# How long would you store gasoline? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [October 2, 2007, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309 "2007-10-02T07:57:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/1 "2007-10-02T07:57:02Z")
My boss and I were talking about this today because we both have generators that we bought during the Oct storm last year. I stored mine the way I’ve stored every seasonal use gasoline powered product I own: Add stabil to gas, fill to 7/8ths to prevent condensation, change oil, fog carb, put a little fogging oil in each cyl, don’t touch again until next use. This method has NEVER failed me in 15+ years of storing seasonal equipment, but I’ve never stored anything more than a year. I think I’m going to drain the 5 or so gallons while I know it’s still good and dump it in the truck when it’s got 3/4ths of a tank or so to get rid of it. Then refill it, fire it up for 15-20 minutes, and then re-fog it. Maybe even change the oil for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/2 "2007-10-02T08:05:00Z")
those generators will burn anything… ive run a car on 5 year old gas and it was fine… i know plenty of other people who have done the same ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/3 "2007-10-02T08:06:34Z")
With my motorcycles I always just changed the oil, filled the tank, tossed in sta-bil, ran for a few minutes to get the fuel stabilizer into the carbs, and put them away for the winter. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/4 "2007-10-02T08:10:55Z")
[quote=“BikerFry,post:3,topic:36309"”] With my motorcycles I always just changed the oil, filled the tank, tossed in sta-bil, ran for a few minutes to get the fuel stabilizer into the carbs, and put them away for the winter. [/quote] Right, same here. Lawn mowers, snow blowers, motorcycles, boats (I/O and outboard) cars etc… but all those you end up using again in 6 months or so. My generator may sit there in the garage for 2 or 3 years and I’m wondering if that’s pushing my luck. I really don’t want to be freezing my ass off on a 10 degree night when we lose power and I can’t get the generator to fire up because the gas has gone bad and fouled the carb. ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/5 "2007-10-02T08:13:13Z")
I used to store gas for a year or more for my ATV and Snowmobile. Never had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/6 "2007-10-02T08:22:58Z")
fill & Stabil it Drain & change every other year. ---
**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/7 "2007-10-02T08:28:45Z")
Technically, if you can keep gasoline completely sealed, in a climate controlled room, with zero light, and zero condensation it has a nearly unlimited shelf life. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/8 "2007-10-02T08:31:28Z")
[quote=“Nikuk,post:6,topic:36309"”] fill & Stabil it Drain & change every other year. [/quote] Sounds about right. [http://www.goldeagle.com/sta-bil/faqs\_stabil\_detail.asp?product=sta-bil&ID=2](http://www.goldeagle.com/sta-bil/faqs_stabil_detail.asp?product=sta-bil&ID=2) > **How long will STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer keep fuel fresh?** For 12 months when mixed into fresh gasoline. Doubling the dosage will keep fuel fresh for up to 2 years. Since I don’t think I doubled the dose I’ll probably drain it this weekend and refill. ---
**Author:** ![n20junkie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/n20junkie/32/7396_2.png) [@n20junkie](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/n20junkie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/9 "2007-10-02T14:12:37Z")
A word to the wise, if you wana keep fuel in a vehicle for longer than 6 months, the best thing to do is use aviation gasoline. AVGAS is built to a VERY high grade, and a friend of mine that work for a refinery says that if normal gas is the equal to being mass produced, then avgas is equal to a hand made precision piece. It can last YEARS with no breakdown, because its not formulated with all the additives. Just an idea, it reduces the need to drain, and adds insurance just incase you forget to drain. Just an idea. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/10 "2007-10-02T16:13:28Z")
Interesting, but I don’t think I’d want to run 100 octane in my little generator. Higher octane, when an engine isn’t tuned for it, means less power. > **[Avgas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas)** > > Avgas (aviation gasoline, also known as aviation spirit in the UK), is an aviation fuel used in spark-ignited internal-combustion engines to propel aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas (motor gasoline), which is the everyday gasoline used in motor vehicles and some light aircraft. Unlike mogas, which has been formulated since the 1970s to allow the use of platinum-content catalytic converters for pollution reduction, the most commonly used grades of avgas still contain tetraethyllead (TEL)... ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/11 "2007-10-02T18:12:31Z")
avgas is nice but its leaded. That may or may not be a problem ---
**Author:** ![n20junkie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/n20junkie/32/7396_2.png) [@n20junkie](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/n20junkie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/12 "2007-10-02T22:05:48Z")
leaded is good for small engines, many people add lead it to small engine fuel. And true, octane can effect Hp, but what like .00001 hp lost on that little guy. I bet the little bit of varnish build up from letting regular gas sit in the carb bowl took that and some more from you already. ---
**Author:** ![MikeRi24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@MikeRi24](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MikeRi24)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/13 "2007-10-02T22:25:33Z")
i dont worry about regular gas so much as the mixture stuff. if you let that sit especially in a very small engine like a chainsaw or leaf blower, it can really screw things up. but in any case, id say why not drain/refill every 6 months? if you’re just gonna dump it in your truck then why not? not like you’re just throwing away 5 gallons of gas, and its cheap insurance that way too. better safe than sorry ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-long-would-you-store-gasoline/36309/14 "2007-10-03T05:04:19Z")
[quote=“JayS,post:10,topic:36309"”] Interesting, but I don’t think I’d want to run 100 octane in my little generator. Higher octane, when an engine isn’t tuned for it, means less power. > **[Avgas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avgas)** > > Avgas (aviation gasoline, also known as aviation spirit in the UK) is an aviation fuel used in aircraft with spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Avgas is distinguished from conventional gasoline (petrol) used in motor vehicles, which is termed mogas (motor gasoline) in an aviation context. Unlike motor gasoline, which has been formulated without lead since the 1970s to allow the use of catalytic converters for pollution reduction, the most commonly used grades of avgas still contain tet... [/quote] When someone is in pinch at the track 110/112 runs really good and the burn off smells fantastic.