How long can you store gas & diesel?

[jymbee]

Wondering how long gasoline and diesel can be stored. I assume that there's general recommendations wherein stored gas & diesel would still be considered to be in good condition. What happens beyond that point? I assume that the longer they're stored the less effective (efficient?) they are but are there absolute limits where they won't work at all? How effective are additives at increasing storage times?

While I may not be inclined to put very old gas in my car or old diesel in my tractors, in an emergency such as a prolonged power outage for example, could I power on the generator with that gas that's been sitting in back of the shed for 5 years or more (hypothetically)?

 

[Looking4new]

"could I power on the generator with that gas that's been sitting in back of the shed for 5 years or more (hypothetically)? "
In a word, no. That being said, it is your equipment do as you please. The gas WILL break down, it has a 'shelf life' of about 3-6 months and about 9 months IF you put something like stabil in it. I have no idea how long diesel will last as I refill my diesel tank once a year and it never goes below the half way mark.

 

[k0ua]

You will hear all sorts of stories... Gas, especially ethanol blended gas... Not a good idea past a few months. Check for separation.. I have seen reported on this forum people using 40 year old diesel without issue. Of course that would be high sulfur diesel. The key is keeping water out of the diesel, so that no algae can grow in it.

bottom, line.. gas, keep it fresh, diesel.. don't worry about it... Just make sure water cannot get into the container.

 

[Gunny]

If it has ethanol in it, even with Stabil I'd not store it for longer than 6 months before using it. If it is ethanol free, then probably 9 months to a year (with Stabil)

Since we don't have any stations near here that sell ethanol free, I keep two five gallon cans filled during winter months, fill them in December and if they're not used, run it through the truck in April

 

[rtimgray]

I think the advice given so far is on target. I just filled up my gas tanks for the winter (for my generator). I rotate them through all summer in the lawn mower and in other gas equipment. They pretty much set all winter and I run them in the vehicles in the spring. I do keep Stabil in the gas that stays in the generator tank, and it seems to work well (so far).

Good luck and take care.

 

[GaryLock]

I have decided that one year is my mark. I use Stabil marine. Better than the red stuff. My 12 gallon marine tank that runs my two generators gets changed once a year, drained into my SUV, and then refilled and restabilized. My eight, five-gallon cans get used throughout the year on things like my splitter or mixing for the saws and 2-stroke stuff. They also get stabil marine, and labeled with their stabilized date. When a year approaches, they too get dumped into one of the SUVs and then refilled, restabilized, and relabeled. I have never had an issue what-so-ever with any of my gasoline like this. My diesel, well, I wish I could say I store it, but I have so much fun (and projects) on the tractor that I burn through it fairly quickly. It can safely be stored a lot longer than gasoline, but not sure what the cutoff is.

One point that I will mention. If you are going to be rotating gasoline cans into cars, or whatever, do yourself a favor and buy one of the Easy Pour spouts AND PUT IN AN OLD-STYLE VENT to make it not such a chore. I used to spill or leak so much gas out of the govt. safety nozzles. They are all in the rubbish now. I bought a few EZ-Pours and put vents in all the cans. I also bought solid caps for each can. Easier to store without that big spout sticking out the top. Leak-proof and convenient. I even put vents into my NO Spill cans. The ones with the green buttons. I can now dump 5 gallons of diesel into my tractor in 40 seconds, without spilling a drop. Big improvement.

 

[davesl708]

I use stabil in pure gas for my portable generator. The fuel is 4 years old and I test run the machine every 4 months. Run the carb dry each time. No problems in 4 years. Ethanol is a totally different story. I don't use it.

I cannot speak about diesel. I use it up in 3 to 4 months. Never had any longer than that. I put Power Service in my diesel.

 

[jack707]

I had mix gas for my chainsaw man lucky I poured in out first to look at it ,it was like a yellowish color!.

 

[MacLawn]

I use stabil in pure gas for my portable generator. The fuel is 4 years old and I test run the machine every 4 months. Run the carb dry each time. No problems in 4 years. Ethanol is a totally different story. I don't use it.

I cannot speak about diesel. I use it up in 3 to 4 months. Never had any longer than that. I put Power Service in my diesel.

Right. I absolutely loathe (that means more than hate) ethanol in gasoline. Anyway, I try to use fresh gasoline, still use Stabil in it.

 

[oosik]

The label on Stabil says up to 12 months for gas. Doesn't say if they mean ethanol gas or non ethanol gas.

Strange - I've never had a moments problems with ethanol gas. And I use it in everything - lawn mower, chainsaw, weed whacker, ATV etc, etc. However, I do put Stabil in all my gas and its probably never over 3 months old.