Jim,
Sorry to bug you but I searched your site and couldn't find the info [I was
looking for]. In your experience what's the best brand of gasoline stabilizer
I can use? Are
there any tricks to help the gas last longer like buying a higher octane & doubling
up on the amount of stabilizer? Is 1 year of storage about the max the fuel
will be at it's best. Thanks, John T. Plumeraye
JWR Replies: I describe the degradation of stored gasoline
fairly well in my novel "Patriots".
Adding a gas stabilizer does prolong the storage life. The
Sta-Bil
and Pri-G
brands
are roughly comparable in effectiveness. (Although I'm sure some fuel storage
aficionados will chime in with a more informed opinion than mine about which
brand is best.
The main culprits in
gasoline storage are: A.) the hygroscopic nature of gasoline (attracting
moisture.) B.) The development of tars, gums, and esters, and the gas degrades,
C.) and the
gradual loss
of
butane. I have read that buying winter formulated gas--the
gas with extra butane to provide better cold weather starting that is sold
roughly October to March of each year in the US and Canada--is more important
than
buying
high-octane
gasoline.
OBTW, for starting engines after the butane dissipates, keep a couple of
cans of ether-based starting fluid handy. (This will allow you to start an
engine
even with
gasoline that has had all of its original butane "burned off." )
To maximize storage life of gasoline, be sure to
store you
gasoline in tightly containers, filled
as close
to the
top as
possible. This will minimize water absorption.
