I have an old 6500 watt gas generator I left at my parents when I moved. Full tank, carb run dry and closed choke as it was dying to clear choke circuit. 8 years later they brought it to me and my dad said no way it’s cranking you gota take the bowl off at least. I turned gas on and let it sit about two minutes. It cranked first pull and ran great. I’m a believer
@@bennywarren3774 good story but you had no problems because you ran the carb dry and your fuel tank is sealed so air couldn't deteriorate the fuel and contaminate it with water. Good job but you deserve the credit not fuel stabilizer. There's really no such thing. If fuel is sealed it keeps. If not it breaks down no matter what you add to it.
My dad never used stabilizer and always stored his gas in.... Here I'm dating myself..... One or 5 gallon steel stamped gas cans with just one screw on lid with a seal in the cap and no vent. It usually took pliers to get the cap off, but that gas would sit for a year and be as fresh as day one!
I never run gas in my tri fuel generator, I have it for emergency only and last year when we had a tornado go thru, we lost power ,I ran my generator from 8 am till around 8 pm. Then I would plug in my refridgerator and freezer for the evening to my eco flow delta power supply until 8 am, I would have coffee and breakfast then switch back to the generator. Ilost power for a week and things were just fine and i am glad i have more then 1 way to power items in my home so things go smoothly, Have a plan and a back up plan for everthing, you will be glad you do
@wesman7837 Hi Wesman, we use propane in ourgenerator ,I originally just had 6 small grill tanks,and a larger 80 pound vertical propane tank I used for my shop heater, Since This was for emergency ,I had never really hooked up a tank and ran a tank till empty , so when our storm hit, it was the first test of what we had ,so I recommend you do a trial run on your setup before you have a emergency to plan on how much propane to have stored up. What we found out was in our home, under normal conditions a 20 pound grill tank powered our generator for between 3 hours and 5 hours per tank depending on the load . I am sure when the well and AC ran ,it was pulling maximum load, so ours averaged 3-5 hours on 1 of the 20# grill tanks, the 80 pound tank holds around 4x more of propane , so the 80 pound tank would run the generator for between 12 to 20 hours depending on the load. So we were able to get by for a few days with the tanks on hand , then I had to make a run to fill all tanks , so this showed us we needed more tanks of fuel in storage, since this event , I added 4 of the larger 40 # tanks and purchased 2 of the 100 # tanks , I think the large 100 pound tank would run my generator for a couple days under load if needed. Now I feel more comfortable having tested my system under real world conditions and fould I didn't have enough fuel stored, now I have added additional fuel and feel totally comfortable if we have another power outage for an extended period.
I have a 300 gal. above ground tank and 5 55 gal drums filled with non ethanol premium fuel that I have had for over 9 yrs. I treated the fuel with an additive called Pri-G and have recently started using the fuel to rotate fresh fuel in. my stuff runs fine chainsaws ,weed eaters, john deere mower and our vehicles. I purchased a filter that separates water from fuel and it works cost me about 35 bucks but it will not allow water through. every few years I add more Pri-G to the tanks like I said good fuel no problems
Wow, 9 years! Thanks for sharing! As we mentioned on the video, we've had a similar excellent experience with PRI-G. It's great stuff. But for anyone else reading this, don't forget the other principles of fuel storage that we cover in the video. As good as PRI-G is, it's not a magic bullet if you store the fuel in adverse conditions.
Aloha hugs 🤗 1 50 gal would cost 230$ ethanol free. Ihave 65 gallons plastic the caps are goned it had dome chemicals in ywo are left with water to flush with. Could they be used They where 10$ over 30 years ago
PRI-D and PRI-G are both great products; they're the real deal, and are also used industrially for large volumes of fuel. I've used both for many years, beginning in 2008. Since 2008, I've been using PRI-D (for diesel) on our boat, which holds 1,300 gallons. We also have an onboard full diesel fuel polishing system. Mechanics that may come onboard, often notice the bright ruby red fresh-looking fuel (red dye=off-road diesel) in the Racor fuel filter bowls. I tell them it's the PRI-D. They're always impressed. For 16-years now, PRI-D has always kept our diesel fuel fresh.
Did similar in airtight steel and glass containers, kept climate controlled environment w/just Seafoam. Unable to tell difference in mowers, generators, motorcycles & cars. Summer-blend fuels do store better but tried winter-blend as well with fine results. Use Top-Tier gas and fill to top w/as little unfilled space as possible, less air the better.
I've been using Stabil for a few decades. My 2 cycle Oil I put in gas for my chainsaw has stabil in it. I had a two gallon gas can of chainsaw gas that sat for several years and when I found it and used it in my weed eater, it ran fine. For two years now, I fill my gas cans with NON ETHANOL GAS ONLY and treat it with Stabil. Today is 8/28/24.
Remember Ethanol is an Alcohol and alcohol attracts water and mixes readily. You never want Ethanol in your long term storage fuel or in a boat (that operates of water) either.
if you use Non Ethanol gas, you do not have to treat it. The Ethanol is what these stabilizer's tries to fix. Yes, I've proved this. I filled a old generator (my secondary one to the main generator, so it is hardly ever used) with pure non ethanol gas and used no stabilizer. I let it sit for 2 years, than I start it up and run it for 30 minutes and than shut it down. I do nothing to the gas in the tank after those 2 years and let it sit for another 2 years and started it up again for 30 minutes. Ran fine, no issues. So again, no stabilizer needed for non ethanol fuel. Next year I will start up the generator again with 6 year old gas (non E) for 30 minutes again. I will say, when I shut it down, I do turn off the fuel while it is running and let the carb run out of fuel. But the tank has not been opened in 5 years.
People have been using fuel stabilizers long before Ethanol (E-10 or higher) was even being sold. For the price of the Marine grade Stabil, per gallon, I'm going to continue to use that 'snake oil'.
I just ordered some on Amazon after doing extra research 🔬. I have a bulk gas pump and multiple generators. I only knew about Stabil before. 16 oz for $27.00 but it treats 256gallons. Thank you for this great info!
Just a suggestion but for Long term storage i would suggest a cool storage area with minimal temperature fluctuations think under ground tank or a root cellar id also keep the tank close to full to minimize air space to reduce condensation and of course treat the fuel
That's really interesting to hear what Husqvarna said about ethanol fuel and two stroke mix. It makes totaly logical sense. I don't use ethanol fuel but that is a good gem of knowledge to know.
I usually have between 10-20 gallons on hand at all times. Rotate through as they get to 4 months old or so. It's not a big deal. Plan ahead. Take 1 or 2 empty cans when you fill up truck. Car, truck, motorcycles, power equipment. Never have an issue when carbureted engines are stored properly. Even with the ethanol crap I have to buy in CA.
Others have have mentioned it below, but it’s worth repeating: BUY ETHANOL-FREE GAS FOR SMALL ENGINES! 1) Even if the gas is kept fresh, ethanol attacks the non-metal parts of the fuel system, shortening life and/or increasing the need for frequent overhauls. 2) Even without stabilizer, ethanol-free fuel will last just fine over the winter, till you’re ready to use your small-engine tools again in the spring. It can be a little hard to find, but here in the South, most QuikTrip gas stations carry it. It’s worth driving to get some though: Before we learned about it, our yard machines would go bad after only a year or two and need the carbs rebuilt to get them working again. We’ve been using only ethanol-free gas in them for a good 5 years now, with zero service in that time, and they all start with just one or two pulls in the Spring.
@@BillyBlaze7 Well, it definitely sucks if it’s not available in your area 🙁 At least you know from the vid to buy some of the gas preserver, I think that’ll make up for the worst effects. For anyone who can, buy the ethanol-free stuff, everyone else get gas preserver.
Hi Great Video. I have a classic car and have used Stabil the pink stuff (with no problems), I understand they also have a green marine variant but I have not used it. I have also put some in the Harley when the bike has to be left in the garage over the winter. Again with no problems. I am definitely willing to upgrade to the PRI, is it available at wally world?
Hi @arlenewolf5620, thanks for sharing that and I’m glad to hear you’ve had good results with Stabil. I’m sure it can do good for a period of time. I’ve just heard stories of bad results with it. Perhaps those were longer tests? If that’s all that one can get, then I’d be inclined to use it. Maybe sometime I’ll do a side by side test between some popular brands. But until then, I’m pretty impressed with PRI-G. Hard to beat 6 years. Thanks!
I've heard the science on stabilizers. Not only do they slightly raise the octane and block water, but the best thing when using them, is to add it to your premium gas and store the can air tight, where it will not be bumped or moved until it's time to use it. The stabilizer actually creates a film across the top of the gas blocking the gas from any air. It stops the gas from picking up moisture from the air and running the gas. I've kept gas in my extra vehicle for years just by adding a dose of stabil to it about every 18 to 24 months. I don't shake the vehicle just put it in the tank and cap it up tight! Vehicle with fuel injectors starts any time it's needed and has fuel injectors... None of which have ever clogged or fouled! Good luck!
@@jpol3808 You should have paid more attention to the science. Even Sta-Bil claims their product works for UP TO 2 years, which means it could very possibly be less than that. A sealed can kept in a cool place will keep fuel fresh as long as you want it to. There's really no such thing as fuel stabilizer, and if you have a sealed can there's no need for it. Just like my dead father's truck, your fuel stays fresh because your tank is sealed and you don't have a carburetor just like me. We have no fuel problems because oxygen doesn't get to our fuel. Stabilizer has nothing to do with it. A full tank of untreated fuel stayed fresh in my Dad's Toyota for 4 years.
@@MrCountrycuz I noticed a long long time ago that two stroke fuel goes bad slower than gas alone, but if the fuel is in a sealed container and kept cool it doesn't matter.
Tank composition, fuel composition, thermal cycles and contamination are what drive the oxidative and reactive processes which spoil fuels. All the fuels we’re concerned with are hygroscopic, meaning they constantly pull moisture from there environment. Atmospheric water has quite a bit of stuff dissolved in it. It goes without saying sunlight also trashes fuel.
I typically use non ethanol fuel and add an Archoil fuel additive. I have been using this in stored gas for lawn equipment and 4-wheelers for about 6 years. No issues at all in overwintering equipment with fuel in the system. I also use it in the diesel fuel for my tractor. Seems to keep the fuel stable and my 40 year old Allis running smooth. Saw it on a Jay Leno TH-cam video as he used it in his car collection.
Are you stable ez for hurricane preparedness and the container says it will keep your gas fresh for two years. I’ve not pushed it past that but I pushed it right up to that and I love that stuff but you have to use ethanol free gas to be sure.
Nice feed back. I never heard of that fuel storage additive. I definitely knew about the 2 stroke and the right gas. 2 stroke dirt bikes need mixed with oil and and gas. It needs to be rec fuel.
Am passing on our experience...we have found a mixture of marvel mystery oil 50/50 with acetone extends fuel life very well we have kept this mixture in motorcycles for upto 3-4 years with no problems starting or gumming up in tank or carburetor s. We add 4 ozs to our daily drivers to every 10 gallons of fuel. Even the lawn mower gets a dose. The 2 cycle weed wackers do ok with just using a quality synthetic 2 cycle oil added to fuel. Start them pinch the fuel line dry them dry. The Teflon fuel pump diaphragms will last the longest...acetate second, rubber coated last. The stabol additive goes bad over time even in its own container.
I store my fuel with Both PRI-G added and Sta-Bil to it gas can. I have 12 tanks with 5 gal each and once a month I rotate one tank. Each tank is labeled with a month on it. When I use the fuel I add a dose of PRI-G into the gas can. Wait about 1 hr. Add gas into car and I add a bottle of Dry Gas and Octane booster. Its over kill but works. Or like they say about chicken soup " It Cant Hurt". Just my 2 cents Good luck
The way to store petroleum fuels long term is to store it in a stable temperature, protected from light, and sealed from air. Fuel that is vented to the atmosphere evaporates, oxidizes, and absorbs contaminates. Bladder tanks underground, with sealed access. Basically pumped into a vacuumed bladder, through a air tight fitting, such as a quick connect, to limit air contamination. A hose connected likewise with a nozzle to remove from the pressurized bladder.
I was in the auto parts store yesterday and picked up a product for fuel storage and read the label and put it back. Now this video shows up in less than 24 hours.
@@randmcnally6442 I have had very good luck with pride G one of the keys is fill it all the way and keep the cap tight so you cannot get air into it and avoid ethanol if it all possible and that might mean filling your car or truck with non-ethanol premium before you fill the can because there's always a bunch in those hoses of the ethanol cheap stuff and it will contaminate you
One thing u can do with old gasoline is mix it with hi grade fuel about 30% old gas to 70% hi grade gasoline. The hi grade has more octane & it should make up for the degraded gas as it loses octane as it ages.
I have had unstabilized gas in my truck sitting for a year and the gas has deteriorated somewhat, the idle is about 625 rpm when it should be 700 rpm. I always store the truck full. I'm going to store it again so I'm going to run it almost dry and fill it up again. Maybe I can find some PRI-G.
Excellent information that needs to be shared…stay blessed through these challenging times…stay blessed when you saw premium is that the same as marine gas if not can that be used as well…that is what I use for my two cycle and the mower at all times…
My personal experience is that if you keep the container as full as possible, and sealed as well as reasonably can be done, it should retain its "freshness" the best. Even ethanol mixtures benefit from this. Gasoline typically does not "spoil." It is not food. If sealed in an airtight container, with NO ability to breathe, and in a reasonably protected location, like a shed, it should last indefinitely. Gas builds up a certain vapor pressure as the more volatile molecules in the fuel evaporate into the air above it. It does that with any air in a gas can, until it reaches a stable pressure. This is always just slightly above ambient air pressure. (Think of acetone used for removing fingernail polish. It has a vapor pressure that will cause the bottle contents to evaporate until it is empty, so we cap it tightly. The vapor pressure is not great, but is slightly higher than that of the surrounding air.) The same applies with gasoline. The carbon chain molecules that are short and that evaporate more easily will slowly escape into the air in the can until it reaches saturation, and will then escape into the surrounding air over time if the gas can is not tightly capped. In a partially filled gas can, the air in it will build up pressure due to the warmth of the day, and will push some of that fuel-vapor-rich air out of the can. Then, at night when everything cools down, the can will pull fresh air into the container. Some of the lighter gas molecules will then evaporate into that fresh air that was drawn in, until it is saturated with gas fumes. That gassy air will then warm up the next day, expand, and push some air - and evaporated fuel - out of the can. This daily "inhale, exhale" breathing of a partially filled gas can is the greatest factor in causing gas to "go bad." The gas gets concentrated, and thicker, because the lightest components of the gas mix with the fresh nighttime air pulled into the can, and are expelled when the pressure in the can rises due to the *daytime* temperature. This "breathing" can be minimized a little by having tight gas and vent caps. But few cans are able to seal that well. (Imagine testing the cap seal on your full or half-filled can by resting it on its side, with the cap below the fuel level. Would you trust it to not leak for oh, say, a week?) Gasoline, however, does not expand and contract as much as air does, so keeping the cans full and tightly capped is the best way to assure your gas will not "go bad." Even if you have ethanol gas, if moisture can't get in, and the cap won't allow "breathing", it should be fine and not take on water or suffer evaporation of the volatile compounds in it. I am old, and have owned small to medium-sized motorcycles for 60 years. Mowers and other gas tools for 50. I have never had rust in a metal motorcycle gas tank, or had a problem with bad gas. Fill the tank, snug that cap down, and set it aside. My riding mowers sit all winter with full tanks, and start well, first time, each Spring. I keep either full or empty portable gas cans all winter, too. My 3 motorcycles go 9-10 months most years just sitting there, and start just fine every spring. Had two of them 12 years now, and the third one since 1986. They all start well on their aged fuel. That old one sometimes sits a few years between rides, and still fires up easily, every time I bring it out of extended hibernation. Bad gas is often bad right from the gas station that let water seep in or condense into their cold underground tanks. Conclusion: 1. Keep tanks and carburetors either full or empty. Filled is better. 2. Keep all full tanks tightly capped so the volatiles don't evaporate. PS: I live in the humid, rainy Pacific NW, and we range in temperature from the 90s F in summer down to the low 20s or teens in winter, with typical day/night changes of 15-40°. Full cans, tight caps. Period.
Thanks for sharing this explanation! Totally agree about topping off the container (just not too full where it runs into trouble on a hot day) and having a tight sealing lid. Both of these are an important part of the 6 secrets to optimal fuel storage. Thanks again!
All gasoline generators should have a "side splitter" on the gas line coming from the main tank. This way, you can pour a very small amount of gasoline to run the generator regularly for 5-10 minutes every 2 weeks or so. I'm surprised the manufacturers have not figured this out. I did it myself on my Briggs & Stratton.
I bought a tractor that had been sitting in a shed for about 10 years. The fuel tank was mostly empty (not the best way to store a vehicle) and there was brown sludge (microbes) in the fuel tank and the filter was coated with it. I drained the remaining old fuel, replaced the filter and put fresh diesel and Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Fuel System Cleaner in the tank. I've run it for about two hours so far and it is doing fine. From now on, I will keep stabilizer in the diesel all the time because I don't know how often I will use it.
@@TheReadyLifeyour channel popped up - When Katrina hit my area I had 5 gallons of gas on hand - - about the only thing I have that uses gasoline are my husq. Chainsaws - I live in the rural south - On one acre around my house there were 120 old growth trees that were knocked down - some were 200 + yrs old - We clear the roads our selves after storms - I remember going to a Amoco gas station with my dad around 1963 as a kid - he filled two old butane tanks with gas and replaced the tank valves - I knew what was in those tanks and left them laying on the ground in the woods till I might one-day need that gas - needless to say when Katrina hit I had a 300 foot role of chain - As I was on the road with others cutting trees naturally I burned up the 5 gallons of fresh gas I had - For the next week I cut trees burning 52 yr old gasoline - My grand father started working on engines and generators in 1900 I went to work on generators in the early 70s - We all know about oil and fuel - it's best to store gasoline in a propane tank long term or forever - The same with kerosene and other fuels - it prevents the hydrogen from flashing off and prevents oxygen from replacing the hydrogen and oxidizing the fuel - Fuel that is being used should be stored in steel EAGLE fire safety cans - Plastic containers should not be used for long term storage - oxygen migrates through plastic - Stable ect put a film on top of fuel that bars out oxygen so the fuel does not oxidize -
@@able880 That's an amazing story! Thanks for sharing. Katrina stories continue to be instructive. That was an eye-opening storm for so many of us! I've had gas go bad in as little as a few month without stabilizer. However I agree with you that storing in a stout metal container and in a larger container helps fuel to last longer. Small amounts of fuel in small tanks go bad faster. So that's a great point. Also, back in 1963 the fuel was leaded and didn't contain ethanol, right? I know non-ethanol helps fuel storage and I wouldn't be surprised if the lead helped too. Interesting.
I bought Sta-bil more than two years ago and put it in non-ethanol gas about 16 or 17 gallons in all and I'm still using it in my generator but I have a generator Wen 3800 that burns off the gas in the carburetor that's how it shuts off, it runs all the gas out of the carburetor. But I'm gone on more than 2 years and this gas is still fine I put it in my car the other day I still run it in my generator.
This is a great video. I always like finding products that are better quality than whats currently on the market. Have I never discovered your TH-cam channel I would never found out about this particular product. If it good enough for logistics transportation it good enough for me. The stabil products you get what you pay for.
Thank you @TheReadyLife for sharing your experience. I have been working with small engines since the 1960's and have seen a lot of steel fuel tanks and carburetors ruined by old gasoline. Using ethanol free gas is the first step and key to increased life. In my location (north central Florida), I have seen standard ethanol pump gas damage small engine carburetors in as little as one month. I have used the Sta-Bil fuel treatment since 1995. It didn't appear to work as advertised then but, they must have improved their formula as, it seems to work better now. I have never seen the Pri fuel stabilizer available locally but, have never actually looked for it. However, the ultra high prices for it make it prohibitive to use. For what its worth, here is my recipe for small engine treated fuel: The standard dose of Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer (2 oz per 5 gallons of gas) and 1 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil per gallon of gas. I have tested this mix out to 5 years so far in standard 5 gallon plastic gas cans, small engine carbs, and all types of engine fuel tanks without any problems (no gum, sediment, staining, or corrosion), the 5 year old fuel still smells fresh.
Thanks for that tip! PRI may seem pricey but remember it is super concentrated. 1oz treats 16 gal! I haven’t done a cost comparison, so perhaps it still costs more than others, but I do know it has worked well for decades for me. Thanks again!
@@TheReadyLife Thanks for your response. Yes, I agree at 16 gallons per 1 oz there would be a savings. However, the latest information listed on the 32 oz bottle shows 2.5 gallons per ounce of PRI stablizer. I don't know is this an error or PRI recently decided to dilute their product.
@@billharris6886 hmmm…I’m not sure where you are seeing that but it would be a typo or error. If you look at the bottle itself, it says it treats 512 gal. 512 gal / 32 oz = 16 gal treated per oz of PRI-G. Hope that helps and sorry for the confusion caused by that erroneous info😊.
I use it all the time. Probably one of the most critical applications for stabilizing gas, since the chainsaw tanks are so small and they often get hot and all that. Just stabilize the gas first and then add the 2 cycle mix. I try and make it a habit to stabilize any gas I get in 5 gal containers.
Another advantage to using fuel stabilizers for diesel is that the diesel sold today is ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel). The ULSD does not have the lubricity that most engines need and most stabilizers, like Hot Shot's Secret and PRI-D, have additives that provide more lubrication.
A friend bought a new diesel truck a few years ago and I remember him telling me that the dealership told him to use a bottle of 2 cycle oil per tank to add extra lubricant to the diesel.
What about VERY HOT but not humid. At first I was thinking that I would have to dig a deep hole to put the cans in but you said that you stored it in a very hot and humid shed, I think. So I had hope that I could store it in my shed. TFS!!
All of these factors we discussed affect the shelf life, so basically you do the best you can with as many of these as you can to try and stack the deck in your favor. So try and choose the coolest location you reasonably can, keep it dry, out of the sunshine, in a larger container (like a 55 gal drum or larger if possible) and treat it with stabilizer. All those other factors should help to offset the effects of the heat to some extent. Just be careful about having good ventilation, as when containers get very hot they let off fumes.
I stored two five gallon cans of gasoline for over 35 years without any treatment. Recently I started using one can to run small engines on my lawn equipment. It worked just fine. Also, I never use any kind of additive do anything special for over winter storage of equipment and have never had an issue of any kind.
Thanks for sharing. That's awesome, and the most amazing gas storage experience I've heard yet, and I'd love to get gas from whatever station you got it from 35 years ago. Sadly, most of the rest of us have had gas go bad in mere months, perhaps due to the poor quality of fuel and ethanol these days, among other factors. But even back then, fuel degradation was a thing, so I would be careful to not assume that what happened with you is the rule. Rather, it's the exception, and an amazing exception at that. But pretty cool! Thanks again!
When getting gas at the pump. Make sure to PURGE the line before filling the storage tank. When i fill my gas cans or even a motorcycle. Pump off a 1/2-1 gallon into your car or someone else's car.
You might try this website that claims to list a bunch of gas stations with non-ethanol fuel. I checked the list for our area and found it surprisingly accurate. Here it is for Florida: www.pure-gas.org/FL
No, not unless they are rated for fuel. As far as I'm aware, it's the metal drums that are designed for fuel and oil. I believe the plastic ones are generally made for water and similar liquids. But someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.
We don't use kerosene for anything that I can think of. Years ago there was a time that we used some aladdin lamps before we got our power system up and running, so we used kerosene for that. But I don't think I've used it since then.
Great video thanks. I've been using PIR for 20 years myself.. There's a TH-cam or his channel is Taryl fixes all.... 2 years ago, he did a video of about a dozen of the standard fuel stabilizers know. I did a 6 month and then a 12 month.... The video is (do fuel additives work. Let's find out in this epic test).... Unfortunately, in that test He tested everything else but he didn't use PIR-G would have liked to see the results.... About 2 months ago he learned of PIR &did avideo just on PIR-G and he even revived old lawn mowers. I think he have to triple dose it to revive. The worst stanky stale awful fuel.....IT WORKED......
I don't know if this is a valid test, but. I would take gas from small engines that would not run, and put it in my pickup truck and it ran fine. I would fill my small engines with new fuel and they would run fine. So now at the end of the year, I burn the fuel from small engines and containers in my pickup with no trouble, and put fresh fuel in the small engines. Winter fuel can be different than summer fuel, especially when dealing with diesel or bio fuels.
That’s a great idea! Makes sense that even questionable fuel would run in your car if it was only several gallons since it would be diluted in your car tank. In the story I told on the video, the car was repeatedly filled up with the gas that had been stored for 6 or 7 years with no issues, so I felt confident that it was still in good shape.
Six years... that's great. Exactly how did you store it? Plastic or metal container? Was the container airtight or vented? And what do you mean by keep it cool? Was it just in the shade outdoors? Temperature controlled garage? I'm in Fl and it's going to get hot, but if your in, say Alaska or thereabouts, that could have been a huge contributor. To know exactly how you kept yours in particular should get the same result...the reason for all the questions. Thanks for the video...I did not know this was even possible.
Metal 55 gal drums like they use for oil or kerosene. Air tight. By cool I mean do the best you can to keep it cool, probably in the shade, preferably not in a closed shed that heats up to 150 degrees. And we were in GA at the time, so did t gets hot and humid.
You are correct,Ethanol gasoline is ok for your car that burns it in a short period but for storage it is crap! It’s becoming more difficult to find pure gasoline, even marine gas can contain ethanol. In Canada I think shell premium is still pure gasoline?
I have't checked in other areas, but here in the Inland NW USA, it seems like non-ethanol has is making a comeback. Usually there is at least one gas station in each town that has non-ethanol premium. Could be due to the higher than normal percentage of folks who are off-grid or due to all the folks who are running boats, ATVs, UTVs, etc? Not sure, but it's been great to see it become more widely available here.
We have an off grid solar system and a Honda generator as backup for that. We started out many years ago with an EM5000 but a couple years ago switched to an EU7000. The EU7000 is super nice, but the EM5000 was a solid generator and a great deal for the money.
@@TheReadyLife Awesome thank you for your input. Did you guys have a transfer switch put on for the electric box. I got a couple quotes and they want $1,500. I think that’s a lot of money. Any options other than extension cords?
@@kevinmazur1519 we don't have a transfer switch because we are completely off grid (no power lines within miles of here). But if you are hooked up to the grid, no way around a transfer switch for safety and legal issues. And generally you do have to have an electrician do that piece of it if it's a whole house transfer switch, since one side of it is essentially being connected to the power lines. However, there are transfer switches that can be wired into a breaker box and only affect select circuits. Those, I believe, are usually allowed to be installed by the owner themselves if they know how to do it. But other than that, you are pretty much back to extension cords. $1,500 does seem kinda steep to me, but I know everybody seems to be charging a lot lately. Electricians that were making $30/hour back in the 90's are making well over $100/hour! Even at that rate, $1,500 would be a lot of money unless they are using some kind of crazy expensive transfer switch. Go figure!
300 gal galvanized tank . Galvanizing stops Gama radiation that destroys fuel ⛽️ . This should have been a common storage practice since the 50's . Only cooperation that practiced it with their equipment was outbound marine cooperation. Evinrude motors outboard motors and fuel tanks 5 gal . 7:58
lisa’s beautiful. great smile. and he is super knowledgeable.. awesome info .. can you use PRIG mixed gas at any point or only after it’s been stored for X time
You can use it at any point, as long as it was usable when you treated it. If it was unusable and you treated it, I don’t know how long it needs to sit to improve the quality. I’d probably give it a day or two but that’s just a guess. Have to ask the company for their opinion. Better to not let it get bad in the first place! Great question!
You might try this website that claims to list a bunch of gas stations with non-ethanol fuel. I checked the list for our area and found it surprisingly accurate. Here it is: www.pure-gas.org/
Steel fuel containers are far superior to plastic for fuel stability. I don't know if you covered it as I didn't watch the whole thing, maybe you covered it. Fuel vapors pass through plastic and degrade quality, but not steel. I store fuel in VP race fuel steel cans that they sell their fuels in. These are often discarded at race tracks. No way they would trust their products in plastic cans. Ethanol free gas with some red Stabil and steel can has done wonders for me.
I stored some fuel back in the Obama administration. Just used some of it (10-15gal), in my 2002 V6 truck and a Kawasaki powered zero-turn mower. Neither had any problems running properly. I used 1oz per 5gal Sta-bil Marine and 1oz per 5gal Sta-bil Performance (if I remember the specifics correctly). I know I used the Marine version and the other version I used was the Performance equivalent. I never opened the containers to retreat, and used 93 octane (with ethanol), when I filled originally.
All you need to do is use 100% gasoline. There is these pumps around. I've stored 100% gasoline for 3 yrs without any additive, even left in my chainsaw for 2 yrs and recently got it out to use and fired right up like I had just used it. It's the ethanol that destroys the gas and very corrosive. For a stabilizer I prefer Startron for gasoline with ethanol. A much better additive, but Ethanol Shield is also way better. The gas you use is way more critical in 4cycle and 2cycle then in your car. Dumping old gasoline in your car will not be a problem as it's usually mixed with good gasoline....
Thanks for your comment! My understanding is that both gas and ethanol can go bad, it's just that the ethanol absorbs water and can go bad much faster. But even pure non-ethanol gas goes bad over time (possible in even several months if not treated). At least that's my understanding. But I definitely agree that ethanol makes fuel storage harder! Thanks!
Ethanol makes "regular everyday gas" much better in my humble opinion. Back in the 1900's we frequently had to add gas line antifreeze to our vehicles in the winter. This is no longer an issue as the Ethanol bonds with the water. Gasoline and gasoline storage has come a long way 😊
If you start the machine on fresh gas and get it running for a few minutes then switch it over to crap fuel it will work almost every time. But you should use a little dry gas in it so water flows through.
I learned why gasoline breaks down 10 years ago when my father died. His pickup truck has a sealed tank. You can hear the air rush in when you remove the gas cap. A full tank of fuel stayed fresh in that truck for 4 years. No air = no oxygen and humidity to oxidize and separate your fuel. Keep it in a sealed can in the shade and it will keep indefinitely.
Thanks for sharing! I’m sure that keeping it sealed can help, but I don’t think you can expect it to keep indefinitely. The fuel you bought may have had some good additives from the gas station or who knows? I’ve heard a few stories like this and it proves that sometimes fuel can store for a while on its own. But it’s not reliable since you don’t know the history of the fuel you are buying at the station. Just my two cents.
@@TheReadyLife a full tank of untreated fuel stayed fresh in my Dad's truck for 4 years because the tank is sealed. You can hear the air rush in when you remove the gas cap. How long is indefinite to you?
I have stored fuel for 5 years. This is how. Steel can, barrel or tanks. Stored indoors. I use non Ethanol and stabil. Plastic is a bad choice for fuel.
In the 60''s, gasoline could be stored for at least four years without losing its usefullness. Now, if gas is not used for six months, it can't be used. What has been done to regular gas to destroy its usefulness ???
I have an old 6500 watt gas generator I left at my parents when I moved. Full tank, carb run dry and closed choke as it was dying to clear choke circuit. 8 years later they brought it to me and my dad said no way it’s cranking you gota take the bowl off at least. I turned gas on and let it sit about two minutes. It cranked first pull and ran great. I’m a believer
Believer of what? Stabilizer, winterizing, ethanol free?
@@bennywarren3774 good story but you had no problems because you ran the carb dry and your fuel tank is sealed so air couldn't deteriorate the fuel and contaminate it with water. Good job but you deserve the credit not fuel stabilizer. There's really no such thing. If fuel is sealed it keeps. If not it breaks down no matter what you add to it.
My dad never used stabilizer and always stored his gas in.... Here I'm dating myself..... One or 5 gallon steel stamped gas cans with just one screw on lid with a seal in the cap and no vent. It usually took pliers to get the cap off, but that gas would sit for a year and be as fresh as day one!
I never run gas in my tri fuel generator, I have it for emergency only and last year when we had a tornado go thru, we lost power ,I ran my generator from 8 am till around 8 pm. Then I would plug in my refridgerator and freezer for the evening to my eco flow delta power supply until 8 am, I would have coffee and breakfast then switch back to the generator. Ilost power for a week and things were just fine and i am glad i have more then 1 way to power items in my home so things go smoothly, Have a plan and a back up plan for everthing, you will be glad you do
Do you have a very large propane tank, or are you running it on natural gas?
@wesman7837 Hi Wesman, we use propane in ourgenerator ,I originally just had 6 small grill tanks,and a larger 80 pound vertical propane tank I used for my shop heater, Since This was for emergency ,I had never really hooked up a tank and ran a tank till empty , so when our storm hit, it was the first test of what we had ,so I recommend you do a trial run on your setup before you have a emergency to plan on how much propane to have stored up. What we found out was in our home, under normal conditions a 20 pound grill tank powered our generator for between 3 hours and 5 hours per tank depending on the load . I am sure when the well and AC ran ,it was pulling maximum load, so ours averaged 3-5 hours on 1 of the 20# grill tanks, the 80 pound tank holds around 4x more of propane , so the 80 pound tank would run the generator for between 12 to 20 hours depending on the load. So we were able to get by for a few days with the tanks on hand , then I had to make a run to fill all tanks , so this showed us we needed more tanks of fuel in storage, since this event , I added 4 of the larger 40 # tanks and purchased 2 of the 100 # tanks , I think the large 100 pound tank would run my generator for a couple days under load if needed. Now I feel more comfortable having tested my system under real world conditions and fould I didn't have enough fuel stored, now I have added additional fuel and feel totally comfortable if we have another power outage for an extended period.
I have a 300 gal. above ground tank and 5 55 gal drums filled with non ethanol premium fuel that I have had for over 9 yrs. I treated the fuel with an additive called Pri-G and have recently started using the fuel to rotate fresh fuel in. my stuff runs fine chainsaws ,weed eaters, john deere mower and our vehicles. I purchased a filter that separates water from fuel and it works cost me about 35 bucks but it will not allow water through. every few years I add more Pri-G to the tanks like I said good fuel no problems
Wow, 9 years! Thanks for sharing! As we mentioned on the video, we've had a similar excellent experience with PRI-G. It's great stuff. But for anyone else reading this, don't forget the other principles of fuel storage that we cover in the video. As good as PRI-G is, it's not a magic bullet if you store the fuel in adverse conditions.
Aloha hugs 🤗 1 50 gal would cost 230$ ethanol free. Ihave 65 gallons plastic the caps are goned it had dome chemicals in ywo are left with water to flush with. Could they be used
They where 10$ over 30 years ago
PRI-D and PRI-G are both great products; they're the real deal, and are also used industrially for large volumes of fuel. I've used both for many years, beginning in 2008. Since 2008, I've been using PRI-D (for diesel) on our boat, which holds 1,300 gallons. We also have an onboard full diesel fuel polishing system. Mechanics that may come onboard, often notice the bright ruby red fresh-looking fuel (red dye=off-road diesel) in the Racor fuel filter bowls. I tell them it's the PRI-D. They're always impressed. For 16-years now, PRI-D has always kept our diesel fuel fresh.
Totally agree! Good to hear your experience! We've been using is for 25+ years also with great results too. Thanks for sharing.
Did similar in airtight steel and glass containers, kept climate controlled environment w/just Seafoam.
Unable to tell difference in mowers, generators, motorcycles & cars.
Summer-blend fuels do store better but tried winter-blend as well with fine results. Use Top-Tier gas and fill to top w/as little unfilled space as possible, less air the better.
Glass containers? Wow. Mason jars?
Don't you worry about breakage?
Good info, thank You
I use Pri-G and Pri-D and have never had any issues in my large tanks and they don’t get used often. I’d say 2-3 years is the longest I’ve let it sit.
Very important that it be not ethanol fuel and there be no way for air to get into the tank
You cant get that here in the UK wonder if there is something else I could use?
@@sprint48219 I’ve stored ethanol fuel without issue.
@@nw8000 I have never seen it in a store in the US I buy it online. I’m sure you can get it delivered.
I've been using Stabil for a few decades. My 2 cycle Oil I put in gas for my chainsaw has stabil in it. I had a two gallon gas can of chainsaw gas that sat for several years and when I found it and used it in my weed eater, it ran fine. For two years now, I fill my gas cans with NON ETHANOL GAS ONLY and treat it with Stabil. Today is 8/28/24.
Remember Ethanol is an Alcohol and alcohol attracts water and mixes readily. You never want Ethanol in your long term storage fuel or in a boat (that operates of water) either.
if you use Non Ethanol gas, you do not have to treat it. The Ethanol is what these stabilizer's tries to fix. Yes, I've proved this. I filled a old generator (my secondary one to the main generator, so it is hardly ever used) with pure non ethanol gas and used no stabilizer. I let it sit for 2 years, than I start it up and run it for 30 minutes and than shut it down. I do nothing to the gas in the tank after those 2 years and let it sit for another 2 years and started it up again for 30 minutes. Ran fine, no issues. So again, no stabilizer needed for non ethanol fuel. Next year I will start up the generator again with 6 year old gas (non E) for 30 minutes again. I will say, when I shut it down, I do turn off the fuel while it is running and let the carb run out of fuel. But the tank has not been opened in 5 years.
Pretty amazing! I'm glad you've had better results than me and many others who have had even non-ethanol gas go bad without stabilization.🤷🏼♂
Stabil is a sham
People have been using fuel stabilizers long before Ethanol (E-10 or higher) was even being sold. For the price of the Marine grade Stabil, per gallon, I'm going to continue to use that 'snake oil'.
I just ordered some on Amazon after doing extra research 🔬. I have a bulk gas pump and multiple generators. I only knew about Stabil before. 16 oz for $27.00 but it treats 256gallons. Thank you for this great info!
Awesome, yes it's good stuff and very concentrated too.
Just clicked on the link here so the posters get a little benefit from the sale, but it's out of stock.
Bummer.
I have used StarTron Enzyme Fuel treatment at a much concentrated amount. Even spoiled 7 year gas ran in my commercial mower great.
I have been using PRI-G and have had no problem getting a year out of it!
Just a suggestion but for Long term storage i would suggest a cool storage area with minimal temperature fluctuations think under ground tank or a root cellar id also keep the tank close to full to minimize air space to reduce condensation and of course treat the fuel
That's really interesting to hear what Husqvarna said about ethanol fuel and two stroke mix. It makes totaly logical sense. I don't use ethanol fuel but that is a good gem of knowledge to know.
Thanks for the tips
Sure thing!
I use my year old gas after every hurricane season in my truck (i do put Stabil Fuel stabilizer in the gas storage tanks.)
I had good luck with Schaeffer products. I put neutra into all my fuels. Gas and diesel. Thanks for the video
I usually have between 10-20 gallons on hand at all times. Rotate through as they get to 4 months old or so. It's not a big deal. Plan ahead. Take 1 or 2 empty cans when you fill up truck.
Car, truck, motorcycles, power equipment. Never have an issue when carbureted engines are stored properly.
Even with the ethanol crap I have to buy in CA.
Others have have mentioned it below, but it’s worth repeating: BUY ETHANOL-FREE GAS FOR SMALL ENGINES!
1) Even if the gas is kept fresh, ethanol attacks the non-metal parts of the fuel system, shortening life and/or increasing the need for frequent overhauls.
2) Even without stabilizer, ethanol-free fuel will last just fine over the winter, till you’re ready to use your small-engine tools again in the spring.
It can be a little hard to find, but here in the South, most QuikTrip gas stations carry it. It’s worth driving to get some though: Before we learned about it, our yard machines would go bad after only a year or two and need the carbs rebuilt to get them working again. We’ve been using only ethanol-free gas in them for a good 5 years now, with zero service in that time, and they all start with just one or two pulls in the Spring.
its not available in my area and many areas, its like telling a poor person to just be rich lol
@@BillyBlaze7 Well, it definitely sucks if it’s not available in your area 🙁 At least you know from the vid to buy some of the gas preserver, I think that’ll make up for the worst effects. For anyone who can, buy the ethanol-free stuff, everyone else get gas preserver.
@@DaveEtchells yeah i been using Stabil for years, its about all I can do
@@BillyBlaze7 Our tax dollars at work… 😕
Where can I get the ethanol free fuel?
Hi Great Video. I have a classic car and have used Stabil the pink stuff (with no problems), I understand they also have a green marine variant but I have not used it. I have also put some in the Harley when the bike has to be left in the garage over the winter. Again with no problems. I am definitely willing to upgrade to the PRI, is it available at wally world?
Hi @arlenewolf5620, thanks for sharing that and I’m glad to hear you’ve had good results with Stabil. I’m sure it can do good for a period of time. I’ve just heard stories of bad results with it. Perhaps those were longer tests? If that’s all that one can get, then I’d be inclined to use it. Maybe sometime I’ll do a side by side test between some popular brands. But until then, I’m pretty impressed with PRI-G. Hard to beat 6 years. Thanks!
Oh I forgot to mention…I don’t think Walmart carries it. But you can find it on Amazon. Link is in the description of this video.
I've heard the science on stabilizers. Not only do they slightly raise the octane and block water, but the best thing when using them, is to add it to your premium gas and store the can air tight, where it will not be bumped or moved until it's time to use it. The stabilizer actually creates a film across the top of the gas blocking the gas from any air. It stops the gas from picking up moisture from the air and running the gas. I've kept gas in my extra vehicle for years just by adding a dose of stabil to it about every 18 to 24 months. I don't shake the vehicle just put it in the tank and cap it up tight! Vehicle with fuel injectors starts any time it's needed and has fuel injectors... None of which have ever clogged or fouled! Good luck!
@@jpol3808 You should have paid more attention to the science. Even Sta-Bil claims their product works for UP TO 2 years, which means it could very possibly be less than that. A sealed can kept in a cool place will keep fuel fresh as long as you want it to. There's really no such thing as fuel stabilizer, and if you have a sealed can there's no need for it. Just like my dead father's truck, your fuel stays fresh because your tank is sealed and you don't have a carburetor just like me. We have no fuel problems because oxygen doesn't get to our fuel. Stabilizer has nothing to do with it. A full tank of untreated fuel stayed fresh in my Dad's Toyota for 4 years.
@@wsbill14224 Briggs & Stratton claimed 3 years and it was true. No longer available.
So does one oz of two stroke oil per 5 gallons of gasoline.
@@MrCountrycuz I noticed a long long time ago that two stroke fuel goes bad slower than gas alone, but if the fuel is in a sealed container and kept cool it doesn't matter.
Tank composition, fuel composition, thermal cycles and contamination are what drive the oxidative and reactive processes which spoil fuels. All the fuels we’re concerned with are hygroscopic, meaning they constantly pull moisture from there environment. Atmospheric water has quite a bit of stuff dissolved in it. It goes without saying sunlight also trashes fuel.
I typically use non ethanol fuel and add an Archoil fuel additive. I have been using this in stored gas for lawn equipment and 4-wheelers for about 6 years. No issues at all in overwintering equipment with fuel in the system. I also use it in the diesel fuel for my tractor. Seems to keep the fuel stable and my 40 year old Allis running smooth. Saw it on a Jay Leno TH-cam video as he used it in his car collection.
Are you stable ez for hurricane preparedness and the container says it will keep your gas fresh for two years. I’ve not pushed it past that but I pushed it right up to that and I love that stuff but you have to use ethanol free gas to be sure.
Nice feed back. I never heard of that fuel storage additive. I definitely knew about the 2 stroke and the right gas. 2 stroke dirt bikes need mixed with oil and and gas. It needs to be rec fuel.
Sure thing! Yes, it's amazing stuff that has worked well for us for many years. Thanks for sharing!
Any other places? Possibly that you can walk into?
Not sure. Most of their business is industrial at shipyards etc. For consumer sales I believe they mostly sell through small dealers.
You two make a good couple. Blessings from Hidalgo TX
Awe, thanks! Blessings to you too.
Am passing on our experience...we have found a mixture of marvel mystery oil 50/50 with acetone extends fuel life very well we have kept this mixture in motorcycles for upto 3-4 years with no problems starting or gumming up in tank or carburetor s. We add 4 ozs to our daily drivers to every 10 gallons of fuel. Even the lawn mower gets a dose. The 2 cycle weed wackers do ok with just using a quality synthetic 2 cycle oil added to fuel. Start them pinch the fuel line dry them dry. The Teflon fuel pump diaphragms will last the longest...acetate second, rubber coated last.
The stabol additive goes bad over time even in its own container.
Thanks for sharing! Very interesting.
I store my fuel with Both PRI-G added and Sta-Bil to it gas can. I have 12 tanks with 5 gal each and once a month I rotate one tank. Each tank is labeled with a month on it. When I use the fuel I add a dose of PRI-G into the gas can. Wait about 1 hr. Add gas into car and I add a bottle of Dry Gas and Octane booster.
Its over kill but works. Or like they say about chicken soup " It Cant Hurt".
Just my 2 cents
Good luck
Wow, that's a thorough approach! Thanks for sharing.
Where can I find the product you are talking about at for fuel stabilizer? Thank you for the video.
@BPeterson730 - here you go:
amzn.to/3EJXyYn (for gasoline) or
amzn.to/3EMHOnp (for Diesel)
The way to store petroleum fuels long term is to store it in a stable temperature, protected from light, and sealed from air. Fuel that is vented to the atmosphere evaporates, oxidizes, and absorbs contaminates. Bladder tanks underground, with sealed access. Basically pumped into a vacuumed bladder, through a air tight fitting, such as a quick connect, to limit air contamination. A hose connected likewise with a nozzle to remove from the pressurized bladder.
I was in the auto parts store yesterday and picked up a product for fuel storage and read the label and put it back. Now this video shows up in less than 24 hours.
Just ordered Pri-G from Amazon, it’s going to take over 3 weeks for delivery, I certainly hope it’s worth the wait.
It is, trust me!
@@randmcnally6442 I have had very good luck with pride G one of the keys is fill it all the way and keep the cap tight so you cannot get air into it and avoid ethanol if it all possible and that might mean filling your car or truck with non-ethanol premium before you fill the can because there's always a bunch in those hoses of the ethanol cheap stuff and it will contaminate you
One thing u can do with old gasoline is mix it with hi grade fuel about 30% old gas to 70% hi grade gasoline. The hi grade has more octane & it should make up for the degraded gas as it loses octane as it ages.
I have had unstabilized gas in my truck sitting for a year and the gas has deteriorated somewhat, the idle is about 625 rpm when it should be 700 rpm. I always store the truck full. I'm going to store it again so I'm going to run it almost dry and fill it up again. Maybe I can find some PRI-G.
It's good stuff. I'd definitely use it in any vehicle where gas is sitting for long periods.
We use and love Pri-G and Pri-G. Much prefer it over other products.
Excellent information that needs to be shared…stay blessed through these challenging times…stay blessed when you saw premium is that the same as marine gas if not can that be used as well…that is what I use for my two cycle and the mower at all times…
I’ve stored non ethanol gas in 5 gallon cans for a year with no problems.
My personal experience is that if you keep the container as full as possible, and sealed as well as reasonably can be done, it should retain its "freshness" the best. Even ethanol mixtures benefit from this.
Gasoline typically does not "spoil." It is not food.
If sealed in an airtight container, with NO ability to breathe, and in a reasonably protected location, like a shed, it should last indefinitely.
Gas builds up a certain vapor pressure as the more volatile molecules in the fuel evaporate into the air above it. It does that with any air in a gas can, until it reaches a stable pressure. This is always just slightly above ambient air pressure.
(Think of acetone used for removing fingernail polish. It has a vapor pressure that will cause the bottle contents to evaporate until it is empty, so we cap it tightly. The vapor pressure is not great, but is slightly higher than that of the surrounding air.)
The same applies with gasoline. The carbon chain molecules that are short and that evaporate more easily will slowly escape into the air in the can until it reaches saturation, and will then escape into the surrounding air over time if the gas can is not tightly capped.
In a partially filled gas can, the air in it will build up pressure due to the warmth of the day, and will push some of that fuel-vapor-rich air out of the can.
Then, at night when everything cools down, the can will pull fresh air into the container.
Some of the lighter gas molecules will then evaporate into that fresh air that was drawn in, until it is saturated with gas fumes. That gassy air will then warm up the next day, expand, and push some air - and evaporated fuel - out of the can.
This daily "inhale, exhale" breathing of a partially filled gas can is the greatest factor in causing gas to "go bad."
The gas gets concentrated, and thicker, because the lightest components of the gas mix with the fresh nighttime air pulled into the can, and are expelled when the pressure in the can rises due to the *daytime* temperature.
This "breathing" can be minimized a little by having tight gas and vent caps.
But few cans are able to seal that well.
(Imagine testing the cap seal on your full or half-filled can by resting it on its side, with the cap below the fuel level. Would you trust it to not leak for oh, say, a week?)
Gasoline, however, does not expand and contract as much as air does, so keeping the cans full and tightly capped is the best way to assure your gas will not "go bad."
Even if you have ethanol gas, if moisture can't get in, and the cap won't allow "breathing", it should be fine and not take on water or suffer evaporation of the volatile compounds in it.
I am old, and have owned small to medium-sized motorcycles for 60 years. Mowers and other gas tools for 50. I have never had rust in a metal motorcycle gas tank, or had a problem with bad gas. Fill the tank, snug that cap down, and set it aside.
My riding mowers sit all winter with full tanks, and start well, first time, each Spring. I keep either full or empty portable gas cans all winter, too. My 3 motorcycles go 9-10 months most years just sitting there, and start just fine every spring. Had two of them 12 years now, and the third one since 1986. They all start well on their aged fuel. That old one sometimes sits a few years between rides, and still fires up easily, every time I bring it out of extended hibernation.
Bad gas is often bad right from the gas station that let water seep in or condense into their cold underground tanks.
Conclusion:
1. Keep tanks and carburetors either full or empty. Filled is better.
2. Keep all full tanks tightly capped so the volatiles don't evaporate.
PS: I live in the humid, rainy Pacific NW, and we range in temperature from the 90s F in summer down to the low 20s or teens in winter, with typical day/night changes of 15-40°.
Full cans, tight caps. Period.
Thanks for sharing this explanation! Totally agree about topping off the container (just not too full where it runs into trouble on a hot day) and having a tight sealing lid. Both of these are an important part of the 6 secrets to optimal fuel storage. Thanks again!
All gasoline generators should have a "side splitter" on the gas line coming from the main tank. This way, you can pour a very small amount of gasoline to run the generator regularly for 5-10 minutes every 2 weeks or so. I'm surprised the manufacturers have not figured this out. I did it myself on my Briggs & Stratton.
That would be nice if they came that way! Great idea.
I bought a tractor that had been sitting in a shed for about 10 years. The fuel tank was mostly empty (not the best way to store a vehicle) and there was brown sludge (microbes) in the fuel tank and the filter was coated with it. I drained the remaining old fuel, replaced the filter and put fresh diesel and Hot Shot's Secret Diesel Fuel System Cleaner in the tank. I've run it for about two hours so far and it is doing fine. From now on, I will keep stabilizer in the diesel all the time because I don't know how often I will use it.
Wow, that’s impressive! I haven’t heard of Hot Shots so that’s good to know you’ve had a good experience with it.
@@TheReadyLifeyour channel popped up -
When Katrina hit my area I had 5 gallons of gas on hand - - about the only thing I have that uses gasoline are my husq. Chainsaws - I live in the rural south -
On one acre around my house there were 120 old growth trees that were knocked down - some were 200 + yrs old -
We clear the roads our selves after storms -
I remember going to a Amoco gas station with my dad around 1963 as a kid - he filled two old butane tanks with gas and replaced the tank valves -
I knew what was in those tanks and left them laying on the ground in the woods till I might one-day need that gas - needless to say when Katrina hit I had a 300 foot role of chain -
As I was on the road with others cutting trees naturally I burned up the 5 gallons of fresh gas I had -
For the next week I cut trees burning 52 yr old gasoline -
My grand father started working on engines and generators in 1900 I went to work on generators in the early 70s -
We all know about oil and fuel - it's best to store gasoline in a propane tank long term or forever -
The same with kerosene and other fuels - it prevents the hydrogen from flashing off and prevents oxygen from replacing the hydrogen and oxidizing the fuel -
Fuel that is being used should be stored in steel EAGLE fire safety cans -
Plastic containers should not be used for long term storage - oxygen migrates through plastic -
Stable ect put a film on top of fuel that bars out oxygen so the fuel does not oxidize -
@@able880 That's an amazing story! Thanks for sharing. Katrina stories continue to be instructive. That was an eye-opening storm for so many of us!
I've had gas go bad in as little as a few month without stabilizer. However I agree with you that storing in a stout metal container and in a larger container helps fuel to last longer. Small amounts of fuel in small tanks go bad faster. So that's a great point. Also, back in 1963 the fuel was leaded and didn't contain ethanol, right? I know non-ethanol helps fuel storage and I wouldn't be surprised if the lead helped too. Interesting.
My metal Jerry cans are rusted. I need to learn how to clean them
Where can this be purchased online? I'm not finding it available. Thank you!
Hey there, Are you looking for PRI-G? Try this link: amzn.to/4f5nZaT
I bought Sta-bil more than two years ago and put it in non-ethanol gas about 16 or 17 gallons in all and I'm still using it in my generator but I have a generator Wen 3800 that burns off the gas in the carburetor that's how it shuts off, it runs all the gas out of the carburetor. But I'm gone on more than 2 years and this gas is still fine I put it in my car the other day I still run it in my generator.
Great information. Thanks. (Shared).
This is a great video. I always like finding products that are better quality than whats currently on the market. Have I never discovered your TH-cam channel I would never found out about this particular product. If it good enough for logistics transportation it good enough for me. The stabil products you get what you pay for.
PRIG says it is ideal for e10 gas. Wonder what backs that statement up as its a bit concerning for storage of fuel
I think they are just letting customers know that it works with E10, not that E10 is ideal for storage.
Thank you @TheReadyLife for sharing your experience. I have been working with small engines since the 1960's and have seen a lot of steel fuel tanks and carburetors ruined by old gasoline. Using ethanol free gas is the first step and key to increased life. In my location (north central Florida), I have seen standard ethanol pump gas damage small engine carburetors in as little as one month.
I have used the Sta-Bil fuel treatment since 1995. It didn't appear to work as advertised then but, they must have improved their formula as, it seems to work better now.
I have never seen the Pri fuel stabilizer available locally but, have never actually looked for it. However, the ultra high prices for it make it prohibitive to use.
For what its worth, here is my recipe for small engine treated fuel: The standard dose of Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer (2 oz per 5 gallons of gas) and 1 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil per gallon of gas. I have tested this mix out to 5 years so far in standard 5 gallon plastic gas cans, small engine carbs, and all types of engine fuel tanks without any problems (no gum, sediment, staining, or corrosion), the 5 year old fuel still smells fresh.
Thanks for that tip! PRI may seem pricey but remember it is super concentrated. 1oz treats 16 gal! I haven’t done a cost comparison, so perhaps it still costs more than others, but I do know it has worked well for decades for me. Thanks again!
@@TheReadyLife Thanks for your response. Yes, I agree at 16 gallons per 1 oz there would be a savings. However, the latest information listed on the 32 oz bottle shows 2.5 gallons per ounce of PRI stablizer. I don't know is this an error or PRI recently decided to dilute their product.
@@billharris6886 hmmm…I’m not sure where you are seeing that but it would be a typo or error. If you look at the bottle itself, it says it treats 512 gal. 512 gal / 32 oz = 16 gal treated per oz of PRI-G. Hope that helps and sorry for the confusion caused by that erroneous info😊.
Use the Marine grade Stabil only.
Startron last 20 years and perfect for years
PRI-G / How is it with GAS/OIL MIX? (Chainsaws)
I use it all the time. Probably one of the most critical applications for stabilizing gas, since the chainsaw tanks are so small and they often get hot and all that. Just stabilize the gas first and then add the 2 cycle mix. I try and make it a habit to stabilize any gas I get in 5 gal containers.
Another advantage to using fuel stabilizers for diesel is that the diesel sold today is ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel). The ULSD does not have the lubricity that most engines need and most stabilizers, like Hot Shot's Secret and PRI-D, have additives that provide more lubrication.
Such an excellent point! Thanks for raising that.
A friend bought a new diesel truck a few years ago and I remember him telling me that the dealership told him to use a bottle of 2 cycle oil per tank to add extra lubricant to the diesel.
Plz suggest where to find it
Are you referring to PRI-G? Here's our affiliate link to PRI-G on Amazon...looks like they are back in stock: amzn.to/4fMOym3
What about VERY HOT but not humid. At first I was thinking that I would have to dig a deep hole to put the cans in but you said that you stored it in a very hot and humid shed, I think. So I had hope that I could store it in my shed. TFS!!
All of these factors we discussed affect the shelf life, so basically you do the best you can with as many of these as you can to try and stack the deck in your favor. So try and choose the coolest location you reasonably can, keep it dry, out of the sunshine, in a larger container (like a 55 gal drum or larger if possible) and treat it with stabilizer. All those other factors should help to offset the effects of the heat to some extent. Just be careful about having good ventilation, as when containers get very hot they let off fumes.
Thanks for the great information, how much do you use in a five gallon can? Thank you so much god bless ❤
One ounce treats 16 gal, so it would be a little over 1/4 ounce for 5 gal. I usually go a little over and do more like 3/8 of an ounce.
@@TheReadyLife Thank you so much God bless you…
This dude needs to be on a watch list…..
I'm assuming you're talking about a TH-cam watch list as opposed to the other kind of watch list??? LOL
Up here in Canada we have been regulated that all gasoline and Diesel are mixed with ethanol. Will the PRI stabilize gas with ethanol in it?
Yes, it's made to work with gas that has some ethanol (at least up to E10).
@@TheReadyLife .... Thanks for the reply,. Now just to find it at a reasonable price. Amazon in Canada wants 122.00 for a 32 oz bottle.
I stored two five gallon cans of gasoline for over 35 years without any treatment. Recently I started using one can to run small engines on my lawn equipment. It worked just fine. Also, I never use any kind of additive do anything special for over winter storage of equipment and have never had an issue of any kind.
Thanks for sharing. That's awesome, and the most amazing gas storage experience I've heard yet, and I'd love to get gas from whatever station you got it from 35 years ago. Sadly, most of the rest of us have had gas go bad in mere months, perhaps due to the poor quality of fuel and ethanol these days, among other factors. But even back then, fuel degradation was a thing, so I would be careful to not assume that what happened with you is the rule. Rather, it's the exception, and an amazing exception at that. But pretty cool! Thanks again!
@dlkline27 You're speaking to us from Heaven, right?
@@randykalish7558 I'm only 85 and haven't been called home yet. 😇
When getting gas at the pump. Make sure to PURGE the line before filling the storage tank. When i fill my gas cans or even a motorcycle. Pump off a 1/2-1 gallon into your car or someone else's car.
That's a great tip!
Aloha hugs 🤗 Propane is what we are plannibg but no vehicles run on Propane yet Mahalo Nui for information
I don't have ethanol free premium available in the south. Its only 89 plus here in florida
You might try this website that claims to list a bunch of gas stations with non-ethanol fuel. I checked the list for our area and found it surprisingly accurate. Here it is for Florida:
www.pure-gas.org/FL
You can.
Do that with any good fuel stabilizer simple simple as that. One of the best.
Brands you can use is lucas
Can I store gas in 55 gallon in plastic barrels?
No, not unless they are rated for fuel. As far as I'm aware, it's the metal drums that are designed for fuel and oil. I believe the plastic ones are generally made for water and similar liquids. But someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.
if you put fuel stabilizer can you use the gas right away in a vecichle if you need it
@DanFocker-xf8wp yes you can use it right away after adding PRI-G or PRI-D. Just make sure it is mixed in well.
What did you treat the gas with
We use PRI-G for gas or PRI-D for diesel. Links are in the description if you want to see what it looks like.
What do you use for kerosene
We don't use kerosene for anything that I can think of. Years ago there was a time that we used some aladdin lamps before we got our power system up and running, so we used kerosene for that. But I don't think I've used it since then.
Great video thanks. I've been using PIR for 20 years myself.. There's a TH-cam or his channel is Taryl fixes all.... 2 years ago, he did a video of about a dozen of the standard fuel stabilizers know. I did a 6 month and then a 12 month.... The video is (do fuel additives work. Let's find out in this epic test).... Unfortunately, in that test He tested everything else but he didn't use PIR-G would have liked to see the results.... About 2 months ago he learned of PIR &did avideo just on PIR-G and he even revived old lawn mowers. I think he have to triple dose it to revive. The worst stanky stale awful fuel.....IT WORKED......
Does anyone know where we can buy ethanol-free gas in the Tennessee Valley area?
This website lists known stations with non ethanol gas. I can’t speak to your area, but I found it reasonably accurate for our area:
www.pure-gas.org/
I don't know if this is a valid test, but. I would take gas from small engines that would not run, and put it in my pickup truck and it ran fine. I would fill my small engines with new fuel and they would run fine. So now at the end of the year, I burn the fuel from small engines and containers in my pickup with no trouble, and put fresh fuel in the small engines. Winter fuel can be different than summer fuel, especially when dealing with diesel or bio fuels.
That’s a great idea! Makes sense that even questionable fuel would run in your car if it was only several gallons since it would be diluted in your car tank. In the story I told on the video, the car was repeatedly filled up with the gas that had been stored for 6 or 7 years with no issues, so I felt confident that it was still in good shape.
Six years... that's great. Exactly how did you store it? Plastic or metal container? Was the container airtight or vented?
And what do you mean by keep it cool? Was it just in the shade outdoors? Temperature controlled garage? I'm in Fl and it's going to get hot, but if your in, say Alaska or thereabouts, that could have been a huge contributor.
To know exactly how you kept yours in particular should get the same result...the reason for all the questions. Thanks for the video...I did not know this was even possible.
Metal 55 gal drums like they use for oil or kerosene. Air tight. By cool I mean do the best you can to keep it cool, probably in the shade, preferably not in a closed shed that heats up to 150 degrees. And we were in GA at the time, so did t gets hot and humid.
@@TheReadyLife Great info...thank you for taking the time and happy to know I don't have to keep it in my fridge.
Just found your channel, thanks for the info. I’ve used stabil but I’m going to try this. Stay close to Jesus. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸
You are correct,Ethanol gasoline is ok for your car that burns it in a short period but for storage it is crap! It’s becoming more difficult to find pure gasoline, even marine gas can contain ethanol. In Canada I think shell premium is still pure gasoline?
I have't checked in other areas, but here in the Inland NW USA, it seems like non-ethanol has is making a comeback. Usually there is at least one gas station in each town that has non-ethanol premium. Could be due to the higher than normal percentage of folks who are off-grid or due to all the folks who are running boats, ATVs, UTVs, etc? Not sure, but it's been great to see it become more widely available here.
Thank you!
You're welcome! Glad this video was helpful.
Thank you
What type of backup power do you guys use
We have an off grid solar system and a Honda generator as backup for that. We started out many years ago with an EM5000 but a couple years ago switched to an EU7000. The EU7000 is super nice, but the EM5000 was a solid generator and a great deal for the money.
@@TheReadyLife Awesome thank you for your input. Did you guys have a transfer switch put on for the electric box. I got a couple quotes and they want $1,500. I think that’s a lot of money. Any options other than extension cords?
@@kevinmazur1519 we don't have a transfer switch because we are completely off grid (no power lines within miles of here). But if you are hooked up to the grid, no way around a transfer switch for safety and legal issues. And generally you do have to have an electrician do that piece of it if it's a whole house transfer switch, since one side of it is essentially being connected to the power lines. However, there are transfer switches that can be wired into a breaker box and only affect select circuits. Those, I believe, are usually allowed to be installed by the owner themselves if they know how to do it. But other than that, you are pretty much back to extension cords.
$1,500 does seem kinda steep to me, but I know everybody seems to be charging a lot lately. Electricians that were making $30/hour back in the 90's are making well over $100/hour! Even at that rate, $1,500 would be a lot of money unless they are using some kind of crazy expensive transfer switch. Go figure!
300 gal galvanized tank .
Galvanizing stops Gama radiation that destroys fuel ⛽️ .
This should have been a common storage practice since the 50's .
Only cooperation that practiced it with their equipment was outbound marine cooperation. Evinrude motors outboard motors and fuel tanks 5 gal . 7:58
PRI-G is excellent
lisa’s beautiful. great smile. and he is super knowledgeable.. awesome info .. can you use PRIG mixed gas at any point or only after it’s been stored for X time
You can use it at any point, as long as it was usable when you treated it. If it was unusable and you treated it, I don’t know how long it needs to sit to improve the quality. I’d probably give it a day or two but that’s just a guess. Have to ask the company for their opinion. Better to not let it get bad in the first place! Great question!
Fuel used to be stored a long time. What the heck happened???
I know, right?! I think ethanol is a big factor.
Just subbed and shared to FB.
Thank you so much!!!
90% of gas stations in the United States add ethanol. How would I find one that doesn't?
You might try this website that claims to list a bunch of gas stations with non-ethanol fuel. I checked the list for our area and found it surprisingly accurate. Here it is:
www.pure-gas.org/
I always buy non-ethanol and if I want to store it for longer than a year, I put seafoam in it.
Steel fuel containers are far superior to plastic for fuel stability. I don't know if you covered it as I didn't watch the whole thing, maybe you covered it. Fuel vapors pass through plastic and degrade quality, but not steel. I store fuel in VP race fuel steel cans that they sell their fuels in. These are often discarded at race tracks. No way they would trust their products in plastic cans. Ethanol free gas with some red Stabil and steel can has done wonders for me.
And not letting air get in the container.It's not that hard
I stored some fuel back in the Obama administration.
Just used some of it (10-15gal), in my 2002 V6 truck and a Kawasaki powered zero-turn mower. Neither had any problems running properly.
I used 1oz per 5gal Sta-bil Marine and 1oz per 5gal Sta-bil Performance (if I remember the specifics correctly).
I know I used the Marine version and the other version I used was the Performance equivalent.
I never opened the containers to retreat, and used 93 octane (with ethanol), when I filled originally.
All you need to do is use 100% gasoline. There is these pumps around. I've stored 100% gasoline for 3 yrs without any additive, even left in my chainsaw for 2 yrs and recently got it out to use and fired right up like I had just used it. It's the ethanol that destroys the gas and very corrosive. For a stabilizer I prefer Startron for gasoline with ethanol. A much better additive, but Ethanol Shield is also way better. The gas you use is way more critical in 4cycle and 2cycle then in your car. Dumping old gasoline in your car will not be a problem as it's usually mixed with good gasoline....
Its not the gasoline that goes bad, its the ethanol that goes bad.
Thanks for your comment! My understanding is that both gas and ethanol can go bad, it's just that the ethanol absorbs water and can go bad much faster. But even pure non-ethanol gas goes bad over time (possible in even several months if not treated). At least that's my understanding. But I definitely agree that ethanol makes fuel storage harder! Thanks!
Real gas will absorb water from condensation over time. PRI-G is the answer for long term storage.
Before they put ethanol in fuel it still went bad
Ethanol makes "regular everyday gas" much better in my humble opinion. Back in the 1900's we frequently had to add gas line antifreeze to our vehicles in the winter. This is no longer an issue as the Ethanol bonds with the water. Gasoline and gasoline storage has come a long way 😊
@@MaritimeUnprepared it definitely doesn't help mileage
90 octane fuel will store better and longer than a lower octane fuel.
Thankyou
This is like watching Napoleon Dynamite
Sorry, we're kinda behind the times here in the backwoods, so not familiar with all the latest movies, but will take that as a compliment. Thanks!
If you start the machine on fresh gas and get it running for a few minutes then switch it over to crap fuel it will work almost every time. But you should use a little dry gas in it so water flows through.
I stored gasoline for literally one month,put it in my buddies car and it missed a couple of times. And that was mixed with the gas in his tank.🙄🙄🙄
Turn off fuel flow by a valve or pinch the fuel lines .run till dry
Thanks great job god bless
Walmart is also referred to as Wally World
My dad used to call it Chinatown 🤣
Keep those containers full with fuel....so there's no room for water to condense!
Good point! That’s also a good practice for any small engines, to keep the fuel tank full.
I learned why gasoline breaks down 10 years ago when my father died. His pickup truck has a sealed tank. You can hear the air rush in when you remove the gas cap. A full tank of fuel stayed fresh in that truck for 4 years. No air = no oxygen and humidity to oxidize and separate your fuel. Keep it in a sealed can in the shade and it will keep indefinitely.
Thanks for sharing! I’m sure that keeping it sealed can help, but I don’t think you can expect it to keep indefinitely. The fuel you bought may have had some good additives from the gas station or who knows? I’ve heard a few stories like this and it proves that sometimes fuel can store for a while on its own. But it’s not reliable since you don’t know the history of the fuel you are buying at the station. Just my two cents.
@@TheReadyLife a full tank of untreated fuel stayed fresh in my Dad's truck for 4 years because the tank is sealed. You can hear the air rush in when you remove the gas cap. How long is indefinite to you?
I have stored fuel for 5 years. This is how. Steel can, barrel or tanks. Stored indoors. I use non Ethanol and stabil. Plastic is a bad choice for fuel.
If you have 2 people just pour the pri same time you fill up the drum
Ive been told that mistery oil is a stabilizer i dont know
They make a stabilizer
In the 60''s, gasoline could be stored for at least four years without losing its usefullness. Now, if gas is not used for six months, it can't be used. What has been done to regular gas to destroy its usefulness ???
Not sure what all the factors are, but I think ethanol is certainly one of them. But thankfully there are great stabilizer options.
They removed the lead.
My truck has two 25 gal tanks we doo store gas in the truck