Gas in storage
08-24-2015, 01:10 PM
#1
Heel & Toe
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Gas in storage
I plan to put StaBil in during winter storage, but I was only going to have the tank half full. Does that matter? I don't want a full tank of "old" fuel come spring.
08-24-2015, 01:49 PM
#2
Retired & lovin' it!
Best to have the tank full to prevent any condensation on exposed parts within the tank, but more important is to run the engine for several minutes after adding the StaBil to insure coverage in the entire fuel system.
08-24-2015, 03:02 PM
#4
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I would fill it up for storage.
08-24-2015, 03:10 PM
#5
Drifting
What you read about fresh gas versus old gas is almost entirely myth. There are a few, ”one in a million” things that can happen, but it’s safe to ignore those. For practical purposes, only two things can happen. One is unlikely in a gas station’s or a car’s tank, and even if it happens, it isn’t very serious. A bit of the butane can evaporate, making the car a bit harder to start. But that’s mostly a problem with lawn mower, weed eater, or chain saw kinds of tanks that aren’t always sealed very well, and are often stored in hot garages for long periods of time. And worst case, it makes things a bit harder to start. So what? No real damage done. So in terms of actual damage potential, that leaves only one thing, water.
All gas, including gas with and without ethanol, can dissolve a little water. I’ll come back to ethanol later, let’s just start out with “pure” gas, no ethanol. Usually, there is only a trace amount of water dissolved in the gas. But sometimes in the pipelines, barges, and storage facilities, it can get saturated with water, which means that a 20 gallon tank of gas can contain an ounce or so of water. As long as the water stays dissolved, it is harmless. But as the temperature drops, the gas can’t hold as much water anymore, so it can start dropping out as a water layer. That’s what can cause a problem. Stabilizer prevents that from happening, which is why you use it in winter storage. Typically, it is reasonably warm when you fill your tank, and the tank will get much colder over the winter. If you are lucky and the gas hadn’t gotten saturated with water in the pipeline, barge, and storage systems, you can get by even in winter storage without stabilizer. That’s why many people report successful winter storage without stabilizer. But if you are unlucky, and your tank of gas for storage has gotten saturated with water, then without stabilizer, as things cool off, you will have a water layer in the bottom of your tank.
Everything said above also applies to gas with ethanol. Thus, the odds you will have a problem with ethanol gas are precisely and exactly the same as the odds you will have a problem with “pure” gas. But since ethanol gas can dissolve more water (a bit over a cup in 20 gallons instead of an ounce in 20 gallons), then if the problem occurs, it will be worse with ethanol than without. The reason odds of having a problem are the same with and without ethanol is that both types of gas are usually dry. Getting gas that is saturated with water requires a screw-up, and odds of a screw-up are the same with or without ethanol. The only difference is that if a screw-up occurs and the gas is saturated with water, the problem is worse with ethanol since it can dissolve more water.
Anyway, that’s gotten a bit long winded, but bottom line, don’t lay awake worrying about “stale” gas. Dump in your stabilizer at the gas station, fill your tank, drive home, store your car, and it will be fine.
All gas, including gas with and without ethanol, can dissolve a little water. I’ll come back to ethanol later, let’s just start out with “pure” gas, no ethanol. Usually, there is only a trace amount of water dissolved in the gas. But sometimes in the pipelines, barges, and storage facilities, it can get saturated with water, which means that a 20 gallon tank of gas can contain an ounce or so of water. As long as the water stays dissolved, it is harmless. But as the temperature drops, the gas can’t hold as much water anymore, so it can start dropping out as a water layer. That’s what can cause a problem. Stabilizer prevents that from happening, which is why you use it in winter storage. Typically, it is reasonably warm when you fill your tank, and the tank will get much colder over the winter. If you are lucky and the gas hadn’t gotten saturated with water in the pipeline, barge, and storage systems, you can get by even in winter storage without stabilizer. That’s why many people report successful winter storage without stabilizer. But if you are unlucky, and your tank of gas for storage has gotten saturated with water, then without stabilizer, as things cool off, you will have a water layer in the bottom of your tank.
Everything said above also applies to gas with ethanol. Thus, the odds you will have a problem with ethanol gas are precisely and exactly the same as the odds you will have a problem with “pure” gas. But since ethanol gas can dissolve more water (a bit over a cup in 20 gallons instead of an ounce in 20 gallons), then if the problem occurs, it will be worse with ethanol than without. The reason odds of having a problem are the same with and without ethanol is that both types of gas are usually dry. Getting gas that is saturated with water requires a screw-up, and odds of a screw-up are the same with or without ethanol. The only difference is that if a screw-up occurs and the gas is saturated with water, the problem is worse with ethanol since it can dissolve more water.
Anyway, that’s gotten a bit long winded, but bottom line, don’t lay awake worrying about “stale” gas. Dump in your stabilizer at the gas station, fill your tank, drive home, store your car, and it will be fine.
08-24-2015, 06:08 PM
#7
Thanks LDB for the info. I know there's a few experts on the forum on different subjects and you're the one on petroleum products. 
What you read about fresh gas versus old gas is almost entirely myth. There are a few, ”one in a million” things that can happen, but it’s safe to ignore those. For practical purposes, only two things can happen. One is unlikely in a gas station’s or a car’s tank, and even if it happens, it isn’t very serious. A bit of the butane can evaporate, making the car a bit harder to start. But that’s mostly a problem with lawn mower, weed eater, or chain saw kinds of tanks that aren’t always sealed very well, and are often stored in hot garages for long periods of time. And worst case, it makes things a bit harder to start. So what? No real damage done. So in terms of actual damage potential, that leaves only one thing, water.
All gas, including gas with and without ethanol, can dissolve a little water. I’ll come back to ethanol later, let’s just start out with “pure” gas, no ethanol. Usually, there is only a trace amount of water dissolved in the gas. But sometimes in the pipelines, barges, and storage facilities, it can get saturated with water, which means that a 20 gallon tank of gas can contain an ounce or so of water. As long as the water stays dissolved, it is harmless. But as the temperature drops, the gas can’t hold as much water anymore, so it can start dropping out as a water layer. That’s what can cause a problem. Stabilizer prevents that from happening, which is why you use it in winter storage. Typically, it is reasonably warm when you fill your tank, and the tank will get much colder over the winter. If you are lucky and the gas hadn’t gotten saturated with water in the pipeline, barge, and storage systems, you can get by even in winter storage without stabilizer. That’s why many people report successful winter storage without stabilizer. But if you are unlucky, and your tank of gas for storage has gotten saturated with water, then without stabilizer, as things cool off, you will have a water layer in the bottom of your tank.
Everything said above also applies to gas with ethanol. Thus, the odds you will have a problem with ethanol gas are precisely and exactly the same as the odds you will have a problem with “pure” gas. But since ethanol gas can dissolve more water (a bit over a cup in 20 gallons instead of an ounce in 20 gallons), then if the problem occurs, it will be worse with ethanol than without. The reason odds of having a problem are the same with and without ethanol is that both types of gas are usually dry. Getting gas that is saturated with water requires a screw-up, and odds of a screw-up are the same with or without ethanol. The only difference is that if a screw-up occurs and the gas is saturated with water, the problem is worse with ethanol since it can dissolve more water.
Anyway, that’s gotten a bit long winded, but bottom line, don’t lay awake worrying about “stale” gas. Dump in your stabilizer at the gas station, fill your tank, drive home, store your car, and it will be fine.
All gas, including gas with and without ethanol, can dissolve a little water. I’ll come back to ethanol later, let’s just start out with “pure” gas, no ethanol. Usually, there is only a trace amount of water dissolved in the gas. But sometimes in the pipelines, barges, and storage facilities, it can get saturated with water, which means that a 20 gallon tank of gas can contain an ounce or so of water. As long as the water stays dissolved, it is harmless. But as the temperature drops, the gas can’t hold as much water anymore, so it can start dropping out as a water layer. That’s what can cause a problem. Stabilizer prevents that from happening, which is why you use it in winter storage. Typically, it is reasonably warm when you fill your tank, and the tank will get much colder over the winter. If you are lucky and the gas hadn’t gotten saturated with water in the pipeline, barge, and storage systems, you can get by even in winter storage without stabilizer. That’s why many people report successful winter storage without stabilizer. But if you are unlucky, and your tank of gas for storage has gotten saturated with water, then without stabilizer, as things cool off, you will have a water layer in the bottom of your tank.
Everything said above also applies to gas with ethanol. Thus, the odds you will have a problem with ethanol gas are precisely and exactly the same as the odds you will have a problem with “pure” gas. But since ethanol gas can dissolve more water (a bit over a cup in 20 gallons instead of an ounce in 20 gallons), then if the problem occurs, it will be worse with ethanol than without. The reason odds of having a problem are the same with and without ethanol is that both types of gas are usually dry. Getting gas that is saturated with water requires a screw-up, and odds of a screw-up are the same with or without ethanol. The only difference is that if a screw-up occurs and the gas is saturated with water, the problem is worse with ethanol since it can dissolve more water.
Anyway, that’s gotten a bit long winded, but bottom line, don’t lay awake worrying about “stale” gas. Dump in your stabilizer at the gas station, fill your tank, drive home, store your car, and it will be fine.
08-24-2015, 08:36 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
08-24-2015, 09:49 PM
#10
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
I've used SeaFoam in everything I've ever stored for decades. Fill the tanks with fresh gas, run it awhile and park it. Done it with snowmobiles, street bikes, dirt bikes, mowers, blowers, boats, wackers, chainsaws...anything.
Never had a problem
Never had a problem
08-25-2015, 07:00 AM
#12
Safety Car
Another reason to fill your tank is if you are only half full, it means one of the 2 fuel tanks is virtually empty, and it exposes the tank level sensor for corrosion.
Like many above, I recommend a full tank (the the ethanol version of StaBil added for insurance) before parked for winter storage. I would also change the oil then too, and store it with fresh engine oil.
Like many above, I recommend a full tank (the the ethanol version of StaBil added for insurance) before parked for winter storage. I would also change the oil then too, and store it with fresh engine oil.
08-25-2015, 07:52 AM
#13
Le Mans Master
Top tier 93 octane gasoline will be fine for 4-6 months without any added stuff. Just park the car with a full tank. I have not driven my car since 3/24 and don't have any added "stabilizers". Long term non use is different...
08-25-2015, 08:14 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
What you read about fresh gas versus old gas is almost entirely myth. There are a few, ”one in a million” things that can happen, but it’s safe to ignore those. For practical purposes, only two things can happen. One is unlikely in a gas station’s or a car’s tank, and even if it happens, it isn’t very serious. A bit of the butane can evaporate, making the car a bit harder to start. But that’s mostly a problem with lawn mower, weed eater, or chain saw kinds of tanks that aren’t always sealed very well, and are often stored in hot garages for long periods of time. And worst case, it makes things a bit harder to start. So what? No real damage done. So in terms of actual damage potential, that leaves only one thing, water.
All gas, including gas with and without ethanol, can dissolve a little water. I’ll come back to ethanol later, let’s just start out with “pure” gas, no ethanol. Usually, there is only a trace amount of water dissolved in the gas. But sometimes in the pipelines, barges, and storage facilities, it can get saturated with water, which means that a 20 gallon tank of gas can contain an ounce or so of water. As long as the water stays dissolved, it is harmless. But as the temperature drops, the gas can’t hold as much water anymore, so it can start dropping out as a water layer. That’s what can cause a problem. Stabilizer prevents that from happening, which is why you use it in winter storage. Typically, it is reasonably warm when you fill your tank, and the tank will get much colder over the winter. If you are lucky and the gas hadn’t gotten saturated with water in the pipeline, barge, and storage systems, you can get by even in winter storage without stabilizer. That’s why many people report successful winter storage without stabilizer. But if you are unlucky, and your tank of gas for storage has gotten saturated with water, then without stabilizer, as things cool off, you will have a water layer in the bottom of your tank.
Everything said above also applies to gas with ethanol. Thus, the odds you will have a problem with ethanol gas are precisely and exactly the same as the odds you will have a problem with “pure” gas. But since ethanol gas can dissolve more water (a bit over a cup in 20 gallons instead of an ounce in 20 gallons), then if the problem occurs, it will be worse with ethanol than without. The reason odds of having a problem are the same with and without ethanol is that both types of gas are usually dry. Getting gas that is saturated with water requires a screw-up, and odds of a screw-up are the same with or without ethanol. The only difference is that if a screw-up occurs and the gas is saturated with water, the problem is worse with ethanol since it can dissolve more water.
Anyway, that’s gotten a bit long winded, but bottom line, don’t lay awake worrying about “stale” gas. Dump in your stabilizer at the gas station, fill your tank, drive home, store your car, and it will be fine.
All gas, including gas with and without ethanol, can dissolve a little water. I’ll come back to ethanol later, let’s just start out with “pure” gas, no ethanol. Usually, there is only a trace amount of water dissolved in the gas. But sometimes in the pipelines, barges, and storage facilities, it can get saturated with water, which means that a 20 gallon tank of gas can contain an ounce or so of water. As long as the water stays dissolved, it is harmless. But as the temperature drops, the gas can’t hold as much water anymore, so it can start dropping out as a water layer. That’s what can cause a problem. Stabilizer prevents that from happening, which is why you use it in winter storage. Typically, it is reasonably warm when you fill your tank, and the tank will get much colder over the winter. If you are lucky and the gas hadn’t gotten saturated with water in the pipeline, barge, and storage systems, you can get by even in winter storage without stabilizer. That’s why many people report successful winter storage without stabilizer. But if you are unlucky, and your tank of gas for storage has gotten saturated with water, then without stabilizer, as things cool off, you will have a water layer in the bottom of your tank.
Everything said above also applies to gas with ethanol. Thus, the odds you will have a problem with ethanol gas are precisely and exactly the same as the odds you will have a problem with “pure” gas. But since ethanol gas can dissolve more water (a bit over a cup in 20 gallons instead of an ounce in 20 gallons), then if the problem occurs, it will be worse with ethanol than without. The reason odds of having a problem are the same with and without ethanol is that both types of gas are usually dry. Getting gas that is saturated with water requires a screw-up, and odds of a screw-up are the same with or without ethanol. The only difference is that if a screw-up occurs and the gas is saturated with water, the problem is worse with ethanol since it can dissolve more water.
Anyway, that’s gotten a bit long winded, but bottom line, don’t lay awake worrying about “stale” gas. Dump in your stabilizer at the gas station, fill your tank, drive home, store your car, and it will be fine.
08-25-2015, 08:34 AM
#15
Drifting
08-25-2015, 10:57 AM
#17
Drifting
First off, thanks for all the nice comments from various folks. As far as the butane question, there is essentially none in summer, with its low RVP spec, but there’s still quite a bit in winter and transition to winter RVP spec. RVP stands for Reid Vapor Pressure, with the Reid referring to a specific vapor pressure test procedure. Vapor pressure is a measure of how quickly the fuel will evaporate, and it needs to be higher in winter so that the gas will vaporize ok even in the colder temperatures.
08-25-2015, 12:07 PM
#18
Racer
Another reason to fill your tank is if you are only half full, it means one of the 2 fuel tanks is virtually empty, and it exposes the tank level sensor for corrosion.
Like many above, I recommend a full tank (the the ethanol version of StaBil added for insurance) before parked for winter storage. I would also change the oil then too, and store it with fresh engine oil.
Like many above, I recommend a full tank (the the ethanol version of StaBil added for insurance) before parked for winter storage. I would also change the oil then too, and store it with fresh engine oil.