Does gasoline no longer turn yellow/orange with age?

[The motor guy]

Someone gave me gas that was supposidly two years old, well all the old gas I've ever seen has had an orange tint to it and this stuff came out clear looking just like straight out of the pump. Almost wish I didn't give it away.

 

[Lubener]

I go by the smell of the gas not the color.

 

[FCD]

Here in Spain at some stations tt's blue right out of the pump.

 

[atikovi]

I have gas much older than that in some of the cars I have stored away. Never have problems getting them back on the road again.

 

[MrMoody]

Originally Posted by Lubener
I go by the smell of the gas not the color.
Yes, gasoline develops an odd sour smell when it goes bad.

Gasoline will keep indefinitely in a tightly sealed container that holds pressure. It gets ruined when the volatiles gas off.

I've heard you shouldn't run winter gas in the summer or vice versa, but I haven't seen it cause an issue.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Oh it does. I don't know how old it was, but the gas that came out of my generator when I bought it was dark yellow and varnish.

 

[Rand]

it depends on how it was stored.. in a sealed container it lasts much better

in my cheapo backup snowblower it was orange in 1 year.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted by Rand
it depends on how it was stored.. in a sealed container it lasts much better

in my cheapo backup snowblower it was orange in 1 year.


Maybe because the gas cap is vented once put into something like a mower. The gas cans are sealed. Never thought of that.

 

[jhellwig]

Color and smell are no indication of age as gasoline is made differently from refinery to refinery and time of year. Some will smell nasty and change color quickly while others take a long time to change.

 

[330indy]

it's also worth noting that today's cars' tanks are quite sealed up due to EPA regs.

 

[y_p_w]

it's also worth noting that today's cars' tanks are quite sealed up due to EPA regs.

Not just sealed, but tanks are pressurized with fuel vapor such there's not much free oxygen that might oxidize the fuel.

 

[330indy]

Not just sealed, but tanks are pressurized with fuel vapor such there's not much free oxygen that might oxidize the fuel.

Good to know— thanks