Long term gasoline storage

[Swiss]

Looking around this sub-forum I read that Scepter 5 gal. MFE cans, or the CARB civilian equivalent, are the preferred container type for gasoline storage.

Can anyone comment with authority on whether or not these containers are suitable for long term gasoline storage and for that matter how long can gasoline be stored at all? I suppose I could check the building code but does anyone also know how much gasoline one may legally store in a residential dwelling?

Seems to me that one would want at least 20 gal of gas at hand when the Big One hits and all the gas stations either can't pump or have been emptied.

[Kodemonkey]

I would use stabil in whatever you choose. And rotate it every 2 years. Make sure the cans seal tight - my uncle lost his house due to a leaking gas can and a gas water heater that wasn't raised off the floor

[odysseus]

I can't comment on those particular cans, but there are plenty of quality strong metal containers out there that will do the job. Definitely put stabil (or similar) products to extend storage life. Cycle the gasoline, meaning fill a tank or two up and use it and refill with high octane, and stabil again. Do not store large amounts of your fuel inside your house - but store them protected nonetheless, and check on them periodically.

[Kerplow]

gas doesn't store particularly well. you should probably use a stabilizer and rotate your stock at least twice a year. nasty gas will probably still run your equipment, but it won't be ideal. when we have bad gas at work we typically put it in the lawnmower.

Q: I have several five gallon cans of gasoline in my garage that are to be used in a generator in case of a power failure. They have been there for several years as well as a tank full in the generator. Can this gas go stale?
-- C. S. Legum,
Norfolk, Va.

A: Gasoline does degrade or become "stale" during storage. How long it remains viable depends on several factors including the container and conditions in which it has been stored. The gas in your garage is long past its due date, though, especially if it was stored without the addition of a chemical stabilizer.
[Me and My Car storing gasoline] Associated Press

Many folks store gasoline, as seen here after Hurricane Katrina. But gas can go stale after a few months.

I know it is tempting to use the fuel, especially with prices so high at the pump. Indeed, many times I have poured gasoline of questionable vintage into the tanks of cars, motorcycles and of course, the lowly lawnmower. Several years ago I inherited a roto tiller with a tank that had been half full for years. Of course, it started on the first pull and has run well ever since. Still, the instructions for outdoor power equipment like mowers, snow blowers and chain saws often recommend draining the tank if you don't plan to use the machine for a several months.

The American Petroleum Institute recommends taking old gas to an approved disposal facility after, at most, two years of storage. But the gas may have degraded beyond safe use by then. To be safe, the trade group says, you should avoid storing gasoline from season to season. For example, if you fill the gas can in the spring you should use its contents before the end of the year.

I haven't had any fuel-related problems. But I have heard enough tales of woe from people who have that I now avoid storing gasoline for more than a few months and always add a stabilizer to the container.

[Californio]

New fuel blends are not good for storage, rotate it even with stabil. We have some 30 year-old diesel #1 on the ranch and it still runs well in the old Kubota but don't count on the the new gas or diesel blends to store well at all. Rotate is the name of the game.

[GrizzlyGuy]

Pretty much any container designed for gasoline can be used to store gasoline. The key is to rotate it frequently or add a fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil if you can't rotate for some reason. Check your local codes and ordinances (e.g., fire code) for limits on how much you can store. Many of them reference the CA state building and fire codes that you can read here.

I happen to use several of the old pre-CARB style Kolpin flat pack containers and rotate the gas at least every two months (dump old gas in my Hummer, head to the gas station with the empties, refill containers with new gas). I use Sta-Bil in the gas tanks of my ATVs for winter storage and they run as if they had new gas 6 months later.

P.S. - It is legal to possess the (IMHO) superior non-CARB containers, they just can't be sold in California. Nevada isn't that far away.

[FeuerFrei]

California swill doesn't last long in plastic containers. Too easy to absorb water/condensation.
Metal containers that are air tight and cocktailed with stabil or seafoam will last 3-6 months if kept in a cool dry place.
If your vehicle has electronic ignition it will run this stuff without too much hassle.
Lawn mower type engine will run this stuff too.
Rotation is key. More often is better.
Have enough on hand to get a tank full for whatever you drive or gen set.
I used to cocktail the gas in my dirt bikes for storage in winter and consistently had to have the carbs cleaned before riding.
Long story short, I switched to 100 octane aviation gas and the problem went away.
Storage is great in metal drums and shelf life is like what it used to be 30 years ago. You can run this in any vehicle (in an emergency) or for off road.
My dirt bikes run fine on it and are a little easier to start. Bonus!

[Swiss]

Thanks all for the responses. It seems that metal cans will preserve the gasoline longer than the Scepter MFE, but reading about CARB cans they have a less permeable wall than non-CARBs.

What exactly is the problem with CARB cans - is it simply more difficult to dispense? Couldn't one simply use a CARB compliant container like the Duramax Fuel Caddy and a enjoy a less permeable container and easy dispensing?

[odysseus]

CARB cans pretty much are relegated to the spout. They want a flimsy, usless, air retention back up system to the cans. It usually leads in spillage making it ridiculous.

The cans themselves are largely the same. You can get CARB type metal jerrycans which replaced the nozzle for California sales, but they also come with a screw cap with o-ring that will keep it very air tight anyway for storage. You can simply not use the CARB nozzle.

[Kodemonkey]

One of the things that makes gas go bad is water. The tighter the can the better, and when you use it try to mix it as much as you can. Water is heavier than gasoline, so it will sit on the bottom of the can. Your engine and injectors will tolerate quite a bit of water mixed with gas, but it's not going to turn over well on almost pure water. For those of you using stabil, seafoam or fuel power in a vehicle tank and storing it a long time try to give the vehicle a good shake to mix the water. Fuel pumps pull from the bottom - where all the water settles.

In a can, however, it's kind of a moot point since the act of tipping it to fill you gas tank is mixing it prett well.

[OriginalDuplicate]

I use 5 gallon Scepter cans (Plastic and CARB compliant). I put in the recommended amount of STA-BIL to get the gas good for 1 year.

I keep 20 gallons on hand and every 6 months rotate 10 gallons. I have only gone through 1 batch so far but everything worked perfectly. No Issues.

I wouldn't run from the CARB stuff, especially if you rotate your fuel. If you are worried about it just rotate more often.

I haven't had issues with the plastic CARB compliant cans. I was thinking about getting a few more because I have a couple friends that want them too.

What is a decent price to sell these cans at? $30?

[bohoki]

yea gasoline doesn't last long but it seems to last a while in a car
as long as you put some new in with the old every couple months

the new carb nozzles are pretty good once you remove that black auto safety lever off the green plunger

the old ones that were like a springloaded dong were annoying as they didnt fit in the orifice of an unleaded car tank so you kind of had to pull the slider back with one hand and it glubbed in as there is no vent to open

gasoline is just not a long term storage item its a bummer

i got propane that is like a decade old and its fine

but gasoline is like beer it gets skunky