I'm thinking of getting a large gasoline tank, enough for two or more years of use. Looking at the stabil product, they claim increasing fuel life (in an engine) to 15 months.
Are there other things to increase fuel life? For example, will storage at a constant 45 degrees help? What problems will old fuel cause?
Karl
This sounds like a project best left to the PROFESSIONALS that do this type of thing. Have this done by a company that knows all the regulations and codes etc. They should also be able to answer all your questions before you contract them to install it.
"Do it yourself" could have serious and dangerous implications. Dave
Storing gasoline IN A TANK is a lot easier than storing it in a vehicle. The bad stuff tends to stay in the tank and not clog the carb. Stabil works, you might have to add more each year.
There are many hazards to doing this, but I have done it and if you think it through it can be done.
Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/
I never had problems running my boat on 2 year old gas.
i
Stabil is a better product than even a few years ago.
Nick, I sure wish you'd elaborate since you've already done the heavy thinking ;)
Diesel makes more sense for long-term storage. the safety and code aspects are a big deal too.
Have you considered changing your engines to diesels over time?
I think there is a limit regarding storage and a step up in regulations. Something like 500 gallons takes minimal precautions etc. Never really thought about it, but I know a lot of the farmers in the midwest have a 500 gallon tank for their tractor(s), and I think most of them used to just sit on stands. Been a while and I never really asked.
You're thinking of diesel tanks. Gasoline is a much bigger pain in the butt to store in any quantity.
On Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:22:51 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm, Ignoramus6985 quickly quoth:
I've stored and used 3-year-old gas for my mower outside in an air-vented shed with no problems, either. 20F to 105F is the normal range of temps. I've never even seen a can of Stabil and my state of the art Murray mower with the B&S engine starts on the first pull every time I've primed it enough. I never have drained the mower, either.
-- Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable. -- John Patrick
The active in Stabil and others is BHT, available from health food stores. One teaspoon treats ten gallons.
I store my boat outdoors over winter with a full tank of stabilized gasoline. The idea is to prevent condensation in the tank. Been doing that for a decade now, no problems.
Someone's got to ask... Why bother? What's the payback based on the cost of the tank, cost of the money up front to buy the gas, etc.?
regards Mark Rand RTFM
--Howzabout 'storing' it as a seed packet; i.e. grow your fuel as you need it. Heh. Technically complicated for a 'home user' I suppose but it seems to me a lot of small systems are becoming available.
Smoewhat relatd, but I think that current fuel prices are not sustainable and will go down. I would not buy fuel as an investment.
i
And iirc, stablil it self has a shelf life. Use fresh stuff to treat.
Wes
-- "Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller
Storing fuels on a farm:
On Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:32:21 -0400, with neither quill nor qualm, Wes quickly quoth:
So what the hell good is the crap, anyway?
-- Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable. -- John Patrick
Occasional agitation is recommended. Not violent, just enough to "mix" it a bit. Stuff separates into "layers", (due to specific gravity differences of the components) when it sits still, like in a barrel, and is difficult to recombine. Farm uses, where there is an occasional take-some-out, put-some-in seems to keep stuff stirred moderately well.
Although separation is far less significant in 100LL Aviation gasoline. nobody seems to know exactly why, in this case.
Flash
Good idea, but not gasoline; make butanol instead, from weeds. 100% interchangeable with gasoline ;)
Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/
We used to store gasoline in a 300 gallon tank on the farm. We were told that you'd loose up to 10% of the fuel per year due to evaporation. You MUST have the tank ventilated, so you will loose some, too. You can minimize the evaporation by putting a roof over the container. But, since the tank is "breathing" as the temp goes up and down, you suck in water vapor, which condenses and goes to the bottom. We used the fuel up on a regular basis, so, with an annual treatment with a few bottles of gas line anti freeze once a year it wasn't a problem. But it may well be in storage.
I, too have fired up engines that have sat for 2 years or more with old gas. Might not start as well at 30 below, but worked for me.
Pete Stanaitis
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Karl Townsend wrote:
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