This last week I've been using the gasoline I have in storage just to cycle it. It has been in storage for about 18 months (or six months). I cannot remember if it was this last fall I put it up or the fall prior. The storage was in an out building with zero insulation. It was stored in the typical red five gallon fuel containers. I purchased the ethanol free fuel and added Sta-bil fuel additive. I've just added the second container (now 10 gallons) through a 2004 pontiac 2300 engine, 150k+ miles. All is well and no problems. I just wanted to share with others who may be adding to their fuel storage or just starting.
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Amen, farmboy4p. I have been storing gas for several years and rotate it out on a regular basis. The ethanol free fuel is fantastic, everything runs much better without that pesky alcohol. I keep 40 gal on hand. To all u folks in the forest fire and hurricane zones would do well to keep fuel on hand. Shalom Bear Nation
Question on this. I am getting ready to build up my fuels storage. I have 3 propane tanks. Would like a 4th. But on gas, when using for storage do you put the fuel stabilizer in when you first fill the canister? Or towards the end when it would be about to go bad?
I know to get non ethanol gas. How can I identify this at the pump?
In this area only certain locations offer ethanol free fuel. They are usually distinguished by a blue handle.
As for mixing, if you have the option to fill half, add stable then fill that would be the better option (similar instructions to mixing two cycle fuel). This will ensure that the final fill action will help mix the stabil. If you do not want to be conspicuous then you could just add stabil when you get home. Just ensure you shake it enough to mix thoroughly.
As for filling (possibly) multiple gas cans I have a rehearsed story of either filling cans for my lawn mowing service or snow blowing service (seasonal). Just so you do not draw attention to yourself it is something to think about.
Has someone actually approached you and questioned why you're filling the cans? Cuz my answer would be "None of your damn business"
A cheap option to add propane tanks is to get any old tank you can find (hopefully free) then go to an exchange service such as Lowes or Home Depot. Exchange for a new full can $20 then later you can refill the tank for just the cost of the propane. Just my two cents
This is good info Thanks. I have 20 gallons stored with stabilizer. Never tried so this is helpful indeed.
That's my plan as well. I've got one 5gal can I just filled plus stabilizer. Going to be adding one per month until I have 6 months worth then start rotating them.
I have used PRI-G for gas and PRI-D for Diesel for years and they keep good for well 18 months, that as long as I have tested, that is the product that the Military uses.
Im using STA-BIL 22208. How long should I be able to store a 5 gallon can with this before it needs to be used? I dont currently utilize gas for anything but vehicles. Hoping to purchase an inverter soon. But the plan will be to put it in my vehicle at the end of storage and rotate everything.
Picked up my 4th propane tank tonight. Whats everyone's opinions on how many are enough? Im thinking 4 is a good decent number?
It depends ....
How much of your plans rely on propane? Cooking, heating, lighting? None? If all your plans rely on propane then 4 is likely not enough. If propane is a minimal portion of your plans then 4 is likely enough? It really depends on your estimated usage.....
It just depends really. With us now getting another check for corona I'm going to be picking up a 4k inverter so theoretically we will have the ability to use a stove.
The grill and a propane burner is the only thing that will utilize propane and only if the stove is a no go.
Obviously it also depends how long the power's out... and you'll obviously run out at some point in a prolonged outage, no matter how many you have. Honestly, I'd just keep stacking em, just like food. Buy another one every month or two... I'd also consider altenatives, like biofuel stoves / rocket stoves, etc.
my experience has been that for larger engines, such as vehicles, old fuel is less of an issue. Your generators and chainsaw may be more sensitive to fresh gasoline. JJ power plan - on grid for everyday life. for when the electrons stop flowing there's 2500 watt solar system which currently powers the shed/barn. Fuel considerations - I live in PA, it's not like living in Arizona, we have long periods of cloud cover and not the best Sun in dec, jan, feb - this means that batteries may need to be topped off without making significant changes to consumption patterns. There's a 2k honda, which is setup for tri-fuel use. I've put in a connection to the nat gas line here at the house, which is fuel option 1 in a outtage. nat gas should run for a long time unless there's total grid collapse. The 2k honda is used to top off the battery array using an inverter charger, which allows you to plug the genset directory into the unit. While the batteries are charging the honda is used to provide power to freezer, lights and charge commo gear. Option 2, propane, 20lb and 100lb bottles, should the nat gas stop working, we go to propane - again, the objective here is to supplement the solar system. The propane also allows us to go mobile with the 2k genset. If we wanted to pull water out of the creek, we'd move the genset and run several electric pumps to fill water storage. The genset would serve primarily in the role of topping off the solar batteries. A second genset is a 5k tri-fuel system that is used when want to "run the house", or in a grid down to run welders and higher draw water pumps. Gasoline is stored with the intention of using it for the gensets if necessary but primarily to run chainsaws and as a fuel backup for vehicles. We store enough fuel to get to the BOL and back three times. It's important to determine what your power requirements are going to be, how long you expect the generators will run and at what capacity. Oven runs fine with power and nat gas. Barbeque pit runs on both propane and wood. We also have a camp cook stove which will run on different fuels - there's enough coleman fuel to run it for a year.
Larger engines tend to handle old fuel better than smaller ones for items like chainsaws.
All of my generators have been converted to use tri-fuel. I can run them on may gas, propane or gasoline. Propane stores indefinitely and reduces my use of gasoline products so I can used them for chainsaws, log splitters and other handy gas engines
it seems fuel storage is a problem everywhere , and you will never have enough for a long term event , Rec fuel is way better or called non ethanol , I live in Florida and here the marine stabile seems to work better , also the Pri G for gas and Pri D for diesel is good , but i have found Pri g and Stabil red do not use in same tank without flushing out the 2 products seem so create a gel in carb looks like vasoline found that out in generators. propane stores for what seems like for ever. so a good long term fuel storage product plus safer to store than gasoline , it will get you cooking , just most can not drive on it , back up minimal power unless you get a really large system solar seems very good , but battery cost is high , a small to moderate size system is fairly easy to build , lots of info on youtube how to DIY and easy to get panels and controller on amazon , I normally look for the so called used ones , they are simply open box or damage box and new inside I have gotten
many and never had a problem with any Good Luck and remember we all in the same boat or looks like will soon be
I've always had very good luck with marine grade fuel which had the Valve-Tect additive in it, but you pay a premium for that (marine is synonymous with expensive) - Gas is pump grade 89 with the additive, diesel is also regular pump grade fuel with the additive, which you can buy and mix yourself.
However, these days, I store pump grade super (93 octane) with the Star-tron additive in it. I've had fuel in 5 gallon cans that's 8-9 months old that runs fine in generators, lawn mowers, etc. but there is one extra step I do.
One of the keys there for equipment I do not regularly use, like my generators, which I run every 6-8 weeks with a load (that's the key part - you have to put a load on it) is that I run it completely out of fuel (I use the Husqvarna branded stuff because it's readily available for me, but the key is ethanol free), and then add in just enough ethanol free gas to get it to start up, and run it until it dies a second time to flush the ethanol fuel out of the carb.
In my two-stroke equipment (weed wacker, leaf blower) - I use the Tru-Fuel for the "off season" use, pump grade 93 + star-tron for regular use, and Tru-fuel the last fill before storage because it's ethanol free.
Ethanol is nasty stuff folks - it will eat rubber (like primer bulbs and older fuel lines), corrode aluminum because it absorbs water (Gas + water don't mix, everyone knows that! However, Ethanol and water do!), it will de laminate fibergalss, list goes on.
If you can get fuel without it, DO IT. If you can't, I've the best luck with Valve-Tect and Star-Tron additive (it's blue) for long term storage.