# What do I do with old gasoline? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 3, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150 "2003-11-03T14:29:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/1 "2003-11-03T14:29:51Z")
I have an older truck that is not running ATM because it’s gas is contaminated with a bunch of water. Later today, I am going to drain the gas tank, but when I’m done I’ll have about 5 gallons of a water/gas mix. I can handle draining the tank alright, but I have no idea of how to dispose of this old gas. What is the proper way to get rid of this? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/2 "2003-11-03T15:01:43Z")
Mix? Won’t it separate out if left standing, allowing you to separate it by siphoning or titration? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/3 "2003-11-03T15:07:40Z")
I think local disposal laws might vary. As a painter/remodeler, I have to pay to dispose of certain hazardous wastes through the sanitation department. One of your city bills should have a phone number. If not, check the Blue Pages. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/4 "2003-11-03T15:57:30Z")
Call your local dump. Mine is happy to take paints, solvents and chemicals rather than have people throw them into the drain. Mine also didn’t charge me, since I’m only a homeowner and wasn’t getting rid of industrial quantities of the stuff. They were happy, though, to take about 30 half-filled paint cans left behind by the previous owner. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/5 "2003-11-03T17:22:23Z")
I remember an SDMB thread a couple years ago that dealt with this issue. Try searching for it. From the thread I seem to recall that simply burning it was one of the best solutions. Assuming, of course, that local ordinances will allow it… ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/6 "2003-11-03T17:32:57Z")
Hmmm, autumn is the perfect time for a bonfire. 😃 Seriously, check with a quick lube place, they might take it off your hands for you. Or a recycling center. We have a place locally that will accept hazardous household waste, such as this. Definitely do not dump it. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-with-old-gasoline/211150/7 "2003-11-03T18:47:44Z")
Mangetout is correct - it should be reasonably easy to separate. Get a largish glass (or at least transparent) container. Pour in some of the contaminated mixture and let it sit until it has separated. You’ll have fairly clean gas on top, and a mostly water mixture on the bottom. With a plastic syphon hose and some care, you can syphon the water into another container, leaving usable gas. You’ll be generating a lot less pollution than if you try to dispose of the whole 5 gallons.