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How old is too old?

How old is too old?

Old 12-13-2009, 12:14 PM
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Hey guys, if you had some O'Donnell 20% racing fuel, and it has been kept in a closet inside the house. How old is to old??? It still burns if you pour some on the ground and light it??
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Old 12-13-2009, 12:20 PM
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anything that has been opened and is over around 10 months probably isn't good. If the can was still sealed its usually good for over a year until you open it.
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Old 12-13-2009, 12:46 PM
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Unless you're in the A-main with all sponsored guys, it isn't going to matter. I've run fuel that was years old, different brands, different nitro, all mixed together, in my 1/8 buggy and it ran just fine. I wouldn't run that fuel in my $500 motor though. It will burn though.
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Old 12-13-2009, 02:21 PM
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To quote Ron Werks:

"2) I've never understood what exactly stale fuel is?? Do you mean fuel that sits for a while so it looses it's power, because this does not happen. What happens is that fuel can absorb water. How do you tell this? Honestly without running it you would have OT freeze a sample. Water will freeze before the alcohol so you would be able to see if the fuel was contaminated. If you are running and engine you will see it by unusually high temps, difficulty tuning, engine running erratically etc."

Read the full post here:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/2969404-post61.html
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Old 12-13-2009, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by icucmerc
Hey guys, if you had some O'Donnell 20% racing fuel, and it has been kept in a closet inside the house. How old is to old??? It still burns if you pour some on the ground and light it??
You never said how old it is, but it may be fine.
However, pouring some on the ground and lighting it may give the rest of
us a new entry in next year's Darwin Awards.
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Old 12-13-2009, 04:21 PM
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Cool so i am going to freeze a cup of it.... if it freezes then it's no good and if it doesnt, and it burns when I light it, it should be fine right?
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Old 12-13-2009, 07:43 PM
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If I question whether fuel is good or not, I usually just fill the tank and go drive it. If it seems to run alright, it's good. If not, you need a new gallon.

-Eric
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Old 12-14-2009, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by icucmerc
Cool so i am going to freeze a cup of it.... if it freezes then it's no good and if it doesnt, and it burns when I light it, it should be fine right?
I don't know if I would ever go so far as to actually stick it in the freezer.

My point was more to illustrate what could happen to the fuel with respect to moisture and/or contamination after sitting for so long.
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