Storing gasoline

[atomicradish]

Since everyone knows that the low gas prices are a temporary phenomenon, how feasible is it to store gasoline for the long term? I know that it goes bad with time due to vaporization, so is there any way of storing it to minimize vaporization? I really like to stock up on it while prices are low, especially after reading some reports that predict $6 gas by next summer.

[99metro]

Generally, you can't store more than about 30 gallons of gasoline at a house without violating some kind of Fire Code. Any more than about 10 gallons has to be properly stored and contained.

My step grandparents used to have an underground gas tank with a regular pump way back when at their house. Those are all illegal, of course.

Good luck, be safe.

PS Check the local laws first before attempting to store gasoline - many are more restrictive than the national laws.

[MazdaMatt]

Dump all your money into oil stocks... cash out next summer and use the profits to buy gas.

[Peter7307]

Most gasoline has a shelf life of around 90 days but there are some additives on sale which claim up to six months.
No personal experience to pass on.

My best guess would be some sort of underground store to keep temps stable and cool.

No idea what the legal requirements are though but as mentioned above safety for you and your family would be my number one priority.

Pete.

[SolarStuff2]

Safety probably the biggest concern... You might recall from old news reels that gas used to be stored at gas stations in above ground tanks... but after numerous fires and explosions... they began to bury the tanks... which created new problems with the EPA from leaking tanks. Not sure how much you're thinking of storing... but if it's a 55 gallon drum... and it saves you $2 a gallon, that's roughly a $100 bucks... although in theory in sounds like a good idea... in reality, it's probably not worth the risk.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Peter7307

Most gasoline has a shelf life of around 90 days...

I don't know about that: I'm still working on the gallon of gas I bought (& mixed with 2-cycle oil) for the chainsaw last year. I mostly use it to cut firewood in October/November, and it just sits the rest of the time. Then there's the pickup, which I seldom use in the summer. Filled the tank last March or thereabouts, and it ran just fine (after charging the battery) on the 2/3 or so that sat all summer.

Then to go back a good way, during the oil embargo in the '70s, I was working on a farm, where the owner for years had just parked all his old vehicles in the back lot, instead of hauling them to the junkyard. Most of them had some gas in the tank, which we drained & used in the farm equipment.

[wagonman76]

My chainsaw gas lasts a long time too. But thats just a chainsaw.

I park my Celebrity for winter, with a close to full tank. When I fire it up in the spring, I can definitely tell the difference as it burns through the old gas. It doesnt run as well and the mileage takes quite a hit too.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Dump all your money into oil stocks... cash out next summer and use the profits to buy gas.

The very best way to store fuel

[Matt Herring]

Storing gasoline on your private property is also a major no-no for insurance companies. As in...100 gallons of stored gasoline explodes and catches your house and half of neighborhood on fire. Something insurance companies like to term "avoidable accident." Leaving you liable for damage to your property and others damaged by your negligence.

Even if gas goes to $10 a gallon...100 gallons only saves you $1000...while potentially causing you to be liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to property and maybe lives.

Good luck bro...let me know where in NC you live so I don't light a match near your house!

[Peter7307]

Originally Posted by Peter7307

Most gasoline has a shelf life of around 90 days
Pete.

The shelf life I was meaning was related to the start of the decline in quality.
How far and how fast is the real question.

After the 90 days it would still be useable.
I have also had gas stored in my lawnmower for months and it still cut grass.

Should have made that clearer at the start.

Cheers , Pete.