Gasoline storage

[00tec]

So, there are endless articles about long term gasoline storage put there. I am interested in real life experiences with longer term gasoline storage. I dont need much, but want to keep maybe 25 gallons around.

Most of the articles out there say 3-6 months, or up to a year with stabilizer. I know better. I used my auger with 2 year old 2 cycle in it a few days ago. Initial start took a few pulls, but it runs fine. My truck sat for 3.5 years waiting on a motor, and the gas in it made it start. (I try to avoid the ethanol laden fuels when possible due to the deposits that can develop).

Few questions. Should I just go get the cheapest gas cans, or upgrade? Plastic stuff is cheap, but I have had great luck with my harbor freight metal can (except the shitty EPA nozzle). Can doesn't leak at all. Or... would classic jerry cans be worth it? (Probably going to get a non-shitty nozzle with whatever I get)

Stabilizer? Worth it? I heard Sta-Bil stains plastics.


Going to be storing ethanol free 87. Rotating every year or so. Any suggestions?

[Great-Kazoo]

So, there are endless articles about long term gasoline storage put there. I am interested in real life experiences with longer term gasoline storage. I dont need much, but want to keep maybe 25 gallons around.

Most of the articles out there say 3-6 months, or up to a year with stabilizer. I know better. I used my auger with 2 year old 2 cycle in it a few days ago. Initial start took a few pulls, but it runs fine. My truck sat for 3.5 years waiting on a motor, and the gas in it made it start. (I try to avoid the ethanol laden fuels when possible due to the deposits that can develop).

Few questions. Should I just go get the cheapest gas cans, or upgrade? Plastic stuff is cheap, but I have had great luck with my harbor freight metal can (except the shitty EPA nozzle). Can doesn't leak at all. Or... would classic jerry cans be worth it? (Probably going to get a non-shitty nozzle with whatever I get)

Stabilizer? Worth it? I heard Sta-Bil stains plastics.

who cares what the inside of the gas can looks like.

It also depends how your ratio is for any discoloration of plastic. WE store in 2 gal cans (easier for the spouse to lift than 5 gal) for 4-6 mth spans with no discoloration of the plastic.

You want easy to store and use storage or just a storage unit? If just storage, why not 1 large fuel tank, like you see in the bed of pick em up trucks

[CS1983]

I’ve used ethanol free 91 w/ stabilizer that was 1.5 years old in my tw200. I try to rotate it out every yearish, but no complaints from the bike or mower so far.

[Great-Kazoo]

here's something local. Paint it white OR build up a mound of dirt around to avoid expansion from the heat.

https://denver.craigslist.org/bfs/d/...871921636.html

[00tec]

here's something local. Paint it white OR build up a mound of dirt around to avoid expansion from the heat.

https://denver.craigslist.org/bfs/d/...871921636.html

Jesus, that's a lot of fuel. Not certain I need that much.

[Great-Kazoo]

Jesus, that's a lot of fuel. Not certain I need that much.

Well, for the price and location, why not? Clean it out, roll some rustoelum over it, then cover all of it but the top in dirt. At $40 a pop from HF for the 5 gal ones. You're over the cost of that 1k unit.

If you knew a qualified welder out there. I'd ask him to shorten it up by 1/2 the width. Bet ya there's a farmer or auction place selling a fuel transfer tank in your area

Plan B
https://denver.craigslist.org/ptd/d/...872038246.html

[00tec]

Well, for the price and location, why not? Clean it out, roll some rustoelum over it, then cover all of it but the top in dirt. At $40 a pop from HF for the 5 gal ones. You're over the cost of that 1k unit.

If you knew a qualified welder out there. I'd ask him to shorten it up by 1/2 the width. Bet ya there's a farmer or auction place selling a fuel transfer tank in your area

Plan B
https://denver.craigslist.org/ptd/d/...872038246.html

That may be an idea, but the benefits of the smaller cans enable me to take the with me (for camping with ATVs and such.

A smaller tank may be feasible if I can keep it on my (soon to be) utility trailer, but I cant make much use of something that big.

[Wulf202]

I've stored pump gas with ethanol for 3 years on a double dose of sta bil. The heat expansion and venting caused a large loss in 5 gallon gas cans. Jerry cans, us style leaked fumes, NATO style deformed the Chinese copies the Authentic surplus ones did fine.

The next time I used liquid gasket on the seals of the blitz plastic cans, stored for 2 years, no noticeable difference.

These were all stored in a garden shed. And ran thru various motors, 350 w tbi, a isuzu 4 banger, lawn mower and a vortec 04 chevy. The 350 and the vortec were a little bitchy with the 3 year old stuff.

I've used L thanks, barrels, cans, and I still end up with a 5 gallon can and a cut transmission funnel.

There's square tanks from NPR trucks on craigslist that would work for a smaller bulk storage. Not much can be said about using an existing gas tank for a gas tank. I've gone thru that with hot rods and state troopers before.

All that being said I drive diesels mostly now. I buy ethanol free for my generators and power tools because I get tired of cleaning the carbs every time I put the thing up for 4 months. I even treat with stabil whenever I remember to before it gets stored.

[clodhopper]

What are you saving for? Just convenience or is this for long term prep? Convenience would be about a year with stabil. Long term... in that case do you care if the engine runs a little rough as long as it runs? You can go several years on gas storage with stabil, but starting is hard and it probably wont be smooth running. Keep a selection of cans of starting fluid. When you absolutely need it to start is not the time to find out your gas is a bit old for a finicky engine. BUT, if you are only holding 25gal, you probably aren't looking to try and start an engine after 3 years of hard survival (whatever the cause, but prevents you from acquiring fuel for 3 years). I doubt you wouldn't have already used it up.

If you are dedicated to long term fuel storage, consider keeping simpler engines. Many of the brand new, high tech engines do not like old fuel and the control systems may prevent it from being allowed to start. I "dispose" of my old gas by running it in my 50's era tractor, because it couldn't care less what is in the tank and the carb is super simple to clean if I manage to varnish it up with mistreatment.

All my long term essential equipment is diesel for a reason.

[00tec]

Keeping the fuel for a generator. Will also have propane on hand if needed (dual fuel), but the gas gives higher output.
Will burn the gas through the RZR for rotation every once in a while.