How to Store Gasoline for 2+ Years

Gasoline is the lifeblood of the modern world, but it has a dirty secret: it dies young. Modern ethanol-blended fuel (E10) begins to degrade in as little as 3-6 months. If you fill a jerry can today and forget about it, in a year you will have a container of varnish that will gum up your generator's carburetor and leave you in the dark.

To store fuel for the long haul (1-3 years), you need to fight chemistry. Here is how.

Why Gas Goes Bad

1. Oxidation: Oxygen bonds with fuel molecules, creating gum and varnish.
2. Evaporation: The volatile components (what makes it ignite) evaporate, leaving heavy sludge.
3. Water Absorption: Ethanol loves water. It pulls moisture from the air (phase separation), which sinks to the bottom and rusts tanks or kills engines.

The Solution: Stabilizers & Containers

1. Choose the Right Stabilizer

Not all additives are equal.

• STA-BIL Storage (Red): Good for 12 months. Widely available.
• PRI-G: The gold standard for preppers. It claims to restore old fuel and keep fresh fuel stable for 3+ years if treated annually.
• Sea Foam: Great for cleaning engines, less effective for multi-year storage.

Protocol: Add the stabilizer before you fill the can at the pump. The turbulence of filling mixes it perfectly.

2. The Container Matters

Cheap red plastic cans from the hardware store breathe. They swell in heat and vent valuable vapors.

• Wavian Jerry Cans (Steel): The best. Air-tight, light-tight, bombproof. Expensive but worth it.
• Scepter Military Cans (Plastic): Extremely durable, won't rust.
• VP Racing Jugs: Good for short term, but not truly air-tight for long term.

3. Ethanol-Free is King

If you can find a gas station that sells "REC-90" or Ethanol-Free gas, buy it. It stores twice as long and doesn't attract water. Use pure-gas.org to find a station near you.

The Rotation Schedule

You cannot just store it and forget it. You must act like a logistics manager.

• Label Everything: Use a paint pen to write the Month/Year of fill on the can.
• First In, First Out (FIFO): When you need gas for the lawnmower, use the oldest can. Refill it immediately with fresh treated gas and put it at the back of the line.
• Annual Refresh: If you haven't used a can in 12 months, dump it in your car (your car's massive tank will dilute it safely) and refill the can fresh.

Safety

• Store gas in a detached shed, never in the house.
• Keep off the concrete (use a wood pallet) to prevent condensation.
• Leave 5% headspace for expansion in summer heat.