see if the owner would come back, then tried to get rid of the eyesore. The tank was nearly full and very heavy, so we poured off some of the gasoline onto the lawn. I was in college before anything grew in that spot again.
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/5 "2008-06-10T02:28:08Z")
Roundup kills weeds, then breaks down. It has no residual soil activity, so it is relatively safe to use.
As an environmental engineer, I can’t emphasize enough that you should not intentionally pour gasoline on soil. Besides the fact that it is illegal in every U.S. state to do this, petroleum compounds pollute the soil and groundwater. They are also very difficult to clean up. Gasoline is particularly bad because it often contains MTBE, which is a carcinogen that is soluble in water and can spread great distances.
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### Author:  [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/6 "2008-06-10T02:40:40Z")
Roundup also runs about $10/acre, which has to be vastly, vastly cheaper than spraying gasoline. Roundup is only expensive if you buy it in those little squirt bottles at the garden centre.
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/7 "2008-06-10T02:50:36Z")
I tried using weedkiller. Not only was it _way_ expensive, my car wouldn’t run on it at all, and in fact, I think it screwed up the engine pretty badly.
You don’t think I used too much water in the dilution, do you?
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/8 "2008-06-10T04:19:42Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99]
You don’t think I used too much water in the dilution, do you?
[/QUOTE]
You probably did. You should add more concentrate to get it to the proper dilution ratio.
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### Author:  [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/9 "2008-06-10T10:55:39Z")
I tried gasoline on the grass popping up thru the cracks in my driveway, no dice it wont die. Rant: weed killer, bleach, boiling water, gas, the stuff wont die!! :mad:
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-gasoline-instead-of-weed-killer/452374/10 "2008-06-10T11:15:06Z")
Here’s the best reason. It’s the most expensive thing you could use. You’re financially responsible for the hazardous waste clean up costs.