Proper long-term fuel storage is something anyone can learn to do.
Whether you are storing fuel for a generator, your chainsaw or other equipment.
It is not rocket science. I know, I learned how to do it and so can you!
Long-term fuel storage involves proper storage methods and having a knowledge of fuel stabilizers.
Long-term storage depends on finding out which fuel preservative is really best.
And discovering that old fuels can indeed be restored to refinery freshness!
Have you ever wondered how to store gasoline, diesel and kerosene long term without any of these fuels going bad.
Did you know you can store these fuels for up to five years at very little cost?
While using only one treatment of the right preservative?
Let me explain.
Proper Storage Methods
Both gas and diesel have a limit to how long they can be effectively stored without treatment.
This time limit depends on storage conditions and fuel selection.
In spite of what you may have read or have been told, heat is an enemy of all stored fuel, gas, diesel or kerosene.
If it is possible, store all fuels underground. Underground storage limits the effect of heat on the stored fuel.
What the storage container, any fittings and any piping is made out of is very important.
If there is any copper, copper alloy or zinc in the storage container, its fittings or any piping gas, diesel and kerosene will deteriorate or go bad much faster.
When fuels are stored underground the best storage tanks are fiberglass reinforced plastic. The next best storage tanks are made out of Black Iron.
Above and below ground storage containers should both be filled to within 2″ of the top of the container.
This allows for some expansion of the fuel with temperature changes.
This is more important when storing fuels above ground.
But at the same time filing to this level reduces the area available for condensation to form out of the air above the fuel.
All above ground gas storage containers should have some type of pressure relief valve on them.
Whenever possible, fuel stored in large storage tanks should be removed by a floating suction pipe.
This is because the cleanest fuel is always on top.
When the tank level reaches 15% of full, the remaining fuel should be filtered to remove any water and particulate matter it might contain.
When storing fuel above ground, it is best to store the fuel in approved metal or plastic containers.
Above ground metal containers stored in the open should be painted with reflective paint.
All fuels stored above ground should be stored at least 50′ away from any heat or ignition source.
It is best to store above ground fuels in a shed away from the house or shop.
What about storing fuel in a generator shed?
If you store fuel in a generator shed, the fuel needs to be in a separate room with an insulated wall between the fuel and the generator.
Both the fuel storage room and the generator room should be well ventilated to the outside.
This is true for both gas and diesel fuel storage in a generator shed.
Above ground storage containers can be either 5 gallon or 55 gallon containers or commercially made fuel storage containers suitable for the storage of petroleum products.
At least one container should be 5 gallon.
This makes carrying fuel from a 55 gallon drum or other storage container to where it is needed a lot easier!
If using a 55 gallon drum for fuel storage a handy item to have is a bung wrench (link to read reviews on Amazon).
This makes removal of the bung, the cap, on the drum much easier.
All fuel storage containers should be clean, completely empty and in good condition before filling them with fuel.
If there is any old fuel residue in the container, it will hasten the degrading of the new fuel placed in that container.
It may be necessary to place a small amount of fuel into the container and agitate it so the fuel washes over all inside surfaces.
Then invert the washed container draining the fuel used to wash the container into a plastic pan like what is used when draining oil from your car’s oil pan.
Leave the fuel container inverted for 15 minutes before filling it with new fuel.
Do not just pour out the fuel used for washing out containers on the ground!
Put it in a separate container and take it to a recycling or collection center.
When storing fuel in 55 gallon drums you will need a way of getting the fuel out of the drums.
The best way is with a hand pump. I have used a GPI pump for 20 years (link to reviews on Amazon), that still works as well as it did the first time I used it.
I first purchased a rotary hand pump and it did not last for even one 55 gallon drum of fuel.
If you store more than one type of fuel you will need a separate pump for each fuel to prevent cross contamination of the fuels.
If you purchase a large commercially made fuel storage container find out what type of pump is needed to remove fuel from that container.
Not all large commercially made fuel containers have the same type threads found on 55 gallon drums.
So a pump made for 55 gallon drums may not work in a large commercially made fuel storage container.
The standard U.S. designation for 5 gallon fuel storage containers is: gas is stored in red containers, diesel fuel is stored in yellow containers and kerosene is stored in blue containers.
The Eagle Red Galvanized Steel Type I Gasoline Safety Can with Funnel (link to Amazon) is a good choice for storing your gasoline safely.
For pushing 25 years now, we have used Eagle 5 gallon steel gas cans that are still in good safe condition.
After less than 12 years of usage our plastic 5 gallon container started leaking.
We don’t recommend plastic containers for long term gas storage.
For storing diesel fuel the standard U.S. designation for 5 gallon fuel storage containers is yellow containers.
The SureCan – Diesel Gas Can with Rotating Spout (link to Amazon) makes the transfer of diesel fuel from 55 gallon drums to diesel powered implements simple and easy with no funnel needed.
The SureCan is made of a sturdy plastic material and is CARB compliant.
To store kerosene, the standard U.S. designation is to keep it in blue containers.
The Midwest 5 gallon Kerosene container (link to Amazon) is one that will work for storing your kerosene in safely.
The Midwest 5 gallon Kerosene container has a wide base which makes it harder to accidentally tip it over.
The air tight leak proof seal prevents that kerosene smell from escaping and it is CARB compliant plastic construction.
Stability Of Stored Fuel In Heat
Gas, diesel and kerosene, when exposed to heat during storage, produce carbon residue that will not burn during combustion.
The more carbon residue present in the stored fuel, the less power produced when the fuel is used.
The more carbon residue present, the more the engine or heater will smoke, if the engine or heater will work at all.
Most fuel stabilizers sold in big box stores and automotive and marine parts stores fall far short when it comes to achieving thermal stability in gas, diesel and kerosene.
Many claim to achieve thermal stability but few actually do achieve thermal stability.
It is possible to achieve thermal stability, also called heat stability, with the proper additive treatment of gas, diesel and kerosene.
Later in this article you will learn which fuel preservatives actually do achieve thermal stability in stored fuels.
How Long Will Gas And Diesel Fuel Remain Fresh Without Any Preservative Added
Diesel & Kerosene
Number 1 Diesel fuel, (clear kerosene), remains fresh for up to one year.
When stored under optimal storage conditions such as in a fiberglass reinforced underground storage container with no copper, copper alloy or zinc in any part of the fittings or piping.
Kerosene is a lighter diesel oil that does not contain many aromatic compounds.
Kerosene has less paraffin than Number 2 Diesel so it does not gel like Number 2 Diesel does at low temperatures.
Number 1 Diesel, kerosene, has less lubricity and burns drier than Number 2 Diesel.
Number 1 Diesel, kerosene, burns cooler than Number 2 Diesel.
Your diesel vehicle will run on kerosene but it may have less power and get less mileage than it would with Number 2 Diesel.
It is even more important to put an additive that gives Number 1 Diesel (kerosene) lubricity when used in vehicles than it is to use an additive to give Number 2 Diesel lubricity.
Since kerosene is Number 1 Diesel fuel, the same additives that work with diesel fuel will also work with kerosene.
Number 2 Diesel, the common diesel fuel sold at service stations, lasts for a little more than 6 months under ideal underground storage conditions.
Since 2007 the U.S. EPA has mandated diesel fuel to be ULSD. (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel)
This is 15 ppm sulfur and even affects off-road diesel since Jan. 1, 2015.
Prior to EPA mandates, diesel fuel contained 500 ppm sulfur.
ULSD fuel does not have the lubrication that pre-ULSD fuel had.
This means that when operating diesel engines you need an additive that increases lubricity.
Otherwise fuel injectors and engine parts will not last as long as they do with increased lubricity.
Sometimes kerosene is mixed with Number 2 Diesel in winter to reduce the chance of the diesel fuel jelling.
Since 2007 when this is done it is imperative to add additional lubricity to the mixture to prevent engine problems.
Kerosene comes in two grades; 1-K, sometimes called K-1, which has less than 0.04% sulfur contained in it.
Then there is 2-K, sometimes called K-2, which contains 0.3% sulfur.
In above ground storage kerosene can start to deteriorate in 3 months.
This is true for both 1-K and 2-K.
The preferred grade to burn in Kerosene Heaters and stoves is 1-K.
Gasoline
When storing gas, how long it can be stored depends upon the octane rating.
High octane gas, premium grade gas, can be stored for about 3 months above ground.
And a little longer under ground if in a fiberglass reinforced underground storage container with no copper, copper alloy or zinc in the fittings or piping.
Mid-grade gas, usually 89 octane can be stored for a month or so longer than premium grade gas.
Up to 4 months, when stored under the same optimal conditions.
Regular grade gas, 87 octane, can be stored up to 6 months in a fiberglass reinforced underground storage container with no copper, copper alloy or zinc in the fittings or piping. (survival-mastery.com & ign.com)
As can readily be seen, long-term storage of gas, diesel fuel and kerosene is not practical without adding something to each fuel when stored.
When stored above ground, gas, diesel and kerosene will only store for the amounts of time listed above when the temperature is 70 degrees F or less.
One source says 68 degrees F or less. If outside temperature is 86 degrees F the above ground storage times for all three fuels are cut in half! (bp.com)
Length Of Time Gas Can Be Stored With Additives
| Product | Rank | Type Product | Length of Time | One Ounce Treats | Works with E-10 & E-85 | Prevents Phase Separation | Cost (gallons treated) |
| PRI - G | 1 | Super Concentrated Industrial | Up to 5 years | 16 gallons | Yes | Yes | $40/quart (512) $0.08/gallon |
| Briggs & Stratton | 2 tie | Super concentrated | Up to 3 years | 5 gallons | Yes | ? | $8/4 ounces (20) $0.40/gallon) |
| Star Tron | 2 tie | Concentrated | Up to 2 years | 16 gallons | Yes | Yes | $30/quart (512) $0.06/gallon |
| Sentry Gas Plus | 3 | Consumer | Up to 2 years | 2.5 gallons | E-10 | Yes | $35/quart (80) $0.44/gallon |
| STA-BIL Storage | 4 tie | Consumer | Up to 2 years | 2.5 gallons | Yes | ? | $20/quart (80) $0.25/gallon) |
| Yamalube Fuel Additive | 4 tie | Consumer | Up To 1 year | 3 gallons | E-10 | Yes | $12/quart (96) $0.13/gallon |
| Seafoam | 5 | Consumer | Up to 2 years | 1 gallon | Yes | ? | $12/pint (16) $0.75/gallon) |
| Maxima | 6 tie | Consumer | Indefinitely (see text) | 2.5 gallon | Yes | ? | $20/quart (80) $0.25/gallon |
| Royal Purple Max-Clean | 6 tie | Consumer | Off Season | 1 gallon | Yes | ? | $15/20 ounces (20) $0.75/gallon |
PRI-G will be discussed at the bottom of the gas additive section.
Briggs & Stratton Advanced Fuel Stabilizer
Briggs & Stratton Advanced Fuel Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) maintains fuel stability for up to 3 years under optimal conditions. (briggs & stratton.com)
Each ounce treats up to 5 gallons gas. Works with ethanol blends.
Tied for second place with Star Tron.
Briggs & Stratton’s up to 3 years of stability but not preventing phase separation places it in a tie with Star Tron’s up to 2 years stability and preventing phase separation.
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment
According to their website, Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment (link to read reviews on Amazon) will stabilize gasoline for up to 2 years under optimal conditions. (starbrite.com)
Each ounce treats up to 16 gallons of gas. Works with ethanol blended fuels and prevents phase separation.
Tied for second place with Briggs & Stratton Advanced Fuel Stabilizer.
Sentry New Technology Fuel Treatment Gas
According to their website, Sentry’s New Technology Gas Treatment (link to read reviews on Amazon) can stabilize fuel for up to 24 months and restore old fuel. (buysentry.com)
Gas treatment works with ethanol blends. Sentry Gas Plus placed third, ahead of STA-BIL Storage because it protects against Phase Separation.
One ounce treats 2.5 gallons.
STA-BIL Storage
According to their website, STABIL Storage (link to read reviews on Amazon) can keep gasoline fresh for up to 24 months under optimal condition. (goldeagle.com)
One ounce of STABIL treats up to 2.5 gallons of gas.
Works with ethanol fuels, E-10 and E-85. STA-BIL’s rating was hurt by my not finding anything saying that STA-Bil prevents Phase Separation.
Although STA-BIL is probably the most recognized name in fuel storage, it tied for fourth place in this comparison with Yamalube Fuel Additive.
Yamalube Fuel Additive & Stabilizer
Yamalube Fuel Additive & Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) sold by Yamaha cycle Dealers and other sources.
Says it works with E-10 gas and stabilizes fuel for up to one year and prevents phase separation. (shopyamaha.com)
One ounce treats 3 gallons of fuel.
Tied with STA-BIL Storage because it prevents phase separation and is roughly half the price per gallon of gas stabilized as STA-BIL Storage.
This was really a close call.
STA-BIL Storage lasts twice as long for about twice the money.
And does stabilize E-85 which Yamalube Fuel Additive does not according to shopyamaha.com.
Sea Foam Motor Treatment
Sea Foam Motor Treatment (link to read reviews on Amazon) is a product that claims to be effective as a stabilizer for both gas and diesel with the exact same product effective for both. (seafoamsales.com)
Claims to stabilize both gas and diesel fuel for up to 2 years.
Okay to use 1 to 2 ounces per gallon of fuel.
For any gas or diesel blend. Also is a fuel system cleaner.
Sea Foam placed 5th in the gas category due to three reasons;
- It does not prevent phase separation.
- Because it claims that one formula is effective in both gas and diesel. See ‘Comments on Maxima Fuel Stabilizer, Royal Purple and Sea Foam Motor Treatment’ below.
- It tied for the most expensive additive on a per gallon treated basis.
Maxima Concentrated Fuel Stabilizer
Maxima Concentrated Fuel Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) claims to keep stored gas fresh “indefinitely” and the same product is advertised to work with both gas and diesel fuels. (revzilla.com)
One ounce protects 1 – 2.5 gallons of fuel.
Works with ethanol fuels. Is a fuel system cleaner.
See ‘Comments on Maxima Fuel Stabilizer, Royal Purple and Sea Foam Motor Treatment’ below for rational on indefinitely.
This claim placed Maxima in a tie for last place in the gas category!
Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner & Stabilizer
Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner & Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) is basically a fuel system cleaner that their website says will “Stabilize fuel, both gas & diesel, during off season and storage.”
One ounce treats 1 gallon of fuel. Comes in 20 ounce cans. (royalpurpleconsumer.com)
Only stabilizes for the off season and storage which was not defined.
Tied with Maxima for last place in the gas comparison.
Comments On Maxima Fuel Stabilizer, Royal Purple And Sea Foam Motor Treatment:
Ethanol blended gas and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuels are very different chemical compositions as any farm boy knows.
No other stabilizer manufacturers except Maxima, Royal Purple and Sea Foam make the claim that one product is suitable to treat both ethanol gas and diesel fuels which since 2007 for highway diesel and 2015 for off road diesel have been EPA mandated to be ULSD.
After 20 years experience with both gas and diesel storage, I have serious doubts about the ability of one product to be able to adequately stabilize two chemicals as radically different as ethanol blended gas and ULSD diesel fuel.
Maxima’s claim of keeping stored gas indefinitely sounds to me like a weasel word.
A word used to make you think it works for a long time, yet no time is specified.
So the claimant can weasel out of it as a promise of a definite length of time.
That is, no user can succeed on a claim of false advertising by the manufacturer!
Phase Separation
Phase separation is is a problem inherent in all Ethanol Blended Gasoline.
The ethanol in the gas absorbs water.
As your gas tank empties, the air in the tank contains moisture.
When enough moisture is present the ethanol can become saturated with water.
The ethanol/water mix separates out of the gas and settles to the bottom of the gas tank. (phase separation).
Phase separation in Ethanol Blended Gas can cause problems ranging from engine stalling or failure to start all the way to serious engine damage.
Not all fuel stabilizers, listed above claim to prevent phase separation in Ethanol Blended Gas.
Phase separation is a greater danger with E-85 gas than with E-10 gas because E-85 gas contains 5% more ethanol.
PRI-G For Gas
PRI-G is Power Research Inc. Complete Gas Treatment.
It is an Industrial Grade Gas Preservative, not just a stabilizer.
As an industrial grade preservative PRI-G provides 350 ppm active ingredient per gallon of treated fuel.
The typical commercial grade fuel stabilizer only provides about 32 ppm active ingredient to the treated fuel.
PRI-G (link to read reviews on Amazon) is specifically formulated to preserve gas.
Because it is an industrial grade preservative instead of a commercial grade stabilizer, PRI-G is vastly superior to fuel stabilizers in the following functions:
- Preventing phase separation in Ethanol Blended Gas, E-10 & E-85
- Provides superior storage stability
- Has the ability to really restore degraded fuel
- Has enhanced thermal stability preventing power-robbing carbon deposits which improves fuel economy with up to 5% more mileage
- Boosts engine performance because all the fuel is burned
- Gives quick engine starts
- Is ideal for all 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines
I have personally used PRI-G for fuel storage (link to read reviews on Amazon) in 5 gallon cans and 55 gallon drums.
I know from experience that a one time treatment of PRI-G, 1 ounce PRI-G to 16 gallons of gas, has kept gas refinery fresh for 5 years!
Besides that, I know others who have had the exact same experience with PRI-G preserving gas to where it is refinery fresh 5 years later!
I treated four 55 gallon drums of 87 octane gas with a one time treatment of PRI-G.
They were in a shed beside the driveway when I lived in Tennessee.
Over a years period of time it was not uncommon for the temperature to range from zero degrees F up to 100 degrees F.
At the end of 5 years I pumped the gas into the car.
The gas looked, smelled and the car ran like the gas was refinery fresh!
I had a small gas engine with degraded fuel that had been sitting in the gas tank for several years.
Here is how I fixed it so it would run again using PRI-G:
- Using a medical style syringe I squirted between 3/4 of a cc and 1 cc of PRI-G into the gas tank.
- I jiggled or shook the lawn mower for less than a minute. Then I let it sit for 3 or 4 days.
- After 3 or 4 days I pulled the starter robe several times. After several times at pulling the starter rope the engine started and ran fine.
I have a friend who had an old pick-up truck that hadn’t been started in several years.
He put PRI-G in the gas tank (link to read reviews on Amazon) and waited about a week.
Then with a new battery he decided to see if the truck would start.
It took a little bit of cranking to get the treated gas to the carburetor.
But before long the truck started and he said it ran better than it did before he let it set.
Length Of Time Diesel & Kerosene Can Be Stored With Additives
| Product | Rank | Type of Product | Length of Time | One Ounce Treats | Adds Lubricity | Cost (Gallons Treated) |
| PRI - D | 1 | Super Concentrated Industrial | Up to 5 years | 16 gallons | Yes | $40/quart (512) $0.8/gallon |
| Sentry Diesel | 2 | Consumer | Up to 2 years | 6.25 gallons | Yes | $35/quart (200) $0.18/gallon |
| STA-BIL Diesel | 3 | Consumer | Up to 1 year | 5 gallons | Yes | $30/quart (160) $0.19/gallon |
| Star Tron Diesel | 4- tie | Super Concentrated | Up to 2 years | 16 gallons | ? | $36/quart (512) $0.07/gallon |
| Seafoam | 4 - tie | Consumer | Up to 2 years | 1 gallon | Yes | $12/pint (16) $0.75/gallon |
| Maxima | 5 | Consumer | Indefinitely (see text) | 2.5 gallons | ? | $20/quart (80) $0.25/gallon |
| Royal Purple Max-Clean | 6 | Consumer | During Season | 1 gallon | ? | $15/20 ounces (20) $0.75/gallon |
PRI-D Will Be Discussed At The Bottom Of The Diesel Additive Section
Sentry New Technology Fuel Treatment Diesel
Sentry Diesel can stabilize diesel for up to 24 months and restore old fuel.
Said to work with ULSD, off-road diesel (red dyed diesel) and bio-diesel.
Sentry New Technology Diesel Treatment (link to read reviews on Amazon) placed a distant second to PRI-D.
Sentry being over twice as expensive and lasting for less than half the time of PRI-D.
One ounce Sentry Diesel treats 6.25 gallons.
STA-BIL Diesel Formula Fuel Stabilizer
According to their website STA-BIL Diesel Formula Fuel Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) used in the amount of 1 ounce per 5 gallons of diesel fuel can stabilize diesel fuel for up to one year. (goldeagle.com)
Said to be effective for ULSD and bio-diesel.
STA-BIL Diesel placed third ahead of Star Tron Diesel because it provides the added lubricity that ULSD must have to avoid serious engine problems.
Star Tron Diesel
Star Tron Diesel (link to read reviews on Amazon) tied with Sea Foam for fourth place based upon it being the lowest cost diesel additive and being diesel specific which Sea Foam is not.
Stabilizes diesel for up to 2 years.
One ounce will treat 16 gallons diesel or kerosene.
I could not find anything saying it added lubricity to ULSD.
ULSD needs to have added lubricity to prevent serious engine damage.
Sea Foam Motor Treatment
Sea Foam Motor Treatment (link to read reviews on Amazon) tied for fourth in the diesel category.
This is a product that claims to be effective as a stabilizer for both gas and diesel with the same product effective for both. (seafoamsales.com)
Claims to stabilize diesel fuel for up to 2 years.
Okay to use 1 to 2 ounces per gallon of fuel.
Said to work with any diesel blend. Also is a fuel system cleaner.
The fact that it adds lubricity to ULSD placed Sea Foam ahead of Maxima and Royal Purple which also claim that one product is equally effective in gas and diesel.
Maxima Concentrated Fuel Stabilizer
Maxima Concentrated Fuel Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) claims to keep stored fuel fresh “indefinitely”.
And the same product works with both gas and diesel fuels. (revzilla.com)
One ounce protects 1 – 2.5 gallons of fuel. Does not add lubricity to diesel fuel. Is a fuel system cleaner.
This claim of lasting indefinitely placed Maxima next to last in the diesel category!
Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner & Stabilizer
Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner & Stabilizer (link to read reviews on Amazon) is basically a fuel system cleaner that their website says will “Stabilize fuel, both gas & diesel, during off season and storage.”
One ounce treats 1 gallon of fuel. Comes in 20 ounce cans. (royalpurpleconsumer.com)
Only stabilizes for the off season and storage which was not defined.
Royal Purple finished last in the diesel category.
See ‘Comments on Maxima Fuel Stabilizer, Royal Purple and Sea Foam Motor Treatment’ in section on gas additives for additives that claim to treat both gas and diesel fuels with the same product and Maxima’s indefinitely claim.
PRI-D For Diesel & Kerosene
PRI-D is Power Research Inc. Complete Diesel Treatment.
Like PRI-G, PRI-D is an industrial grade preservative that provides 350 ppm of the active ingredient per gallon of treated fuel.
This is over ten times the amount of active ingredient in a gallon of treated fuel when consumer grade stabilizers are used.
PRI-D (link to read reviews on Amazon) is specifically formulated for diesel and kerosene.
Because it is an industrial grade preservative, instead of a consumer grade stabilizer, PRI-D is vastly superior in the following functions:
- Preventing power robbing carbon deposits
- Improves ULSD fuel lubricity up to 25% to 45% or more
- Stabilizes fuel for long term storage
- Restores old, degraded fuel
- Improves engine performance
- Improves fuel efficiency 4 – 5%
- Reduces smoke, NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SOx (Sulfur oxides) These pollutants are present in greater amounts in diesel exhaust when combustion is not complete due to thermal instability and un-burned carbon deposits preventing complete combustion of diesel fuel
- Works very well with Number 1 Diesel, kerosene. Improves its lubricity as well as doing everything for kerosene that it does for Number 2 or off road diesel
PRI-D contains a safe and extremely effective refinery-grade lubricity package which provides superior lubrication to ULSD fuels.
During the refinery process necessary to produce ULSD fuel the naturally occurring lubricants are stripped out.
This makes the ULSD fuel extremely dry and can compromise the fuel pump and fuel delivery system.
The lowest cost option to add lubricity to ULSD is to add PRI-D to each gallon of diesel fuel when filling your tank.
As can be seen from the table above PRI-D’s cost is less per gallon than that of any other additive compared that adds lubricity to diesel fuel.
Doing this can decrease the incidence of fuel injector and other diesel engine problems.
I treated two 55 gallon plastic drums of Number 2 Diesel fuel with a one time treatment of PRI-D (link to read reviews on Amazon).
The drums were stored in a shed where I lived in Tennessee where the temperature in a year would range from zero degrees F to 100 degrees F.
After 5 years the fuel was used in a diesel tractor.
The fuel looked, smelled and the tractor ran as if the fuel was refinery fresh.
As a small PRI Dealer, I had a lot of experience with customers.
They were happy they had changed from their previous gas and diesel treatment products to Power Research Inc. fuel treatment products.
Treating Fuels To Be Stored With PRI Products
These directions work equally well for treating gas, diesel or kerosene:
- Be sure the storage container is clean and in good condition
- Place the recommended amount of PRI-G for gas or PRI-D for diesel or kerosene in the container; 1 ounce per 16 gallons of fuel or 1/3 ounce for a 5 gallon container
- Then fill the container to 95% of capacity. This assures proper mixing of PRI in with the fuel
When Removing Fuel Stored Underground
- If possible, when using the fuel, remove it from the top first. The cleanest fuel is always on top
- When the fuel level gets down to 15% of full, filter the fuel to remove water and particulate material that settles near the bottom of the container
Re-treating Stored Fuel With PRI
- Add the recommended amount of PRI to the container. 1/3 ounce for a 5 gallon container and 1 ounce per 16 gallons to a 55 gallon drum or larger container
- If possible jiggle or shake the storage container to aid in the mixing of PRI into the fuel. If you can not jiggle or shake the container, the PRI will mix by diffusion through the fuel over a period of a few days
- Based upon my own experience and that of many others, re-treatment is only needed every 4 to 5 years of storage
- With every 4 or 5 years regular re-treatment gas, diesel and kerosene can be stored as long as you need to store it
Restoring Degraded Fuel With PRI
According to roadscholars.com there is no additive that will restore old gasoline that has degraded.
According to wikihow.com there are some recycling centers you can take old degraded gas to and they can recondition the gas.
But in most instances you have to take it to a hazardous waste disposal center where it will be thrown away.
In spite of the claims by roadscholars and wikihow about not being able to restore degraded fuel, it is done all the time by people just like you!
What if the gas or diesel has degraded to the point that the gas or diesel contains varnishes that will clog fuel lines, fuel filters, fuel injectors or carburetors?
This is way beyond those fuels being old and degraded.
When gas and diesel get to the point they contain varnish do they have to be thrown away?
Most experts say that it is impossible to restore degraded gas or diesel to like new freshness.
This problem was faced by the Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, a few years ago.
Routine testing of 1.8 million gallons of diesel fuel, stored for a frame turbine facility had become degraded past the point of being useful.
TVA’s fuel supplier said nothing could be done.
He offered to pump out all the useless fuel and replace it with new.
But this would cost several million dollars.
Power Research Inc., (PRI), heard of the problem and approached TVA.
PRI said they could restore the diesel fuel to like new freshness.
TVA engineers said that was impossible.
But faced with millions of dollars in replacement expenses TVA agreed to allow PRI to conduct laboratory tests on the degraded diesel fuel.
The test results convinced TVA that PRI could restore their degraded diesel fuel to like new freshness!
PRI filtered the entire 1.8 million gallons of diesel fuel and treated the filtered fuel with PRI-D, a Power Research Inc. complete diesel preservative.
Samples of the treated diesel fuel were tested a short time later.
Test results showed that the entire 1.8 million gallons of diesel fuel was restored to like new freshness with PRI-D! (link to read reviews on Amazon)
TVA was saved millions of dollars in replacement costs for diesel fuel!
“1.8 million gallons of fuel has been fully treated with PRI-D as per its specifications, and we have re-sampled the tank and tested the fuel.
The Dupont Pad rating with PRI-D treated fuel went from a 17 to a 3, fully meeting TVA specifications.”
LILIAN BRUCE, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
This is not an isolated event. PRI has many documented cases of restored gas and diesel fuel on file.
PRI’s customers include; hospitals, police, fire departments and other emergency service providers.
Even branches of the U.S. Government depend upon Power Research Inc. products to assure long-term fuel stability and freshness when stored.
PRI is the industry leader in restoring old and stale fuels.
In fact PRI has been independently laboratory tested on 10 – 13 year old fuels and restores them to usable condition.
Here is how to restore fuels:
- If the fuel is in a container, add the appropriate amount of PRI-G for gas or PRI-D for diesel or kerosene to the container. 1/3 ounce for a 5 gallon container and one ounce per 16 gallons for a larger container
- Shake or jiggle the container if possible to aid in mixing the PRI into the fuel. If this is not possible the PRI will diffuse through the fuel in a few days time
- Wait about 4 or 5 days for a 5 gallon container, about 2 weeks for a 55 gallon drum of fuel or longer for a larger or an under ground fuel container
- Remove some fuel and test it in a small engine. It should work just fine. If not, give it a few more days and remove some more and retest
A Container Caution
Be careful using military surplus Jerry Cans to store fuel in.
Many of them are corroded inside and this hastens fuel deterioration.
The seal on some military surplus Jerry Cans deteriorates when it comes into contact with gas.
Wavian Authentic NATO Jerry Fuel Can (link to read reviews on Amazon) for gas and diesel are quality manufactured for fuel storage and come with a pour spout.
What About Storing Bio-Diesel
The first thing to understand is that bio-diesel is a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fuel.
This fuel has extremely poor storage capacity.
Bio-diesel rapidly degrades to carboxylate acid which has a much reduced ignition quality and when it burns produces a large amount of smoke.
Bio-diesel that has degraded develops carboxylate soap deposits that can rapidly plug fuel injection systems and disable diesel engines.
Products claiming to preserve bio-diesel for long-term storage do not work very well.
There are two remedies for these problems;
- Only produce as much bio-diesel as you can use in a short period of time, such as 1 or 2 weeks.
- Mix bio-diesel with regular diesel to make B – 20. (20% bio-diesel and 80% diesel).
PRI-D effectively preserves B – 20 (link to read reviews on Amazon) using the same amounts as you use for regular diesel.
Does PRI-D In Kerosene Give More Light In A Kerosene Lamp
After removing a quart of kerosene from a 5 gallon container of kerosene that was 13 years old and untreated, I added 1/3 ounce of PRI-D to the container.
Five days later I took two identical Kerosene Lamps with brand new wicks and put the 13 year old untreated kerosene in one lamp and the treated with PRI-D (and now restored) kerosene in the other lamp.
I set them both side-by-side in a dark room and lit them.
They were turned up until the lamps began to smoke and then turned down until the smoking just barely stopped.
Two things were noticeable immediately.
The lamp with the restored kerosene did not smoke as heavy as the lamp with the 13 year old kerosene and the restored kerosene lamp had a higher flame without smoking.
The PRI-D restored kerosene burned brighter and did not smoke as much when turned up high as the 13 year old kerosene did.
Storing The PRI-G And PRI-D
The shelf life of PRI-G or PRI-D, unopened, is at least 3 years.
PRI should be stored out of direct sunlight and in a cool place.
Once opened, PRI ‘s cap should be tightly replaced between uses.
PRI-G and PRI-D’s color will darken over time due to exposure to light and oxygen when being opened and used.
This darkening will not reduce the effectiveness of the PRI-G or PRI-D.
Related Questions
Will the use of PRI-G or PRI-D void the warranty on my vehicle?
PRI products will not void the warranty on your vehicle.
PRI does not alter the specifications of fuel in any harmful way.
In fact PRI treated fuel complies with all engine manufacturer’s fuel specifications.
PRI does improve engine performance and reduces engine emissions.
How do I best use PRI in the gas tank of my vehicle?
The best way to use PRI in the gas tank of your vehicle is to put PRI into the tank immediately before fueling.
The first time you use it, use enough to treat an entire tank full.
Then pump the gas.
This provides for the proper mixing of PRI with the fuel in your tank.
For continued use, add the proper amount of PRI needed for the fuel you will be pumping into the tank.
There is no need to always add enough PRI to completely treat an entire tank full unless the tank is essentially empty before pumping the gas.
Will accidental over treatment with PRI harm my vehicle?
Accidental over treatment will not harm your vehicle. PRI is a petroleum based product that does not damage your engine or fuel system.
Avoid constant over treatment with PRI.
It does no additional good and only costs you more money
Oops! I accidentally poured PRI-D into my gas tank.
Will this harm my gasoline or my vehicle?
Mixing the wrong PRI in with your vehicle’s fuel will not harm your engine or the fuel.
However, it does not benefit the fuel either.
PRI products are formulated to be fuel specific and for maximum effectiveness should be used in the proper fuel.
