…… Storing gasoline

[Gardener]

I did a search, but didn't find what I was looking for. If you know of an existing thread, let me know.

I know you should only store gasoline in approved containers, and never in your house.

So first question, where do you store gas? It seems like a shed would get too hot in the summer. Any building that can catch on fire (ie made of wood) seems like a bad idea. So what would an ideal structure look like?

Next question, it would take many 5 gallon gas cans to amount to very much storage. Do people use 5 gallon containers or is there something else?

I know I'm showing my ignorance here, thanks for your help.

 

[greysage]

Five gallon cans are portable. Difficult to be mobile with 50 gal drum.

 

[hiwall]

I store a 50 gallon drum on a stand outside near a shed. It is on the north side of the shed so it does not get the heat of the sun. It is treated with Seafoam.

 

[buttie]

55 gal drums are what I used. Lay one over and roll it into the tractor bucket and they are quite portable. When properly sealed, they can be stored out side in the shade. Use Pri-G to preserve it and use a proper pump to get it out of the drum.

 

[nomifyle]

We store 50 gallons in 5 gallon gas cans and another 25 gallons of diesel in 5 gallon cans. They are stored in a carport like structure build onto the workshop. We rotate the fuel through our vehicles.

 

[Hfcomms]

I keep in a well ventilated outdoor shed. Gas in rotated and treated 5 gallon cans and a few drums of kerosene/diesel.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Ours is rotated and stored in Cary's workshop in 5 gal cans. The shop is well ventilated.

I should add that the workshop is always locked, unless Cary or myself are in there.

 

[tech]

Have 55 gallon drums and 5 gallon cans in a separate shed...well away from anything. Security cameras cover it also.

 

[Jeff Allen]

We use a 300 gallon stand mounted storage container for gasoline and another 300 gallon stand mount for diesel.

I get them topped off every spring.

I use ETHANOL FREE gasoline and pay a HUGE PREMIUM for that. (damned government)

We have ZERO problems with our engines using this method.

We used to use 5 gallon jugs...we just use too much fuel for that to be practical.

Make sure you are using ethanal free gasoline. When I used jugs I always used PRI G as it worked much better than "stabil". Even so, 12 months is too long....8 month rotation is practical in jugs. Yet, my UNTREATED fuels in my 300 gallon tanks works just fine....go figure...

J

 

[Doc1]

I have little to add to the above observations, but remember that fire safety is paramount. Learn basic firefighting and have multiple, correct fire extinguishers for fighting liquid fuel fires. If you store a lot of fuel, make sure that it is downhill from your house, or well away from the structure with (small) earthen dams/berms/ditches to guide leaking/burning fuel away from the house.

Another important thing to consider is to use the right pumps for gasoline. Most diesel pumps aren't rated for or safe to use with gas. Yes, I know that people use diesel pumps every day to pump gas, but it isn't the safest or smartest thing to do. Also, if you are using large steel tanks for gasoline, they should be properly grounded.

I'm a big proponent of fuel storage. People understandably complain about high fuel prices, but that is much preferable to no fuel availability!

Best
Doc

 

[tech]

Also, if you are using large steel tanks for gasoline, they should be properly grounded.

And bonded when transferring fuel.

 

[Jeff Allen]

Ok, I hear the "bonding" or "grounding" (and yes, I understand they are not the same thing)...but here is my lifetime experience:

I've used farm tanks off and on for 54 years....filled tractors, pickups, cars, vans, skid steers, ATV's, side x sides, mowers, portable plastic and steel tanks sitting in the dirt/rocks. THOUSANDS of fills. NONE of the I guess 6 different tanks I've used since a child were professionally grounded or bonded. ALL of the tanks were either just gravity fed sitting in a stand on some concrete or buried in the soil and pumped.

Zero incidents to date...

J

 

[Luddite]

I just finished using a 55 gal drum of gas that was at least 4 years old. It had pri G added in the beginning.

I just got lazy and forgot about it. I tried to mix 50/50 with new gas from the pump. Iow, after a fillup at the station, at halftank I'd dump old gas in.
Don't do as I did, just saying there are opinions but no hard fast rules about storage times.
If you go the 55 gal drum plan, have a few empty 5 gal cans for emergency bugout contingency.
With an suv or van, you'd need a luggage rack or trailer.

Plastic cans transfer moisture or air faster than metal cans. I've dumped old gas in warm generators with no operational issues to date.
5 gal cans are heavy to hold while filling a vehicle. Even a simple siphon hose makes it easier.

Here in Appalachia we call a siphon hose a "hillbilly credit card"

 

[Publius]

Don't let anyone know you have gasoline stored and if you do expect to be robbed of it some night.

 

[Jeff Allen]

Don't let anyone know you have gasoline stored and if you do expect to be robbed of it some night.

Wise advice! While we are behind a gate...and are surrounded by gate/fence on the front and rather extensive forest on the other 3 sides, it wouldn't be hard to hop in and steal an ATV tankful of gas....but, someone is here around 99.5% of the time...seems unlikely..

J

 

[arks]

My solution was to buy an old 23’ boat with a built-in gas tank. It holds 80 gallons and I have it rigged with an electric fuel pump to pull gas out when needed. She sits away from the house in the corner of the property. Of course, I keep it tarped and the gas stabilized and rotated. When the gas is low I hook up the trailer and pull it to the filling station. As I recall the boat cost $700 and the (not new but never used) trailer $1200. It works for me!

 

[tech]

Ok, I hear the "bonding" or "grounding" (and yes, I understand they are not the same thing)...but here is my lifetime experience:

I've used farm tanks off and on for 54 years....filled tractors, pickups, cars, vans, skid steers, ATV's, side x sides, mowers, portable plastic and steel tanks sitting in the dirt/rocks. THOUSANDS of fills. NONE of the I guess 6 different tanks I've used since a child were professionally grounded or bonded. ALL of the tanks were either just gravity fed sitting in a stand on some concrete or buried in the soil and pumped.

Zero incidents to date...

J

It only takes once

 

[BornFree]

Heat is the worst enemy of storing Gas. The hotter it gets then the less time it will last. Ethanol gas will last much longer if stored in plastic containers. Due to moisture getting in it then it will rust metal containers and contaminate your fuel. The metal also causes more moisture due to increased condensation.