Storing petrol

[wombat88]

What is the latest thinking on storing petrol? I have a three 5 litre cans which are more or less full of E10 and a 25 litre tank half full of a mix of E5 and E10. Will it be OK after 2-3 months?

If only the car wasn't a diesel!

 

[Boathook]

Should be ok as long as the containers are airtight. At the start of the season I always start with fresh petrol and then mix in the old just in case ......

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Might be worth considering. My bottle is lasting ages.

Honda Fuel Stabiliser

 

[rotrax]

I use a Motorex Swiss product. You can tell the treated stuff, it dyes it blue.

 

[lustyd]

That could be awkward given that some petrol is blue for tax purposes. Not sure how you’d prove you weren’t evading tax?

 

[Jim@sea]

That could be awkward given that some petrol is blue for tax purposes. Not sure how you’d prove you weren’t evading tax?

You keep the receipt from when you bought the stuff which dyes it blue.

 

[ylop]

That could be awkward given that some petrol is blue for tax purposes. Not sure how you’d prove you weren’t evading tax?

You explain and then they do a more thorough test to see if the dye is the correct marker for untaxed fuel.

 

[davidej]

I know about red diesel but I didn’t realize that there is such a thing as untaxed petrol .

In what circumstances can you use it and where can you get it ?

 

[rotrax]

AFAIK some high octane Avgas is blue. Never seen any other blue petrol unless it was two stroke mix with blue oil. The high octane race gas I used in America was blue as well.

Just done a thorough internet search. The UK has no blue dyed gasoline/petrol with tax allowances, so your premise is wrong. Not concerned about outside the UK.

As my ten litres max used for my outboard is all I treat it is not a matter of concern.

 

[snowbird30ds]

100ll avgas is indeed blue, not sure about tax levels but it's generally dearer than regular unleaded and has enough lead to kill a catalytic converter.

 

[Refueler]

I'm in the biz ....

Cool dark location with airtight container. Preferably NOT plastic. If a dark location not possible - then as dark a container as possible.

The three physical items to reduce as much as possible :

Light
Heat
Oxygen.

Those three together cause Gums to appear in long term storage. We treat gasoline with an anti-oxidant / Gum agent to increase storage terms ..... 2 - 3 months is nothing .....

 

[wombat88]

Thanks all, I will behave as instructed

 

[Graham376]

During Covid last year, we used the water taxi so dinghy not used for 9 months. Fuel in remote tank and plastic can were fine.

 

[lustyd]

In what circumstances can you use it and where can you get it ?

Alderney is where I got some for the outboard. I think "not on the road" is where you can use it there, but I really have no idea on the implications elsewhere. I don't want to find out given the kerfuffle about red diesel. I have half a can left and I can't imagine much trouble using it for the outboard. Truth be told I was a bit more liberal with the throttle this summer trying to get rid of it, but feeding two and a bit horses it goes a long way.

If you're looking for a bargain though, I have to warn you that it's more expensive in Braye than a UK forecourt. Unfortunately though, in Braye it's that or the water taxi...

 

[thinwater]

AFAIK some high octane Avgas is blue. Never seen any other blue petrol unless it was two stroke mix with blue oil. The high octane race gas I used in America was blue as well.

Just done a thorough internet search. The UK has no blue dyed gasoline/petrol with tax allowances, so your premise is wrong. Not concerned about outside the UK.

As my ten litres max used for my outboard is all I treat it is not a matter of concern.

Not in the US. Canada has red marine gas.

 

[thinwater]

I'm in the biz ....

Cool dark location with airtight container. Preferably NOT plastic. If a dark location not possible - then as dark a container as possible.

The three physical items to reduce as much as possible :

Light
Heat
Oxygen.

Those three together cause Gums to appear in long term storage. We treat gasoline with an anti-oxidant / Gum agent to increase storage terms ..... 2 - 3 months is nothing .....

Why do you say not plastic? Permiation (a good reason)?

 

[penfold]

The butane the refinery add to boost octane escapes from plastic cans more easily than from steel.

 

[Momac]

What is the latest thinking on storing petrol? .............. Will it be OK after 2-3 months?

If the 2 to 3 months is from the date you bought it to the date it will be consumed I would say no problem .
I have found rough running if petrol is older than about 3 months. The more basic the engine (eg lawnmower or outboard) the greater the issue with old fuel.
But the fuel can be freshened up by adding some fresh fuel.

 

[Refueler]

The butane the refinery add to boost octane escapes from plastic cans more easily than from steel.

Butanisation is not universal ... and really not that great an issue. But where used - it can vent off in poor storage.

 

[Refueler]

Why do you say not plastic? Permiation (a good reason)?

It depends on the plastic used .... so its generally stated by Standards to not be used.

The best storage are the old WW2 Gerry Cans .....