How long can gasoline be stored?

Gasoline and other fuel prices can rise, so some drivers stock up on fuel. But few people think about the fact that fuel has a certain shelf life.

How do the properties of gasoline change?

An oil product contains easily evaporating light oils responsible for the octane number boost. Storage of fuel in leaky containers results in light oils evaporation. Gasoline efficiency drops because of the decomposition of fuel additives.  The additives decompose when the expiry date is over. Decomposition process begins after a two-week storage. Extended storage leads to deposition of sediment that consists of the finest particles. Sediment entering the fuel system causes malfunction. Oxidation is another process that takes place when gasoline is being stored. Contact of gasoline with oxygen leads to fuel quality deterioration.  Such fuel is the cause of tar and soot deposits in car systems. 

What kind of containers should be used for storage?

A lot depends on storage conditions: temperature and humidity. Material of which the container is made also influences the storage period. Gasoline in leak-proof plastic cans can be stored for no more than a year. Aluminum cans can provide a longer storage.

It is not recommended to store fuel with additives for more than 3 months. Gasoline additives evaporate rapidly. In case of prolonged storage, the cans become filled with low octane gasoline that contains resins. If there is a need to lay a store of fuel, gasoline without any additives will be a better option.

When filling the car with gasoline that has been stored for a long time, use special clarifying additives to dilute the gasoline.

Gasoline that has been stored in special barrels in a premise with regulated temperature, has the longest shelf life. Cellars are suitable for this purpose. The barrel should be 95% filled, its cover should be supplied with rubber gaskets to ensure a tight fit.

Can gasoline be stored in a car tank?

In this case gasoline shelf life will depend on a number of factors, still this period will be shorter than if stored in special containers. Storage time depends on air temperature, gasoline brand and gas tank type. Due to temperature fluctuations, after 2-3 months of such storage, gasoline will lose some of its properties, the octane rating will decrease, and the substances harmful for a car engine will appear in its composition.

Gasoline storage period is 5 years according to the standards. But, even with proper storage, after a year, the fuel cannot be used in modern cars without gasoline additives. This fact has been proved by a number of experiments.

What to do with the expired fuel?

Once the fuel is expired, it is prohibited to fill the tank with it - no matter whether or not the fuel storage regulations were followed. Gasoline has the property to expire, bear it in mind when stocking it for future.

Remember that the use of expired gasoline can cause engine failure.