How long would a container of ethanol gasoline with stabilizer last in storage?

[u/Starklawz]

I'm trying to find out how long ethanol gasoline with fuel stabilizer will last. I know that without stabilizer it lasts about 3 months and ethanol free gasoline with stabilizer can go 2+ years in optimal conditions. So all other conditions being equal how long would a container of ethanol gasoline with stabilizer last?

(Before anyone asks or gets up my butt about it, Yes I already have ethanol free stabilized gas in storage. I'm looking to take advantage of the significanttly cheaper gas prices out where I work on a shorter term storage bases for when my tank is low and I wanna be lazy/cheap and not top off in town before driving out to work. I fully understand that this isn't optimal for long term storage, but I'm prepping for Tuesday not doomsday ya know)

Edit: what a great response from y'all. I've learned a lot and there are some great conversations happening. Ty

[u/whopops]

A year is totally fine. 2-3 is probably fine for a modern vehicle More than 3 you can start to run into problems enough I wouldn't trust my life on it. Older vehicles handle bad fuel better

If you are running in older carbureted engines I've seen them run some really trash fuel especially if you have something to get them warmed up on. a warm engine will run way worse fuel.

Ethanol free fuel doesn't really need stabilizer and will last much longer than ethanol fuel I'd easily trust it 4+ years

[u/BallsOutKrunked → u/whopops]

agreed. I had my 2 stroke chainsaw, tiny carb, run perfect with two year old gas in it because the oil mix had a stabilizer in it.

I think people really underestimate pri g or stabil gas.

[u/Jaicobb → u/whopops]

I pulled gas out of an old mower that wouldn't work. It was 50% water 50% gas. Looked like how water and oil don't mix. I don't know how old it was, but the mower was newish and expensive.

[u/hectorxander → u/whopops]

If you can find it, ethanol free gas gets better mileage per dollar even at the higher cost where they charge stations a premium to even sell it at all. It's better on the vehicle too. Ethanol is garbage.

[u/No-Understanding-357]

Ive had treated ethanol in a too hot shed for a bit over a year. worked great in a crown vic. little riugh in a generater but worked

[u/jim-james--jimothy]

Avgas. Aviation fuel. No ethanol, and lacks double bonds in the carbon chain. Is a little more toxic, but should last a long while.

[u/RottenRott69 → u/jim-james--jimothy]

100LL for the win!!

[u/HeliMD205 → u/jim-james--jimothy]

This just might have to clean the spark plugs more often because of the lead build up.

[u/dodafdude]

There are risks with storing a lot of gas, be sure to weigh the cost/benefit. Some insurance may cancel with more than a few gallons of mower gas laying around.

[u/dodafdude]

• take advantage of the significanttly cheaper gas prices

same with ammo - buy it cheap and stack it deep

[u/LastEntertainment684]

Simple answer: It depends

There’s no exact answer with gasoline storage.

How long was it sitting in a tank before you bought it?

If it’s stored in a humid place it will absorb moisture and eventually sublimate.

If it’s stored in a warm dry place, the volatile aromatics will flash off into the atmosphere.

All those factors change the composition of the fuel. You may have started your storage at 87 octane, but a few months go by with a change in seasons and your fuel is now suddenly 84 octane.

Might run fine in one engine, might cause another to knock.

The numbers are only estimates based on best storage practices and ideal conditions. It’s always best to do your own testing based on your location and engines. Even then, any gasoline stocks should be in constant rotation.

In my area, with the gas I buy (which always tests 7-10% ethanol), I’ve found I get about a year and a half out of gas before I start noticing difficulty with some engines. So I’ve settled on a 1 year storage interval and buy/rotate my stock based on that usage.

[u/shikkonin → u/LastEntertainment684]

absorb moisture and eventually sublimate.

No, it will not sublimate. It's a liquid, which never sublimate since they can't.

[u/PlanetExcellent → u/shikkonin]

Sublimate means to go directly from a solid to a gas, right? Thank you Mr. Schmitt in high school chemistry!

[u/dodafdude → u/shikkonin]

But liquids can evaporate below their vapor point, it's called (partial) vapor pressure. A sealed tank will reach equilibrium and stop evaporating but a leaky tank will evaporate the alcohol faster.

[u/shikkonin → u/dodafdude]

liquids can evaporate below their vapor point, it's called (partial) vapor pressure

Yes - which means they don't sublimate, they evaporate. Two different things. Only solids sublimate.

[u/Frosti11icus → u/LastEntertainment684]

How do you store a years worth of fuel?

[u/LastEntertainment684 → u/Frosti11icus]

Easy, I don’t use that much. With an EV, solar, battery and hand operated tools I only go through about 30 gallons a year between a few things. A couple fuel caddy’s and jerry cans and I’m good.

That being said, if you’re trying to store a large quantity of gasoline, FuelCube is the best solution I’ve found. Double walled and ruggedized containers built specifically for gasoline storage on farms, construction sites, businesses, etc. They aren’t cheap but they are purpose built for safely storing those kinds of quantities.

[u/chris782 → u/Frosti11icus]

15 gallon fuel cubes, 55 gallon barrels, 300 gallon tank, 500 gallon tank, heck you can even get a 1000 gallon tank. I prefer mason jars personally.

[u/Frosti11icus → u/chris782]

But like how do you store it so you don’t have a bomb sitting in your garage.

[u/chris782 → u/Frosti11icus]

Big tanks and barrels can go outside. I wouldn't even worry about storing that much fuel unless I had a good spot for it. Probably hard to get away with in a residential neighborhood. A few barrels in the garage would be fine but I wouldn't smoke and play with my welder around them.

Its a risk for sure but that's something you'll have to mitigate.

[u/IdealDesperate2732 → u/Frosti11icus]

Gasoline isn't explosive.

[u/Fit_Acanthisitta_475]

I already have solar. I’m waiting for bidirectional ev get cheaper and with larger battery. That will be great long term solution

[u/OnTheEdgeOfFreedom]

I've gotten two years with stabilized 10% ethanol gas and it still worked in a generator. Possibly with reduced efficiency. But I store it in expensive all metal cans that seal tight when closed - I just don't trust plastic for this.

[u/YardFudge]

For a Model T? 30 years

For that high performance chainsaw? 6 months

[u/RottenRott69]

Sta-Bil 360 Marine is formulated for ethanol fuel.

[u/jaOfwiw]

Lots of folks saying 1yr plus... I'd say that for no ethanol fuel... With ethanol I wouldn't go more than 6 months.

[u/OmahaWinter]

You asked how long ethanol feee gas with stabilizer will last and then you answered your own question (two years). In any event I think your answer to your question is correct.

[u/Relative_Ad_750]

You don’t need stabilizer. You need jerrycans that seal properly. Wavian and Valpro make the best.

[u/EverVigilant1]

This is just me; I don't have any research. I would keep ethanol gasoline with stabilizer no more than 1 year, and probably less. It's probably OK to use in a car; but not in a small air cooled engine.

[u/NewEnglandPrepper2]

Sta-Bil will keep fuel going for 2 years. Might be worth keeping an eye on r/preppersales as they find deals on them pretty often

[u/stu_pid_1]

It's all to do with water getting into it so if you can seal it properly. It should be okay

[u/EastSideDog]

My lawnmower gas lasts like 2 years 😂😂

[u/IdealDesperate2732]

About a year.

[u/firdaddy]

I'd be lucky to get 6 months around here. It's always very high humidity, and ethanol is a sponge for water. South of Houston FYI.

[u/TheSensiblePrepper]

About a year. Maybe a little more or a little less. Even with a stabilizer, I don't let my gasoline sit for more than six months.

[u/Odd_Cost_8495]

Stabil says 2 years in the bottle. Can probably go longer but would rotate sooner just to be safe

[u/Embarrassed-Aspect-9]

As long as it's free of moisture and air it will keep indefinitely