On Sat, 04 Jul 2015 04:14:11 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

On Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:17:28 -0500, Martin Eastburn
wrote:

The Octane boosting volatile gasses leach out of the gas
and it 'goes flat'. Looses octane. There are gas additives
that help boost these.

With the advent of the OH crap in the gasoline, water is a key
element that gets into the gas. The Alcohol is hygroscopic and
absorbs moisture and waters down the gas.

Like I said, I can't remember ever having a problem with that here on
the Left Coast in the past 40 years, and I keep some cans of gas for 2
years (gas/oil for the weedeater).

I have indeed had water/gasoline issues.


Which is the problem, storing dry or letting the gas deteriorate?

I can honestly say that I have never had a problem with gas going bad,
in CA, AZ, or OR. I usually start things up every year, so fresh gas
is going in once annually, and I store it outside in a semi-open shed.
It's all ethanol-douched now, too. (hate the stuff)

Things I've bought from garage sales usually had problems from being
stored for ten years or so with gas (or gas/oil blend) in them. But
because I always rebuilt the carbs on auto engines which had been
sitting more than a year, I never had too many problems.

I think I've seen more problems on yard implements from being stored
too long with gas/oil in them. I've seen gasket leaks on dry-stored
motors, but they usually -run- on the first fillup without problems.


Or both?

Yeah, probably C- both of the above.


The bowl gaskets crumbled when I removed the bowl to clean and dry it
before putting the engine away.

I sure like the nitrile o-ring bowl gaskets on some MC carbs.

--
Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult,
whereas I am merely in disguise.
-- Margaret Atwood