When does good gas go bad?

[zippy83]

Hi all,

How long after the last fill-up does the good gas go bad? This is asuming Ethenol treatment was used on last fill up?

Thanks
Zipp

 

[Scott Danforth]

without stabil, E-10 starts to go bad in 30 days. with stabil, up to 180 days.

 

[eavega]

Not to hijack this thread, but a follow-up question; how about Non-E? Does that go sour, and if so, how long does it take?

-E

 

[WrenchHead]

One factor on gas going bad -- you don't know how old it is when you buy it. And gas stored in an in-ground storage tank will collect water. What I do -- I put in just the amount I need for each fishing trip and that amount depends on where I'm planning on fishing. I buy gas in a container and before adding the gas to my bass boat tank I treat it with 4 additives (I have a 4-stroke): auto transmission oil; Sta-Bil; Star Tron; and injector cleaner. I carry along on each trip a one gal container full of gas should I underestimate the amount of gas I will burn. So far I have never run out of gas. I also keep my boat garaged so I don't have to worry about the tank sweating. I don't like a tank full of gas because it adds extra weight to the stern of my boat. I usually put in 1 to 2.5 gallons of gas at a time depending on where I'll be fishing.

 

[Scott Danforth]

E-0 or non ethanol starts to go bad in about 90-120 days
Aviation fuel take a bit longer (about 1 year)

too many additives leads to particulate precipitation in the tank, and increased deposits in the combustion chamber

 

[bilge rat jim]

Hi all,

How long after the last fill-up does the good gas go bad? This is asuming Ethenol treatment was used on last fill up?

Thanks
Zipp

What is "ethanol treatment"?

 

[gm280]

Usually gas starts going "bad" when it starts hanging out with the "wrong crowd"...oh wait...that's a different story. :facepalm:

It seriously depends on the type, the storage, the weather conditions and so many other issues. I've had gas go sour in a mere month before. But then I used gas that worked perfectly over a year old too. So it is really hard to predict. If you're really concerned, open up the gas cap and smell. If it still smells like gasoline. use it, if it smells like anything else, it is gone and I wouldn't use in if it were mine engine...

 

[alldodge]

Hi all,

How long after the last fill-up does the good gas go bad? This is asuming Ethenol treatment was used on last fill up?

Thanks
Zipp

IMO only, my boat lay's up from late Oct to Mar sometimes Early Apr. E-10 gas with stabil has lasted without issues and the tank being 90 percent full. E-0 gas with or without stabil has lasted without issue and not a full tank. Have E-10 in cans, without stabil, sitting in garage through the winter and have not had issue using the following spring

 

[GA_Boater]

A burrito makes my gas go real bad in about an hour.

 

[SolingSailor]

Just to add my 2 cents of experience: I store several 6 gallon cans of E-10 with Stabil, for my 2 stroke outboard, my 4 stroke backup generator, and my car. Also, one 6 gallon tank premixed, all dated. Sometimes it is stored for more than a year. Never had a problem that I know of.

 

[82rude]

Just to add my 2 cents of experience: I store several 6 gallon cans of E-10 with Stabil, for my 2 stroke outboard, my 4 stroke backup generator, and my car. Also, one 6 gallon tank premixed, all dated. Sometimes it is stored for more than a year. Never had a problem that I know of.

almost 2 years for me with no issues what so ever.dont really recommend it but I was sick for a little while and forgot all about how long the gas was in the ride..i credit stabil for keeping it kosher.

 

[steelespike]

Not that I recommend it but here in the north east my untreated e10 goes from spring tilling to spring tilling in my 12 year old 2 stroke mini tiller.
10 year old Chain saw goes from summer to next summer,The chain oil cap and gas cap have been swelled up by the e10.I'm forced to use pliers to carefully remove and install caps. 10 year old factory refurbed weed whacker goes from summer to late spring; it has begun to be slow starting. My new weed whacker is in the same cycle.My 27" 20 year old snow blower goes from last serious snow to next year serious snow with just a light tune up in the fall when I top up the tank with fresh gas.
My 65 Merc 500 has been treated because I knew it would be in storage at least a few years when I bought it and it had all ready been in storage several well treated years.

 

[Scott Danforth]

2-stroke oil stabilizes gasoline as it adds additional carbon chains to the mix.

 

[SolingSailor]

That's interesting Scott. Are you saying that 50:1 premix does not need Stabil?

 

[Scott Danforth]

generally 50:1 fuel will be good for about 120-180 days (dependant on storage conditions) since most 2-stroke oils also claim to have a fuel stabilizer. stabil claims up to 180 days. understanding the science to why fuel starts to break down is the key.

if you can, avoid fuel adatives and simply use the fuel within a short period of time

 

[Gold Eagle Co]

Hi everyone,

Sorry that we are very late to the game here but we just recently became partners with iBoats. The comments about the short shelf life of ethanol blended gas vs. non-ethanol gas are absolutely correct. Ethanol blended gas can begin to break down in as little as 30 days. A high quality fuel stabilizer/ethanol treatment will help extend the shelf life of that gas. STA-BIL? Marine (soon to become STA-BIL? 360? Marine) guarantees 12 months of keeping fuel fresh, cleaning the fuel system, and preventing rust & corrosion - both above and below the fuel line.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Have a great day!

 

[Sea Rider]

If you can, avoid fuel adatives and simply use the fuel within a short period of time

I'll second that, will add, consume most of the fuel for that outing, refill leftovers with fresh gas for next outing and so on.

Happy Boating