How long does gasoline keep?
Posted by hotblooded-@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 42 comments
Hello prepping community! I live in a hurricane prone state. Gas and water are usually the first to go and over a year or two span, I’ve collected gas cans full of gas. How long does that gas keep and how do I safely get rid of the old gas and how long does it typically keep for. For the record its in a temperature controlled garage so it’s not overheating or anything, but still it’s pretty old. Thank you!
Desertraintex@reddit
With a stabilizer additive it should be about two years before it begins to degrade. Without, it begins to degrade after six months. Note however that it doesn't just up and go bad one day like milk. It will degrade over time. Modem EFI engines will be able to run lower quality fuel better than older carburetor style engines. Carbs are far more sensitive to bad fuel and if the fuel sits in the carbs itself it will really gum them up.
If you have two year old gas sitting around I'd blend it in with fresh fuel in a vehicle I drive often.
Jazman1985@reddit
I think it's important to note that degrade doesn't mean useless. I've used gas that's between 10-15 years old multiple times in an old carburated outboard. It didn't complain once. If at all possible though i'd try to use a gallon or two with every fillup instead of just 100% old gas. But desperate times have called for desperate measures.
Moral_Wombat_@reddit
Yeah no, that's bullshit lol gas will be completely separated at that long
Unidentifiedasscheek@reddit
It's not bullshit and you commented on a 3/4 year old thread. And yes, I am replying to a comment that is 10 months old.
BrandonQ1995@reddit
Bringing this thread back to life.
Gullible_Floor_4671@reddit
I'm here for this.
TheMongerOfFishes@reddit
I also like old gas
Thin-Secretary-8152@reddit
We're really doing this?
Head-Release1332@reddit
Reddit is fun
Brilliant-Aide-3759@reddit
its def not
Codornothing@reddit
It can be
joeyfn07@reddit
It is sometimes
Downvote-Negative@reddit
Not today tho
Wooden_Bag_4080@reddit
Probably is not bullshit.
I have seen some shit.
People going back to cars they've stored for 30 years, that I have helped them haul there to a junkyard where they have sat since we brought them, syphon out the fuel into containers and fill up the pickup truck to get home.
I have been there and seen it.
It was poured into a vehicle that wasn't completely empty. A 1995 Ford pickup truck.
This probably wouldn't be great for your entire fuel system: lines, pump, injectors, but it DOES work in a pinch.
BibslyBogman@reddit
Could you elaborate on that? What type of gas? Did you add in any fresh gas to the old? Did you add a stabilizer?
RockAvalanche@reddit
Take the old gas out to some very barren and remote hills (no vegetation at all) and slap some tannerite on there and have a day.
chowder007@reddit
I'm currently building up my fuel stores as well. I currently have 3 propane tanks and would line to get a 4th. I have over 5 gallon container of E free gas + Stabil. I'll be adding a new can once a month until I have 5 of them. Then in a year I'll start adding them to my car one at a time and rotate them through. That's the plan anyway.
lomlslomls@reddit
Yup, that's a good way of doing it. I have six gerry cans (\~5gal each) in my garage that I've been storing and rotating through our cars for over 10 years now. The gas is fine for about 2 years when treated with Stabil (double the amount gets you two years). I've never had problems with the fuel quality. I also have a few gallons of TruFuel as the generators start right up with that stuff without fail.
kmm198700@reddit
I know this is an old thread but do you just put the TruFuel in to the generator? That’s it? Thank you so much
lomlslomls@reddit
Correct, it’s just better/expensive gas.
kmm198700@reddit
Thank you so much. I’m ordering some I think
Agent_216@reddit
Looks like you already got your answer for time span. For future use I would just use it up and replace. For example: always have a bunch on hand and document the date you got it. Then use the oldest one whenever you need to fill your vehicle, and fill up that can to put back into storage. By that method you will have a good stockpile that shouldn't ever be too old.
hotblooded-@reddit (OP)
I did, but, the gas I have is up to a year and a half old so I’m going to have to just dump it. You wouldn’t happen to know how to safely dispose of old gasoline would you?
casiewillis06@reddit
Someone said take it to a farmer . They can use it in their tractors or to burn their fields. I wouldn't throw it away. Someone said u can add new gas in with it and it would be fine then add a stabilizer to it.
Agent_216@reddit
I do not. Probably gonna get flamed for this (get it?), but I live way out in the sticks so it usually just gets used for big bonfires. How much do you have to dispose of?
Wooden_Bag_4080@reddit
People who live in the sticks shouldn't throw bonfires.
🤭
Get it?
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[deleted]
hotblooded-@reddit (OP)
Thank youuuuu. What’s the safest way to dispose of old gas? We’re sitting on too much cause, long story short, we ended up hiring a guy to work on our lawn instead of cutting it ourselves.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[deleted]
hotblooded-@reddit (OP)
Lmfao I would do a huge, dangerous bonfire if I didn’t live in the middle of a suburbs. So just use it off slowly is the best way to go?
Live-Economics6074@reddit
Yes.
WakeUpSheeple247@reddit
Get fuel that doesn’t have ethanol
Sensitive-Log-1211@reddit
In Canada ya can’t buy ethanol free gas anymore
casper4824@reddit
93 octane and racing fuel will last longer then 87. 87 starts to degrade after 3-6 months, 93 after 9 months. So it would seem that after about 4 years after SHTF anything with a gasoline engine won't be going anywhere.
Wooden_Bag_4080@reddit
Also have you ever looked into gasifiers?
I would like to make one some day. They are vehicles that are modified to run on wood -- pellets, branches, twigs, a chair, an old 2x4, doesn't matter -- rather than gasoline.
Check em out.
casper4824@reddit
No i never heard of them. Sounds interesting though.
Wooden_Bag_4080@reddit
https://www.motherearthnews.com/sustainable-living/green-transportation/wood-gas-truck-zmaz81mjzraw/
Wooden_Bag_4080@reddit
My deeper thoughts on this topic -- bc my initial thoughts are to stock gas --
There will be foreign intervention in any American "SHTF". Gas will still arrive. In the statistically most-likely of the bug-in\bug-out scenarios, gas might not be needed, and\or the military would be locking down civilian traffic. Maybe commandeering fuel supplies.
If the whole world is hit by an extinction-inducing asteroid, having transportation won't be helpful necessarily.
If you were far enough from the point of impact and any subsequent seismic\volcanic activity, you'd have very limited amount of time to get to somewhere else, and unless you also were ready with hydroponics and a chicken coop or at least massive food stores, you'd starve if you stayed put and used that fuel to wait for "when the dust clears".
So personally, I think wood is a more valuable fuel than gas. Lasts forever. But others who are not prepared will have every tree uprooted in any area with other humans in it, so you shouldn't wait for the day after to gather wood. It takes decades to grow a big tree but just days for all the wood to be chopped.
Negative_Stranger227@reddit
All fuel can be composted.
Negative_Stranger227@reddit
Yes, I mean all. Diesel, gas, alcohol, oil.
All of it will compost.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
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