On Fri, 2 Nov 2012 00:47:41 -0400, "Existential Angst"
wrote:

"Steve W." wrote in message
...
Existential Angst wrote:
"jon_banquer" wrote in message
...
On Nov 1, 8:10 pm, "Existential Angst" wrote:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...gasoline-go-st...

Basically answered all my questions -- I don't necessarily agree with it
all, but it's a good discussion.
For example, it's very difficult to oxidize a hydrocarbon without
enzymes,
catalysts, and the like. And I don't think the "lost volatiles" in old
gas
amount to much ito performance.

Bottom line is, I don't think "bad gasoline" ito age is much to worry
about.
After this bull**** with Sandy, NOW we got a gas crisis, so ahm fixin to
store a bunch. I figger I'll "exchange" it yearly -- it's own pita, but
it
beats waiting 4 hours on line for 10 gals of ****ing gas.

I used to scoff at survivalists.... but not any more. I'm realizing that
urbanites/surburbanites are essentially walking around with their cheeks
spread.
--
EA

"Bottom line is, I don't think "bad gasoline" ito age is much to
worry about."

I don't agree. If you store it you need to use a stabilizer.
==============================================

Mebbe a stabilizer would help for really long periods, but I think it
could be stored for a year and still be OK, without stabilizers. The
article seemed to indicate as much, if stored properly.

I have stored gas for a year and although it will run a modern vehicle IF
you blend it into fuel already in the tank you can tell that it isn't
quite right. In small engines it runs MUCH worse. I rotate my gas every 3
months, not hard to do if you just dump the can into your vehicle, then
fill the can back up. I tag all my cans with simple string tags and a
marker. I have 20 gallons that is back-up for whatever. Then there are a
couple others that are for the mowers/trimmers/ saws and such. The mixed
fuels get mixed 1 gallon at a time and ONLY with non-ethanol gas. The saws
and trimmers run MUCH better without the booze. So do most air cooled
engines. The ethanol causes the engine to run leaner and hotter causing
problems.

In response to jb, I think gas left in a lawn mower carb and gas left in a
storage can are a bit different.

But, I'm all for feedback here, and mebbe 1 year is too long. I proly
couldn't handle the gas-exchange hassle more than every 6 mos, tho.

The article did point out that booze gas should be more prone to aging
effects, as the hydrophilic ethanol can attract more crap, like, well,
water.

I'm basically looking for a ballpark as to what I can reasonably get away
with, storage wise.

Funny thing, tho, this gas aging stuff.
I drive Dodge Colt I bought new twenty years ago. About 4 years ago I
parked it for a couple years outside. It had about a quarter tank of
gas in it. After putting in a new battery it started up after cranking
for about 3 seconds. It ran rough for a few minutes and was
underpowered on the way the the gas station. After filling up it
started to run much better after a few miles. But it took about 200
miles of driving to get it to run the way it used to. Since the fuel
system and injectors are pretty much a closed system I would say that
the gas did change some and of course the injectors must have been a
little gummed up. If I was going to store gasoline for a year in a
closed container I wouldn't risk it not working well in a generator
and just add the stabilizer.
Eric