Best way to conduct Emergency Fuel Storage?

[Cali-Shooter]

We all know gas prices are and will be a bear in the near future or anytime soon (as if they already aren't now).
Soon, commodities which everyone takes for granted and relies upon for daily activities will be unaffordable by massive price spikes, due to dollar inflation, supply issues, peak oil, etc.

My question is this:

How does one keep and stockpile gasoline for long periods of time?

I've tried simply filling up those red gas cans and storing them in my garage, but they aren't ideal for mobility and they tend to spill when carried in the trunk of my car.

I'm looking for ways in which gasoline can be stored for mobile use in a vehicle as well as a good method of storing them at your home so that you can refuel at home without having to go out into the world.

For mobile storage, I've entertained the idea of buying jerrycans and filling them with gasoline, but it appears that normal jerrycans without the long nozzle are illegal here in CA due to the stupid CARB law.

So far, one of the "best" ways I can think of for "home base" gasoline storage, is to have gas stored in a spare vehicle (a topped off fuel tank) you have at home, I'm guessing gasoline stored in such as way will hold up for an almost infinite amount of time.

But I don't have a spare vehicle to fill up in that manner, and I'm looking for alternatives. Can anyone chime in on their methods for mobile/home gasoline storage?

[covertcombatant]

Don't forget to use Sta-bil to keep the fuel fresh.

[Cali-Shooter]

Don't forget to use Sta-bil to keep the fuel fresh.

What I am primarily looking for is a way to store the fuel where it is in an airtight, sealed container, in which vapors won't leak out, or moisture won't creep into the gasoline, and spoil it or degrade it's quality.

I know for sure that those red plastic gas cans do a horrible job of protecting the gasoline within the container.

[paul0660]

I'm guessing gasoline stored in such as way will hold up for an almost infinite amount of time.

No longer than any other storage method. Even with stabilizer, gas is going to be funky in two years or so. It might still run an engine, but will start hard, if at all. There really isn't anyway to store gas without cycling it, ie using it and replenishing it.

[Ripon83]

While sta-bil can help I agree that gas has a limited shelf life of 2 or 3 years. Diesel I think can go a year longer, and that leads me to a real long term opportunity....

What if you invested in a low end diesel distiller and then stock piled the resources needed to make your own bio diesel. Those stocks will last a lot longer and you make the fuel as you need it?

[Montu]

I use food/medical grade plastic air tight containers to store E85 for my car. works well enough

I have several 5 gallon jugs I put in the trunk for track days.

fuel will go bad so you can't store it and forget about it...you'll have to make it a routine to fill your cars from your home containers every now and then and refill them regularly so if SHTF you have fresh fuel

[chsk9]

I have heard that Sta-bil does not work as well with ethanol mixed gasoline. Anyone heard about this?

[GrizzlyGuy]

For mobile storage, I've entertained the idea of buying jerrycans and filling them with gasoline, but it appears that normal jerrycans without the long nozzle are illegal here in CA due to the stupid CARB law.

They aren't illegal in CA, they are just illegal to sell here. Drive to Reno and you can buy the real cans.

I like Kolpin Flat Packs as they fit on the racks of my ATVs and are easy to stack in cars. I have the old non-CARB style and they don't leak. My buddies say the new ones are good too. I have several and rotate the gas every couple of months to keep it fresh.

The house/property I just bought came with these, and you could get something similar if you're in a rural area:



They aren't portable but you'd be able to fill everything up before heading out. Treat the gas with StaBil or use it instead of going to the gas stations so that it stays fresh between deliveries.

[Cali-Shooter]

They aren't illegal in CA, they are just illegal to sell here. Drive to Reno and you can buy the real cans.

I like Kolpin Flat Packs as they fit on the racks of my ATVs and are easy to stack in cars. I have the old non-CARB style and they don't leak. My buddies say the new ones are good too. I have several and rotate the gas every couple of months to keep it fresh.

The house/property I just bought came with these, and you could get something similar if you're in a rural area:



They aren't portable but you'd be able to fill everything up before heading out. Treat the gas with StaBil or use it instead of going to the gas stations so that it stays fresh between deliveries.

Thanks for the info, I've seen one gentleman at a gas station with a pickup, and he had a fuel container like those (except bigger) on a tow rig behind his truck, two wheeled, and he filled it up from the top, those look to be extremely useful, except I don't have a truck, just a city sedan
Jerrycans for me, I suppose.

[GunAddict.45]

The house/property I just bought came with these, and you could get something similar if you're in a rural area:



They aren't portable but you'd be able to fill everything up before heading out. Treat the gas with StaBil or use it instead of going to the gas stations so that it stays fresh between deliveries.

Dayum....Now that's the ticket right there.

[chsk9]

They aren't illegal in CA, they are just illegal to sell here. Drive to Reno and you can buy the real cans.

I like Kolpin Flat Packs as they fit on the racks of my ATVs and are easy to stack in cars. I have the old non-CARB style and they don't leak. My buddies say the new ones are good too. I have several and rotate the gas every couple of months to keep it fresh.

The house/property I just bought came with these, and you could get something similar if you're in a rural area:



They aren't portable but you'd be able to fill everything up before heading out. Treat the gas with StaBil or use it instead of going to the gas stations so that it stays fresh between deliveries.

That's a slick set up!

[paul0660]

They aren't illegal in CA, they are just illegal to sell here. Drive to Reno and you can buy the real cans.

I like Kolpin Flat Packs as they fit on the racks of my ATVs and are easy to stack in cars. I have the old non-CARB style and they don't leak. My buddies say the new ones are good too. I have several and rotate the gas every couple of months to keep it fresh.

The house/property I just bought came with these, and you could get something similar if you're in a rural area:



They aren't portable but you'd be able to fill everything up before heading out. Treat the gas with StaBil or use it instead of going to the gas stations so that it stays fresh between deliveries.

But, depending on your municipality, that setup might require a concrete berm high enough to contain the entire contents in case of leaks, and the gasoline company won't deliver until that is approved by the county. I like the trailer idea, but every hazmat requirement would be in effect.

Also, that fire extinguisher is in the wrong place. You don't put them where they burn up first.

[chsk9]

But, depending on your municipality, that setup might require a concrete berm high enough to contain the entire contents in case of leaks, and the gasoline company won't deliver until that is approved by the county. I like the trailer idea, but every hazmat requirement would be in effect.

Also, that fire extinguisher is in the wrong place. You don't put them where they burn up first.

I'm guessing that this is why he moved out of kaliforia... to a place where you're at greater risk of having a extinguisher rust out in a season than a actual fire...

[drutledge79]

Your logic seems funny. If prices go up, fuel scarce etc then how is 5, 10 or 50 gallons going to change anything?

I could see storing 500 or 1000 gal of diesel for a tractor or something for a farm but fueling your city sedan for an extra month on $4 gas instead of $15 gas isn't worth a lot of effort.

Having said that I do keep 20 gal or so of fuel handy but that's half for sudden evacuation and half convenience...

[paul0660]

I'm guessing that this is why he moved out of kaliforia... to a place where you're at greater risk of having a extinguisher rust out in a season than a actual fire...

Hmmmm.........that makes no sense.