Longish Term Petrol Storage Question

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DarkSt0rm

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Hey Folks,

So I've got a bit of an unusual question, and it seems to be one where the answer changes depends on who you ask or what you google.

TL;DR: How long can Petrol be safely stored for in a Cistern, and does Petrol become unstable to the point of causing damage to an engine if left over a period of time?

I'm out in the middle of nowhere visiting a mate's game farm at the moment, and the nearest petrol station is quite literally something like 2 hours away, so he keeps a massive fuel cistern which he will refuel when needed. He himself has been out of country since August last year, so the petrol has just been sitting in the cistern since, with no added stabilizers (apparently that is a thing you should do, he has never done that). If it matters it's 95 octane.
From the bit of research I did online it seems that it wouldn't be the best idea to use that Petrol would have become unstable and should not be used, but then you go to a different site and you get the 'it does not matter' schpiel, which leaves me at no idea on what to do; because my Jeep is very thirsty at the moment and the Jerry cans I brought up with me are empty because a certain somebody said he had fuel here...

Any real answers would be appreciated, because I don't think telling the story of how I killed my Jeep with bad fuel would make for a particularly grand tale over a few beers...
 
I don’t think there is a single answer to your question. With stabiliser added in a cool temperature (20 degrees) in a sealed container I would say you ok up to 2 years.

With no stabiliser standing in the sun not sealed properly maybe 2 to 6 months. Issue is the most highly volatile components in petrol tend to evaporate over time. The less volatile the fuel, the less effectively it burns in your engine. The result is diminished engine performance. Your engine may still start and run, but it probably won't run as well.

Then in modern high compression direct injection engines the ecu would adjust and run but might not be happy with old fuel. In older cars low compression engines you should have no issue other than more difficult to start.

Old fuel have a very distinct smell.
 
qscwbt said:
I don’t think there is a single answer to your question. With stabiliser added in a cool temperature (20 degrees) in a sealed container I would say you ok up to 2 years.

With no stabiliser standing in the sun not sealed properly maybe 2 to 6 months. Issue is the most highly volatile components in petrol tend to evaporate over time. The less volatile the fuel, the less effectively it burns in your engine. The result is diminished engine performance. Your engine may still start and run, but it probably won't run as well.

Then in modern high compression direct injection engines the ecu would adjust and run but might not be happy with old fuel. In older cars low compression engines you should have no issue other than more difficult to start.

Old fuel have a very distinct smell.
Click to expand...
Ok, it was stored in a very cold stone storehouse for those months, there may be hope! I guess I'll crack it open, pour a can, and take a whiff haha

Thanks for the reply :)
 
I would decant a bit and let it settle. Check for water and particulates. If none - I would probably risk it - for petrol only.
 
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