On 9/3/14, 3:01 PM, Danny D. wrote:


The initial question merely turns into a question of how long gasoline
lasts before it needs stabilizers, and the answer varies, but it in terms
of months.

Echo says it can go bad in 30 days. The big problem is that ethanol
draws moisture, and that gums up carburetors and engines. In
particular, if there is any venting of a gas can or gas tank, water will
accumulate, depending on the humidity level and temperature fluctuations.

When the water content reaches 3/4 ounce per gallon, water and ethanol
will start to drop to the bottom. Besides causing corrosion and
varnish, it can wreck a 2-cycle engine because the water-ethanol doesn't
have oil.

They recommend shaking before you pour. I can imagine another solution.
Store your gas can tilted so any water-ethanol is along one side of the
bottom. Draw gas with a siphon pump whose tube doesn't quite reach the
bottom. When the can is nearly empty, pour the remaining gas into a jar
and see if any water-ethanol settles.

I remember when it was common to see a little jar along a fuel line, so
you could drain any water that settled.