gas storage options question

me ^ | 11-3-12 | TurboZamboni

[TurboZamboni]

What are the best long term gas storage options("long" being 2-3 years)

It will be in a non-climate controlled shed with summer temps up to 100 and winter down to -30.

[steve86]

I been known to go 2.5 times regular dose for 2.5 years. I wouldn’t push it much past that although the fuel still looks pretty good although somewhat amber. No black deposits, though, like you’d get without stabilizer.

[Lurker]

Here is how we do it. We have 5 each 5 gallon Jerry cans which we fill with premium grad gasoline. We add twice the recommended amount of Sta Bil to it. Then we rotate it every 8-12 months by using one 5 gallon can per vehicle. Just add it to a half full tank and top off with fresh gasoline.

We have never had any problems.

[Errant]

100LL stores poorly.

I don't know where you're getting that information. I have used 100LL that was well over 3 yo with no problems.

Note, if you use any leaded fuel in a catalytic equipped vehicle, it will coat the converter and prevent it from doing what it does.

TurboZamboni, only use tightly seal-able, strong metal containers if storing fuel in high temp climates.

[steve86]

Using premium is a good point because you can afford to lose more octane points for regular-requiring engines. P.S. Thanks for the link the other day on the home generator setup. I still have my disposable consumer-grade 3600 rpm generators. They only have to last through the amount of fuel I have stored.

[count-your-change]

What issues are there with storage?

[TurboZamboni]

I like military jerry cans.

[Errant]

Yep, they’re great but hard to find, expensive and you need a lot of them. 15 and 55 gallon metal drums stored out of the elements have been the mainstay for fuel storage in the boonies and third world.

[Lurker]

You are very welcome. I’m pleased you found the information useful.

[Errant]

Leave as many/all empty as/if you can with the idea to fill them up at the first signs of need.

[count-your-change]

I worked at a FBO in the midwest and storage of 100LL was never a problem even after years. Some people purchased it just for that reason, to store as an emergency fuel.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I think propane can be stored almost indefinitely, but I’m not sure.

Liquid propane is stored in pressurized tanks and as you suspect is good as long as there are no leaks. If leaks should occur the gaseous propane is heavier than air and will collect in low places (basements??), creating an explosion/fire hazard. Therefore storage tanks should be outdoors and well ventilated.

Regards,
GtG

[Cicero]

Whatever you decide, rotate it. Add five gallons to newer end of the line and use five gallons from the older end of the line.

I’ve stored gas for chain saws for years. My experience has been that the gas just keeps getting worse and worse over the years—going back to the time before it was unleaded.

You say you have access to gas without ethanol, which is good. Gas with ethanol doesn’t work well after even a few weeks.

[Errant]

Yep. If there was a storage problem with 100LL, the FAA would require shelf-life records and small aircraft that sometime sit for months, would be falling out of the sky on a daily basis.

I've used it in my airplane, motorcycles, lawnmower, power-saws, generators and etc with absolutely no problems; storage or otherwise. But I won't use it in my trucks unless I have to.

There is another fuel probably worth investigating for unlimited storage life: butynol or butyl alcohol. And of course propane or CNG if convert your vehicle to use these.

[Leaning Right]

If that were true, millions of cars would be exploding every summer.

Well, that explains those booming noises I heard in the distance last summer.

[count-your-change]

I've never stored LP gas for more than a year, year and a half. No problems but for all fuels fresh is best and using the older stock up is probably the best idea.

As for the butyl alcohol, I have no experience with it but most alcohols do store well. (Yeah, that kind too!)

[righttackle44]

It’s not the gasoline. It’s the vapor—remember all these posters talking about evaporation? That’s vapor. And we in Phoenix have seen enough fires from such a scenario. Don’t laugh until you get all of the facts.

[Errant]

LOL on the other alcohols comment. It's mostly the additives in conventional gasoline reacting that create issues.

Sometimes the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if this is something intentionally done to limit fuel storage life for whatever reason(s).

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Probably the best bet would be to “dig a deep BBQ pit”, put an outdoor 75-100 gallon plastic storage box in the hole, put the 5 gallon jerrycans in there with a gap in between them and the walls, and fill up the spaces and cover the cans in kitty litter. Waterproof paint some thick plywood as a cover and put a plastic tarp over that and it should be as safe as houses.

Don’t overfill. If you store more gas than that, dig another pit and start over.

[steve86]

There is no particular resistance to gum formation compared to any other formulation of gasoline. It is true, the lead doesn't go away, so the octane is retained, but in other respects the fuel can certainly deteriorate. I was wrong in implying it is worse, but it is not any better than other fuels. The lighter components do evaporate in 100LL like other fuel, I just looked that up to verify it. Other than the octane preservation, I think the reputation for storability has more to do with sealed steel barrels than anything else. Apparently, barrels have been found at arctic outposts decades old and were still usable. Of course, Phoenix has a slightly different climate.

[steve86]

In my one ton box van I actually ended up with almost 5 gallons of gasoline on the rubber floor several years ago, soaked in, and the rest in vapor (it is fairly air tight although I always leave a vent open a little bit now). It was really a miracle no explosion occurred when I opened it up — lots of metal-to-metal contact going on. Glad my guardian angel didn’t take that day off. Don’t ever leave the generator’s fuel petcock in the on position.