A year or so back I wound up purchasing a handful of NATO-style gas cans to put in storage for such time as where I thought it made sense to have more than the usual amount of fuel stored up. Annnnnd…I was up at CostCo filling them this morning, Not necessarily in anticipation of a price increase (although that certainly comes into play) but also because of availability concerns. Look, there are a whole handful of factors that could limit your ability to purchase fuel…price, rationing, electronic payment failure due to retaliatory cyberattack, fuel refinery bottlenecks, delivery manpower issues, panic buying, hurricanes, pipeline failures, etc, etc. So…seemed like a good idea to up the storage a tad.
Additionally, I’d like to mention that having a supply of top-quality fuel cans on hand and in your storage for later use is not a bad idea since trying to find them now (not the plastic cans….the good metal ones) is like trying to find primers – difficult and sphincter-bruisingly expensive.
But….whats it worth for the peace of mind knowing that you’ve got the necessary fuel on hand to keep you and your family safe?
Just don’t forget the fuel stabilizer.
Well, as Peter Grant put it in a recent blogpost: https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2022/03/were-no-longer-preparing-for-emergency.html
Here in our little, isolated town in the Oregon Outback ™, gas went from $4.05 to $4.15 last weekend. My wife just came back from filling her little Honda at $4.45, complaining about “$52 to fill it.”
I recycled the gas in my Jerry cans early last summer, and at that time I ponied up for the moonshine free premium. With stabilizer, I expect it’ll be good into next summer at least. One reason for the premium gas is that ethanol can spontaneously break down into water and corrosive acids. Also consider that one source of getting water into your gas is diurnal temperature cycles can cause the airspace in the can to breathe out in the heat, and breathe in during cooler weather. If your ambient air has high humidity, it’s getting into your gas. We fortunately have a “high desert” climate with extremely low humidity. Still and all, keep the Jerry cans as full as you can–less airspace to have to “breathe”.
Metal jerry cans are airtight-no “breathing” or loss of volatile fractions.
My jerry cans have a small vent hole under the rubber ring to allow excess overpressure to vent without exploding or splitting a seam. But yes, that is a lot less “breathing” than stupid plastic cans. They can vent hydrocarbons THROUGH the plastic, which is why they stink in a trunk, even if the cap is tight.
What fuel stabilizer do you recommend for long term storage. What do you consider long term storage?
I use Pri-G (which I have to order on line), but I’ve also used Sta-Bil for years without any issues.
There’s also Pri-D for diesel if you need it.
thank you
Also, where is a good source?
I buy it off eBay.
thank you
Deutschoptik.com. Nevada catalog company. For Euro Jerry cans and support accessories source. Don’t forget the smaller 2.5 liter cans for kerosene for heaters or camp lanterns as well. Good people. Fill em up. Those near dinky rural airports check into 100ll (low lead) gas sources for small engine usage, keeps longer. Mad max preps, seriously. Stay frosty.
Avgas does keep almost indefinitely. When I had my C-172 down for an engine overhaul and painting, it was over two years in the shop. When we were getting ready for engine break-in flights, I asked if we should drain the old fuel before adding any new. My mechanic said no, just top it up with fresh. The old gas would be just fine. And yes, you can fill your cans at almost any small airport, many of then self-serve now. BUT…..It is insanely expensive. Just checked and prices near me run from $5.29 to $8.40. Find your local prices at http://airnav.com/fuel/local.html
Even more important than fuel stabilizer is storing non-ethanol gasoline. High octane, non-ethanol gas is best.
A lot of the gumming and breakdown that occurs in stored gasoline comes from the ethanol in it…
CZ, I bought the 4-pack combo of those cans sometime in the last year when you wrote about the deal. I found one of only two gas stations in town that carried ethanol-free gas and filled ’em up, adding Sta-bil when I got home. I’m planning to bug in rather than bugging out, but I’m still glad to have that extra gas. It helps me sleep. Thanks for the tip.
I wish I had bought those Valpro/Wavian cans back when I read the article you wrote years ago. They were $49.95 each then. Now they are $89.95 each from Wavian USA. I checked Lexington Container Co. and they still don’t have them. Anyway, I bought 16 of them for gas and 8 for diesel. The eight I bought for diesel was during the scamdemic and I had to buy them where I could find them. They were cheaper, but I had to buy the fuel nozzles separately. The gas cans were all purchased from Wavian and each came with a fuel nozzle and clip to secure it to the can. Swapping them in for the plastic Blitz containers that will go to anyone who will have them.
so Wavian is the same as VALPRO?
Yes. They are made in Latvia by the Valpro company and labeled Wavian for sale in the US by Wavian USA.
To each can of gas I also add a bit of carb/injector cleaner and HEET (water absorber), along with Sta-Bil. It has always performed well for me. Only Five, 5 gal cans, so far. Also keep six propane bottles for the grill so we can cook if the electricity is out longer than expected. Wood stove backs that up.
one thing I try and do with stored fuel is add it too a half tank or better of fresh gas. So far, knock on wood, no problems. With our summer heat I rotate once a year with Stabil additive. The metal Nato cans don’t seal up or pour very well for me so I have a plastic motorcycle racing style can, transfer the metal can into it (large opening makes it easy) seal it up and dump it in the truck without spilling a drop. Kind of important when dealing with gasoline since I once spent time in a burn center for a gas fire.
Ford had to make it more difficult with the capless fuel neck that requires a special diameter funnel, so good to have one of those on hand also.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/VP-Racing-Fuels-3514-Square-Jerry-Can-5gal-Red/558414571
I have used non ethanol gas treated with Pri-G that was 3 years old with no ill effects at all. I also store diesel with Pri-D along with BIOBOR JF which is an anti fungal.
yeah and don’t forget about wood. lp/ng prices will be high. if you use wood as backup or to supplement, now is the time to be cutting it or buying it so that it seasons enough to burn well.
Wavian cans, while pricey, are the best available in my opinion. They seal so well you can store them inside (I verified this with the manufacturer) which is how I stored them in the 110+ degree summers in the desert. Right in a closet off the living room. Never a hint of gas odor during the many years they were there. Thanks for the reminder post CZ, I’ll be buying more soon.
Anyone have issues filling up a green or black can at a filling station since it not the “approved” color (I.ie, red, yellow or blue)?
No hassles ever over the o.d. color scheme. Most clerks/employees are too busy or underpaid to care. Bystanders are by and large indifferent or clueless rubes. Only preppers or veterans will be interested and just politely ask where you got those cool cans from.
+1
Actually got positive comments while filling cans Sat.,even had a LMI ask about best ranges in area.
If buying gasoline at Costco, expect it to be from a different source every time you buy it. (I see a different brand tanker truck every time) That is how Costco works to keep the price down. The drawback is it is almost guaranteed to be gasohol. This may vary depending on your location, of course. Back when I had a ’91 Turbo Talon, I couldn’t buy it, as the car ran crappy with gasohol. REALLY crappy. The octane rating was a joke, as the car’s system would back off the timing to deal with knock, so throttle response and gas mileage suffered noticeably. Gas was okay in the early 00’s, but by Obama’s time, the only gas I could run in it was Chevron, which was not adulterated. Even Shell and 76 was contraindicated for that car.