php 8.2 error with Carbon, comparison operator

[BataBoom]

$currentDatetime = Carbon::now();
Error Query: $db->rawQuery("SELECT * FROM `am_store` WHERE `expires` < ".$currentDatetime->toDateTimeString());
Temporary Fix Query: $db->rawQuery("SELECT * FROM `am_store` WHERE `expires` < "."'".$currentDatetime->toDateTimeString()."'"); 

php verison 8.2.10
DEPRECATED str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($search) of type array|string is deprecated in vendor/thingengineer/mysqli-database-class/MysqliDb.php on line 559.

mysqli_sql_exception

You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MariaDB server version for the right syntax to use near ' 05:00:56' at line 1

at vendor/thingengineer/mysqli-database-class/MysqliDb.php:1995

$db->where ("expires", "<", $currentDatetime->toDateTimeString());
You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MariaDB server version for the right syntax to use near '  2023-  09-  07   05:08:55 ?' at line   1

Appears to add wonky spaces. Also the temporary fix appears to only work for SELECT queries, not DELETE.