What's the longest you can store gasoline with STA-BIL?

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biobennett@reddit

12, 5 gallon Jerry cans that get rotated is my method.

Full one each month, use one each month, rotate and you'll never have any gas that's more than a year old.

If you don't use 5 gallons in a month between a lawn tractor, chainsaw, etc you can always dump the extra in your car tank before heading to the gas station.

I try to get ethanol free gas for my stored gas and have never had any issues with this method. It so gives me 55-60 gallons of relatively fresh gas on hand in case of an extended power outage or, if for some reason we have to drive both vehicles to another family members house due to a regional disaster.

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Electrical_Ad_1371@reddit

I just picked up a dry 250-300 oil tank , it was brand new 10 years ago , but it sat outside unused for 10 years, inside is spotless , I was planning on filling this up with gas to use for my generators, tractor, lawnmower, ect. Really just want the extra around for extended power outtages , happens alot around here. Would you use the steel tank or would you store it in a plastic one?

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biobennett@reddit

I'll be honest if it was diesel I'd say go for it, but I have no experience with gasoline in a tank that size so I can't give you any informed opinions on that

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davidm2232@reddit

60 gallons really won't get you too far. In a long term fuel shortage, you could burn through that in a few weeks just driving to work.

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jtj5002@reddit

I don't think anyone is going to work if we are having a long tern fuel shortage.

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East_Moose_683@reddit

Additionally 60 gallons would never get me a "few" weeks of driving to/from work. Maybe if I had a hybrid and worked around the corner.

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davidm2232@reddit

Why not? Prices for everything will be crazy high. Keeping funds coming in will be very important. Having a few hundred gallons of 'cheap' fuel stockpiled to get through the crises will be very important. It may be the difference between being financially stable or not.

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biobennett@reddit

So, I think this is a "there's many right ways to prep, but you have to decide what's best for you" situations.

I support investigational medical device implants and checkups, that puts me at local hospitals for my job for days I have to go into work.

If there's some large event that makes gas a hard to get commodity locally, many of our doctors and support staff who may live up to an hour from the hospitals simply won't be coming into work. Most people around me have 0-10 gallons of gas in storage at any moment, so 60 is a pretty big step up.

If I decide to stay, 60 gallons will last a long time in the generator, cycling it on/off to keep the freezers cold and the well pump cycling to fill up the pressure tanks.

If it's a regional issue, I'd likely take PTO, which as the name implies I should still get paid for, and head to a family place in another state/region

60 gallons would give 40 for the SUV and 20 for the car. That's roughly 800 miles for each vehicle which is a pretty good distance, and we never let our vehicles get below 75% on the gas gauge.

It's also a lot easier to move 5 gallon cans than a 250 gallon tank (which from your posts seems to be your preference and I don't doubt that it's the right decision for you).

So from my perspective, this strategy works for my family and our situation and planning. I'm sure your plan works equally well or even better for you and yours.

Just because someone may have a different way of prepping doesn't make it wrong for them, even if it's wrong for you. I think we should encourage everyone to prep in a way that fits their own situations and goals instead of trying to argue that our method is best

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davidm2232@reddit

As long as everyone understands that gas prices could easily double overnight in an emergency. It could be from a major disaster on the other side of the world. But I know my boss is still expecting ne at work as are most others. Prepping is about looking at likely scenarios and proactively solving those problems. 5 gallon cans are an absolute pain. Once you have a gas pump at home you'll never live without them.

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improbablydrunknlw@reddit

If it's an emergency, and a true emergency there are very few jobs are going to be expected in, emergency services, healthcare, water and power workers, lineman, and possibly transit. Outside of that no one else is working in a true city or province wide emergency.

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davidm2232@reddit

It's going to be the same 'essential workers' that worked during the pandemic. I knew very few people that weren't considered essential workers. For example, I worked at a bank and had to be there every day through the height of covid.

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RevampedZebra@reddit

If they could read they would be very upset with you.

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biobennett@reddit

Thanks Hank Hill

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RevampedZebra@reddit

Yup anytime

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rstevenb61@reddit

Ethanol free gas is the key factor.

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TemetNosce@reddit

Ethynol free is the only way to go. https://www.pure-gas.org/ Click on your State, scroll down and find your city.

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Walts_Ahole@reddit

Local QuikTrip has ethanol free, but further away Bucees has it as well

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ARUokDaie@reddit

Make sure to flush the line about 1 gallon in your vehicle first, then fill the can.

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TemetNosce@reddit

I bought a used zero turn mower last week. I have no clue what gas is in there. Tomorrow, I am running that mower to empty even though my yard doesn't need mowing. I also don't know the size of the tank. I have 4 gallons 93 octane no ethynol waiting for me when I run out.

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Realtemplar1@reddit

Google up the manual for it, it will tell you fuel tank size.

if me, I would put appropriate b amount of fuel treatment in and fill up with best gas you can afford. If it started when you purchased it and drove onto transport bed, you should be fine.

change oil and filter…. Good luck

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-Raskyl@reddit

Could just siphon/pump the gas out and put it in something else, like your car. No reason to just let your mower run for a few hours.

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Walts_Ahole@reddit

This is my preferred method, but years of traveling for extender periods got me off track. Burned some gas recently that was at least 5 years old, mixed with new gas & powered the genny just fine. Wouldn't do if it didn't have stabil on it.

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BEHONESTFIRST@reddit

Yes, I rotate too. Sta-Bil and rotation insures a fresh supply.

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OlderNerd@reddit

FYI, if you have a rewards program at a gas station, you can maximize your discount by filling up multiple cans along with your car. Our grocery store program allows you to use the discount for up to 35 gallons at once. My car only holds 14 gallons. So sometimes use up the gas in my 4 5-gallon cans first, then fill them all up at the pump with my car.
Of course the drawback is that I potentially could need gas when all the cans are empty. So I'm working on buying more!

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up2late@reddit

Not going to work for me. My Ram has has about a 36 gal tank. I never let it get that low but I'll run it down to 1/4 if I'm busy.

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biobennett@reddit

That's a good thing to consider, thanks!

For me right now I fill up at Costco and generally it's 20 cents per gallon cheaper than the other gas stations and the associated credit card perks on top of it make it pretty compelling.

Filling one can at a time also raises less suspicion in my experience

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OlderNerd@reddit

FYI, if you have a rewards program at a gas station, you can maximize your discount by filling up multiple cans along with your car. Our grocery store program allows you to use the discount for up to 35 gallons at once. My car only holds 14 gallons. So sometimes use up the gas in my 4 5-gallon cans first, then fill them all up at the pump with my car.
Of course the drawback is that I potentially could need gas when all the cans are empty. So I'm working on buying more!

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BallsOutKrunked@reddit

I had two year old unstabilized gas in chainsaw that ran good enough, and 5 year old unstabilized gas in a mid 90s land cruiser that worked.

This whole boogeyman about gas lasting 3 months is bullshit. I mean think of all the dirt bikes and lawn mowers out there, sitting all winter. Very rare that tanks need to be drained.

That said, I put stabil in anything that's not a daily driver, or make sure two stroke oil has stabilizers in it for premix.

I'd be wary of anything stabilized past two years, but like I said my Husqvarna chainsaw ran fine with non stabilized after two years.

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swamphockey@reddit

I’ve never heard of the 3 month notion. I let my car sit 16 months one time and it started and ran fine on the gas that was in the tank.

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BallsOutKrunked@reddit

Yeah, read some of the other replies to this thread. You'll see people with some zany views of how fast gas goes bad and rather time consuming management routines towards rotating gas.

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Try_Another_Please@reddit

Old theead butnwas doing some research. I tell people I've seen someone turn on a car after 8 to 9 years and they act like I'm trying to trick them lol

Obviously you'd never choose to do that normally but it's not some magic turn off switch after 3 months lol

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improbablydrunknlw@reddit

Yeah I agree, I'm running my lawnmower off three year old untreated gas, it starts first pull every time.

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YardFudge@reddit

Agree.

Model T’s run great on crap gasoline… since that’s what they were designed for

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BallsOutKrunked@reddit

Yeah fair enough. My land cruiser engine is the FZJ80 which was definitely modeled after utility. The version I heard is that it's expected to last 300k miles between rebuilds, 3 times, getting you to 1 million miles which is the transmission life. But regardless it's a 15mpg pig (never breaking 70mph) but it never once let me down.

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Your land cruiser ran off 5 year old gas??? How could it have gas in it for so long? Wouldnt the fumes just leak/evaporate? This is the first im hearing of this

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BallsOutKrunked@reddit

A 20 gallon gas tank takes a long time to vaporize off, and now that I'm remembering it a land cruiser's gas tank is pressurized if memory serves. Maybe they all are, but I remember getting a gas cap replacement and realizing that it was sealed.

It certainly ran better with fresh gas, but it started well enough and drove. Good enough for me and didn't need to clean injectors or the tank (and drain a tank).

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Turdferguson340@reddit

Buy 100ll instead. Easily lasts a decade

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Isnt that....for planes?

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Turdferguson340@reddit

Yes but can run in anything if it doesn’t have catalytic conversation or 02 sensors

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Will you get less gas mileage from it in a car?

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ramsdl52@reddit

Project farm

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lomlslomls@reddit

The directions say you can double the dose and thus extend the shelf life. I've been doing this for 20 years and rotate my jerrycans after two years. Never had a problem.

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BallsOutKrunked@reddit

huh, never knew you could double it!

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tactical_sweatpants@reddit

Double it and give it to the next guy

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User125699@reddit

What if instead of buying gasoline we just buy sta-bil and burn only at sta-bil?

/s

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Soulr3bl@reddit

You can but you gotta at Sta-Bil to it or else it'll go bad

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User125699@reddit

ULTRA STA-BIL

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howismyspelling@reddit

STA-BILception

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chasonreddit@reddit

My god. You've discovered a metastabil element!

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CacheValue@reddit

Gotta burn sta-bil to make sta-bil!

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Iamhungryhearmeroar@reddit

You sound like a pro so i’m just going to ask you here. Do you know if it also works on mixed gas (for instance for outboard motors?).

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Intubater69@reddit

Same

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

So if the regular shelf life is 2 years, with 2x dose it can last 4 years? And by rotate your cans do you mean you use the gas in them every 2 years and refill them?

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TheSensiblePrepper@reddit

Even with Sta-Bil, I never store gasoline for longer than 6 months.

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driverdan@reddit

This is nonsense.

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lostscause@reddit

Gasoline degrades, it doesn't just go bad after X amount of time. If you store 96 octane 6 months from now (aprox) you will have 89 octane gas. You can extend this by adding STA-BIL or equivalent. You can add octane booster and filter to bring the grade back up to usable levels but your mileage may vary. (pun intended)

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lostscause@reddit

What's your long term storage solution for gasoline?

Store Propane as its shelf life is measured in decades not months.

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Pepelepewpew02@reddit

Just a secondary question. Those of you who are storing more than a 5 gallon container of gas are storing it in an out building of some kind, correct? I'd be worried about having a large amount in an attached garage.

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You-go-1st@reddit

On the stabil bottle is states 2 years, I called the company and they said it's 2 years from the day you open the bottle. Apparently it loses it's umpf too. So I rotate also. The big bottle of stabil is around $14 dollars at the big orange box store. And wallyworld here only carries the small bottles, so the big bottle is more cost effective. Also I have only bought 3 cans in my life a 1 gallon, a 2 gallon, and a 5 gallon. But I do stop every time I see one on the side of the road that blew out of somebody's truck.

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cinesias@reddit

What if you put fresh Stabil in the old Stabil, does it gain another 2 years of preservation ability?

BRB, going to go boil this stuff on my gas stove to distill it down enough to stabilize gas for a decade.

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You-go-1st@reddit

idk, but let me know how that turns out.

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ColdasJones@reddit

an important note about stabil: it will extend your gas life to two years past the date the bottle was opened. If you have an 1.5 year old open bottle of stabil, it wont make your gas last two years past date of mixing into gas at that point. at least thats what the bottle says.

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Quiet_Ad6925@reddit

I like to use seafoam instead. I've heard a maintenance guy from work saying he's started a tractor after 10years using seafoam.

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Damn! Seafoam it is

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Quiet_Ad6925@reddit

Google the difference between the 2. I think seaform works better. Stabil just makes a film on top. Seafoam mixes

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Had no idea it was that much better

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Led_Zeppole_73@reddit

I’ve always been told Seafoam is the better product, by mechanics.

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

I thought that was for cleaning your engine?

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Led_Zeppole_73@reddit

It does that too.
https://seafoamworks.com/knowledge-base/how-to-use-sea-foam-in-fuel/

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Awesome. If i add some, and then 2 years later i add more seafoam will that extend the life of the gas? Or is it 2 years no matter what?

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less_butter@reddit

But why would you do that? Why not just use that gas after 2 years and buy fresh gas? Or are you talking about what to do if you can't buy gas anymore?

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Both. I like the idea of stockpiling fuel/resources in different reserves in different properties/areas in case I ever had to leave my area. But not very convenient to have to refill them every 1-2 years

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Led_Zeppole_73@reddit

Not sure, but I would definitely use it and rotate with new gasoline within that two years.

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ilreppans@reddit

Yup, Seafoam > Stabil for me too.

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TheSultanOfOkra@reddit

Owning boats the last 20 years and using just about every product available I have come to this conclusion as well. Nothing works as well as seafoam. I've used sta bil, ring free, star tron, all of em. Seafoam is all I buy for everything now.

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Fun_Protection_6168@reddit

that is all I use and love it

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

So its not just for engine cleaning?

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dirtybabydaddy@reddit

If you read the label it talks about fuel stabilization for storage. Can’t remember if it’s the same dosage as fuel system cleaning or slightly higher

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AdditionalAd9794@reddit

I have an old boat that has been sitting for two years. It started fine with the old gas, no problems, no noticeable knocking.

With that said, sure, I believe gas degrades after two years, just not to the degree people pushing these products want you to believe

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dgillott@reddit

Just as an FYI also in new engines, do not leave the gas to sit in the carbs, The Stabil will gunk up floats, etc....

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cplus4@reddit

I’ve had stabil’d gas in two 5 gallon containers in my garage for over 2 years with no issue in my lawnmower. Probably could go longer if I wanted.

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Vollen595@reddit

Just for a reference point I had 25 gallons of gas in plastic cans I didn’t know what to do with. I added 2 bottles of Heet to each (pure methanol) and mixed it with regular gas for generators. No issues. So I put 5 gal of the same gas in my truck with maybe 15 already in it. It idled a bit rough but burned it no problem with no check engine lights. Worth a shot in generators at least. Maybe a tractor.

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up2late@reddit

I have a jeep that's not tagged so it's a pain to fill up. I just use it on the farm. Needs a new battery so I have to jump it off when I use it but it is the best way to get to the back part of my property. The gas in it is over 2 years old and I know it will fire up. Last time it was started was mid June and it did fine.

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KeithJamesB@reddit

You obviously have something that uses gasoline so why wouldn't you just rotate it?

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davidm2232@reddit

What if you have to ration it? For a long term emergency

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KeithJamesB@reddit

If you're stock-piling large quantities of fuel, gasoline is a poor choice but you probably already know that. Even a hundred gallons rationed won't last that long.

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davidm2232@reddit

I like the idea of diversification. Plus things like atvs and snowmobiles are almost impossible to find in diesel. I keep 400-550 in diesel also

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KeithJamesB@reddit

So how much gasoline are you storing? More than a six-month supply?

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davidm2232@reddit

Around 200 gallons. I cycle through it every 10-12 months or so

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KeithJamesB@reddit

So what's your secret to keeping it fresh?

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davidm2232@reddit

I just run stabil. Haven't had any issues.

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KeithJamesB@reddit

Excellent, good to know.

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plsobeytrafficlights@reddit

i need to set up a calendar reminder to rotate things. gas, food, ammo, even water! i had some big containers of water break down over time and it ruined my shelves. rotate!

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xaidin@reddit

I use 5-6 year old gas daily that was stored with sta-bil. The catch here is it's stored in steel drums filled to the brim, in a semi climate stable environment. As part of my rotation, I use the old stuff first, and never any issues.

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ResponsibleBank1387@reddit

rotate the use, none of my gas is older than 4 or 5 months.

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BrobdingnagLilliput@reddit

Good prep, but how long do you expect it to last if e.g. there's an oil embargo imposed on your country and there's a serious gasoline shortage?

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ResponsibleBank1387@reddit

Politicians will cave when their handlers turn off the money.

The USA is pumping more oil out its territory grounds than ever before. Venezuela has more oil to pump and ship when the money is right, they are shipping just under an embargo. Russia is under an export embargo and oil is still being sold. Gasoline shortages are normally local and self inflected.

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BrobdingnagLilliput@reddit

I'm still curious how long you expect your gasoline to last you if there's a shortage. I've no interest in discussing politics.

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ResponsibleBank1387@reddit

normal use 36 days, only APU 360 days. That's why I have what I need, not what some dreamy omg hoarder thinks I need.

Politics will be the only reason for a "shortage"

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

Or if you have a safe house with a giant gas tank that only visit once a year or so

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ResponsibleBank1387@reddit

how f ing gallons do I need? The big tank gets filled and used then refilled. If I am just sitting here I sure don't use much fuel, so that tank should last. The APU running for electricity and A/C burns just over 1 gallon an hour... 24/ day, 150 per week, 600 a month... so less than 10,000 gal for a year.

I use my preps, I don't store them. I buy and use stuff I use, not to put in storage for some reddawn reason.

In storage at our office is crates of AK47s and enough ammo to take over North America. Why? Because my friend thinks that's what he needs.

Moderation is the only thing I'm trying to say.

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greylocke100@reddit

It depends on various factors.

Does it have ethanol in it

How it is stored (type of container, temperature humidity, vented, non-vented, formulation [summer gas/winter gas] and octane level)

Usually non-ethanol blend gas with Stabil can be stored in a non-vented steel safety can for up to 2 years, if stored in a temperature and humidity controlled area. Temps need to be under 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity under 65%.

Normal storage in a plastic can with a vented top I wouldn't store for more than 12-14 months.

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Chonkycat762x39@reddit

Here in Utah we have 88 ethanol free gas. It seems to last way longer and runs my small engines better.

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kojiros@reddit

I know a guy that used 7+ year old ethanol free in metal Jerry cans. I think anything under a year or two I’d use with no worries, especially if your adding just a few gallons to a large fuel tank.

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Deveak@reddit

PRI is better, supposed to be indefinite as long as you add it every year and it keeps indefinitely in the bottle if sealed.

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kojiros@reddit

PRI-G and PRI-D is what the military uses. It’s what I’ve always used and have stored fuel with it for 2-3 years without any issues. I like to just rotate to be safe, but wouldn’t hesitate to go 5+.

I’m still using the same jug of PRI-G from 10 years ago. I would suggest only getting 16oz since it treats like 250 gallons, unless you store a lot of fuel.

I also use ethanol free in metal Jerry cans. I think this is the nicest combo, so do what you can afford.

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averyycuriousman@reddit (OP)

So as long as you add x amount to your gasoline it will keep it stable forever?? I also have never heard of this

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Deveak@reddit

That’s according to the manufacturer. YMMV.

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BrobdingnagLilliput@reddit

There isn't really long-term storage for gasoline. It eventually goes goes bad chemically. The chemistry of gasoline is complicated, but the short version is that over time it absorbs moisture, oxidizes, and loses the volatile components that help it ignite. You can maximize useful storage time by buying gasoline with NO ethanol, adding a preservative, and minimizing the amount of air in the tank or container.

If you really want to prep for a future without access to gasoline, look into bio-diesel.

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FrogFlavor@reddit

You accidentally said winter summer

But yes I agree, There is no long term gasoline storage solution. Use it or lose it.

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GreenPL8@reddit

Which is why propane wins the storage war.

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FrogFlavor@reddit

Yeah I agree with that too

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BrobdingnagLilliput@reddit

Fixed. Thanks!

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Deveak@reddit

You can separate gasoline from e85, use the crappy 15% gas in mowers and low compression engines right away and if your willing to convert to ethanol, PURE ethanol has an almost indefinite shelf life if kept sealed and can lasts decades if kept cool on a container (evaporation point is 50-60 degrees).

Biodiesel has its own issues. Poor shelf life. Oxidizes. Not a problem if you keep making it though.

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ForwardPlantain2830@reddit

I would just burn it in your car instead of dosing it again. You should also be looking into how you can refill your cans from your car tank. Figure out where the fuel injection test port is and getting the right fittings to be able to cycle your key (or jump the relay) to be able to fill another container. I do that and keep my cars above a half tank instead of worrying about keeping stored gas.

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jtj5002@reddit

Ethanol gas in plastic cans is 6 month max with or without stabil for optimal use. You can get by with for longer in some engines but it's not ideal.

Ethanol free gas in metal cans should be good for a year or 2. Once again some engines are more tolerate than others. Most small carb engines will run on pretty much anything.

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silveroranges@reddit

My personal experience;

Conditions: South Florida, under an awning, outside. 65f in winter for a day or two to 100f in summer, high humidity.

What: Ethanol Free marine fuel in a 6 gallon boat fuel tank, with Sta-Bil added.

How long: it ran a 6HP mercury outboard after sitting for 2.5 years, without a noticable difference.

Notes: I kept the fuel tank very full for that duration, which stopped any expansion from the gasoline fumes. I think this helped a lot since the gas wasn't constantly evaporating with heat then condensing back into liquid every day/night cycle. I also kept the vent closed and the cap tightly sealed.

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IrishSetterPuppy@reddit

From experience with E15 California gas it's been fine as old as 9 years with no Sta-bil for me.

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ohyeahwell@reddit

I use seafoam or stabil, and rotate every year or two. If it's older than that I take it to the county hazardous dropoff. I'm only storing 15gal.

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GilbertGilbert13@reddit

That's a waste. Just put it in your car before it gets old

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ohyeahwell@reddit

I do, but if it's at all suspect I'm not going to risk my car over $30 in gas. I usually add a gallon or two to an otherwise fresh tank of gas just to dilute.

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patrick_schliesing@reddit

Today's cars are pretty advanced in their ability to detect, and accommodate, "bad gas". My SUV for example recommends premium 91 octane, but here in Alaska I've been to pump stations that only have 87 octane that may have been sitting all winter waiting for a summer resupply, and the engine does fine.

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angelina9999@reddit

so what happens if it is your car/tank for a few years and you try to use it , will it ruin your engine?

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Kevthebassman@reddit

I stored a bunch of ethanol free treated with marine sta-bil when Covid started making things weird.

I just used the last of that gasoline, been using it to mow, run generators, etc. The last drop of it ran just as smooth in my mower as if I had pumped it yesterday. These cans were stored in a shed, exposed to Midwest temperature swings.

If you stored ethanol free treated gasoline in sealed containers in a cool, dry place, and refreshed the treatment every couple of years, I bet it would go a long time.

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Nezwin@reddit

I had a similar experience in Australia 2017-2021. Stored in a shed, lots of temperature swings. I was using 18 month old fuel, no problem. It wasn't even stabilized.

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davidm2232@reddit

2 years or so. But it will start deteriorating after a few months. It is a slow process though. I have a Jeep with 5+ year old gas and it still runs. Not well, but it still runs

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Hairy_Combination586@reddit

From 2020 through now I worked from home and drove my car 6 or 7 times a year (usually waited and drove my husband's car). My pre covid tank of gas lasted 2 years before I had to fill up again. No stabil, no performance problems, though I was expecting them. Got lucky I guess.

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