[BearsBoy]

I haven't seen this covered (which doesn't mean it hasn't been) so I thought I would post a link to a fuel treatment/stabilizer that I just ran across. I have been using Seafoam and Startron in my bikes, mowers, etc. and they work ok but from what I read there is a commercial marine product called PRI-G that is much better. In fact they boast that their product will keep gasoline fresh for years and make old dead gas factory fresh. If it does half of what it says it may be worth it's $1 per oz price. They say it's mixed at 1:2000 ratio so it's actually inexpensive per gallon treated.
I've never tried to store gasoline because it is so quick to go bad and now with the ethanol it goes bad even quicker. My wife didn't ride her motorcycle much last year and it had the same (untreated) fuel in the tank for about 6 months. That's all it took to gum the carbs up. That'll be my first spring project.
If this stuff works as advertised I'll probably start storing and rotating gasoline (and diesel for my truck) when I move out to my new property. Just like any other long term prep item. I figure it's just a common sense thing to do these days.

 

[1985 4runner]

I buy gas with no ethanol to store, then add Stabil.

 

[sidroski]

It's hard to find it anymore. I think it was 4Runner who posted to used the marine stabil with ethanol. Apoligizes to whoever posted that.

 

[1985 4runner]

Search Google for ethanol free gas stations, there is a website that lists them according to zip code, but I forget the website.
My local station is Eagle gas on Courthouse Rd.

 

[sidroski]

Prices close to going price?

 

[1985 4runner]

My experience is the ethanol gas costs a little more, but worth it to me.

 

[Brutus]

I've not used it myself, but according to many folks I know who've used it, Pri-G and Pri-D (for diesel) are worth their high reputation.

Really good stuff, from all accounts.

 

[Scharfschütze]

I use Stabil as well, don't need much and I got a large bottle of it at AutoZone a while back.
Also a note about ethanol: most small engine mfgs recommend strongly against it. I have Honda engines both on the generators and the lawn mower and the mfg. info has a warning against using ANY gasoline with more than 10% ethanol - and I don't trust those signs that give the ethanol %, so I go to the BP stations that advertise "no ethanol" to buy storage gas for the generator.

 

[BearsBoy]

The biggest issues with ethanol in gasoline is...
ethanol has less BTU's so you are getting a fraction less mileage and power from it. But worse... ethanol attracts and absorbs water. Not a good thing at all for any vehicle that sits for any amount of time.

 

[encoreman]

You are so right Bearsboy. Ethanol free gas can absorb only a couple of hundred PPM of water. Gas with ethanol can absorb about 7,000 PPM or 7% by volume. And the really nice thing about the ethanol gas is our government knew that it would cause havoc with our engines, and you know what they went ahead and made it anyway, kind of like the healthcare and the rest of the crap that they shove down our throats!! If you have any engine that doesn't get used real often, then keep it's tank full of ethanol free gas, treat it with stabil or other treatement.

 

[sidroski]

My beat up old work co. work van got 450 miles on pure gas but only 400 on ethanol mix.

 

[fastback65]

I wouldn't buy too much Sta-Bil at once. If I recall, it has a pretty short shelf life.

 

[BuildingMyArk]

What about PRI-G?

 

[fastback65]

Not sure about PRI-G. have never been able to find it.

 

[BuildingMyArk]

Okay, I just looked it up: One site says PRI has an unopened shelf life of three years.
http://www.berkeywater.com/Other_Products/PRI-FAQ.html

And one says PRI-G has an indefinite shelf life
when sealed and is fully guaranteed to stabilize
any gasoline at any time.
http://www.priproducts.com/pdfs/PRI-G%20For%20Small%20Engines%20Brochure.pdf

 

[titleiiredneck]

Circulation will also help in fuel storage of all types, especially if it has a stabilizer.

 

[DBChaffin]

I wouldn't buy too much Sta-Bil at once. If I recall, it has a pretty short shelf life.

I just looked this up the other day on Sta-Bil's FAQ so I thought it would be worth posting here:

Q: How long will STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer keep fuel fresh?
A: For 12 months when mixed into fresh gasoline. Doubling the dosage will keep fuel fresh for up to 2 years.*
*Actual duration of fuel stability will vary depending on regional source of gasoline and storage conditions. Stability up to 12 months is most common and lab tested.

Q: What is the shelf life of STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer?
A: 2 years after the bottle has been opened, provided it has been tightly capped and stored in a cool, dry place. If the bottle is never opened and under the original factory seal, than the shelf life is 5 to 6 years from manufacture.

 

[crawler1x]

Just curious, where does everyone store their fuel? Storage tanks or cans? I read somewhere about using old propane storage tanks for gasoline storage, as they can be had pretty cheap.

 

[1985 4runner]

I store mine (Ethanol free gas) in multiple 5 gallon cans treated with stabil for good measure. I rotate them into my vehicles & replenish once a year, at tax time.

Same thing with my generator. I run it once a month under load for half an hour or so, (usually while I cut the grass). Then, when I am rotating my gas at tax time, I siphon out the tank & refill it with fresh, Ethanol free gasoline treated with Stabil.

 

[crawler1x]

Ok, that makes more sense than storing fuel in a bulk tank. That way you can rotate 5 gallons at a time rather than having one large tank of fuel. Good thinkin.