How long can you store gas & diesel?

[teejk]

Was once told that one of the main problems with gas going bad is condensation building up inside the can and the moisture falling into the gas. This would seem to be more of a problem in the summer with hot days and cool nights. I find my Stihl chainsaw only likes very fresh fuel and I was told by a Stihl dealer not to use gas that is more than a month old otherwise the engine wont last as long. If I have fuel in the can which is older than that I use it in the car and get some fresh for the saw.

Moisture is a problem. I have a pressure washer with a Honda engine that sat for a year. The rust and scale inside the steel gas tank was unbelievable (I didn't even think about trying to clean it) but I was told that was most likely caused by ethanol blended fuel. REALLY old gas will also turn to varnish.

 

[Zerk]

You will hear all sorts of stories...

Probably best answer.

I have started a bike or sled that sat from season before, that I forgot or was to lazy to put stabil in. I run Seafoam now. It does seem my side by side starts on 1st crank vs 2nd, with seafoam, and month old gas. Is that a big deal?

If my power was out and it was getting serious, I would dump what I had in there. Maybe not 5 year old gas, but year old.


I used to freak about gas varnishing, but I have seen old gas run. As so as I burn some down I put fresh in. Now saying this is ideal practice,but not the boogey man either.

I am not afraid to pull a carb part and clean it. last few had no signs to the eye. One machine that for 5 years did though.

 

[Alien]

More noticeable lately is varnishing in my hand push mower and my emergency generator. I have a bad habit of not running the carby dry when I have finished using them. I have had petrol 5 years old that still runs OK. My large chipper rarely gets used but it still starts and runs fine.
As for ethanol in my car... I tried it and after 2 tanks the car injectors started playing up bad to the point the car couldn't climb a hill. Injector cleaner soon fixed it but I won't touch the stuff again. I have a 2008 Honda Accord 2.4L