I had a disposable butane lighter sitting in my backpack for several years without being used. Not a Bic, but one of those cheap no-name rectangular ones made of colored see-through plastic. I did use it ages ago and it worked then. Recently I had occasion to use it and it wouldn't light. It obviously had plenty of fuel, it hadn't been knocked around in any bad ways that I know of, but pressing the button wouldn't release any gas. There was no obvious rust or gunk or clogging. Shaking and tapping it didn't help. The spark wheel part worked fine.

This was a non-critical indoor situation and I guess I should have saved the thing for further diagnosis, but I just got annoyed and threw it away. I mention it here because in other circumstances, such a failure could be pretty unpleasant. I haven't seen a lighter fail like this before so I thought I'd mention it. I don't use lighters much but like to I have a few around; other equally old ones have continued to work fine. I just tested one that I think has been in my kitchen drawer since the 1990's and it lights right up.

That's strange Paul. I have never had one fail on me yet (knock on wood). Even the cheapie kind. I just looked at the ones that I bought about a year or so ago in a multi-pack. It is the clear kind like you describe. Brand name Calico, which I never heard of. They all still work fine. And they normally sit around on a shelf or in a pack or ride in my pocket as part of my EDC. I have some olders ones of various brands and they all still work. Even the one that is running on mostly fumes still works.

Maybe sitting in the pack clogged the nozzle? Who knows. Probably would be a good idea to update the lighter that just sits regularly too when you update the meds in your first aid kit. I think it would be worth it. That's why I bought that multi-pack. I guess I should take my own advice and buy a new pack. I think a pack of six cost only a buck or two as I am in the process of updating my kits and making a new one, now that my wife agreed to carry one if I make it for her.

I had a mini bic fail on me after it got damp..the wheel froze. Now I only use cricket.