On Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:47:55 -0400, Peter Hendra
wrote:

Hi,
in the back of my mind I seem to recall hearing that the mixed oil and
petrol fuel as is used in outboards "ages"

Can anyone advise as to whether this is correct?

cheers,
Peter

In my experience, "old" gas has never been a problem. By old I mean 6
months or more for mixed oil/gas and as much as 24 years old for unmixed
gas. The latter was in an old grass edger that I didn't use any more but
would start every year or so just to see if it still started. Believe it
or not!

We were sailing on Monday with a small 5 hp 2 stroke outboard
(Mercury/Tohatsu) that had not been run for 6 months and I had to crank it
5-6 times but then it ran just fine with old gas. I do clean or change the
spark plug and lower lubricant every year though. I don't use additives
such as Stabil.

Our 4 stroke 6hp John Deere lawnmower (Kawasaki engine) started last week
on the first try. It was about 1/3 full before I topped it off and started
it. My small power washer also started on the first try yesterday.

That's my experience. It seems to me that there is way too much hype about
"old" gas. YMMV