Diesel fuel can only be stored from 6 to 12 months on average — sometimes longer under the best conditions. Generally, to prolong the life of the quality of stored diesel fuel, it should be: Kept cool at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit; Treated with biocides and stabilizers.
' In reality, there is no expiration date on diesel per se, but the performance of your diesel fuel is affected the longer you store it. In fact, storing diesel without properly treating it can lead to all kinds of issues, not only for the fuelitself, but for any vehicle you decide to put the fuel in later.
Yes, Gas Has a Shelf Life
It's true: gas does have a shelf life. Left dormant in your vehicle's tank, it can expire in as little as four weeks. Meanwhile, you can expect anywhere from three to six months with fuel that's been stored in jerry cans—in proper conditions.
As for diesel, it can remain usable for between six and 12 months before becoming 'gummy' which, if used, can clog up filters and cause you issues with your engine.
The storage life of petrol is one year when stored under shelter in a sealed container. Once a seal is broken the fuel has a storage life of six months at 20°C or three months at 30°C.
Fumes from petrol can be potentially dangerous in small, closed-off areas. Never store extra fuel in cars or other modes of transport. Similar to small, closed-off rooms, keeping fuel containers in your car could expose drivers and passengers to harmful fumes.
Despite being made from crude oil which has lain underground for millions of years, petrol and diesel don't keep forever and, in fact, have surprisingly short shelf lives. According to the RAC, petrol generally has a shelf life of around six months if it is stored properly.
IF it's a common on-road diesel (which will have 3-5% biodiesel content in it) and if it's reasonably well taken care of (water removed monthly, fuel is monitored for microbes), you would expect to get 18-24 months out of it before you would expect to start seeing issues. Sometimes 12-18 months.
Fuel that's darkened and full of sludge or varnish won't burn properly, it makes black smoke, and may not even start an engine at all if it is bad enough. In years past, this was a slow process, which is why you could get years of good life out of the fuel.
The damage begins with the liquids evaporating, leaving behind a thick substance that clogs the engine's moving parts. Ultimately, these parts will stick and begin to deteriorate. If given enough time, the engine will rust and fail to start.
The same applies to cleaning out a diesel jerry can which has previously use and now is needed to hold petrol. If you then want to use it for carrying petrol or find yourself having filled up the can with the wrong fuel then you need to make sure that all traces of diesel are removed.
Put jerrycans and portable fuel containers on the ground for refilling — never leave them in the car or even the back of the ute. Remove the lid or cap slowly to release vapours — point the opening away from the face and body of workers.
By recirculating the fuel in the tank through a filter it will break up and remove the sludge and water in the tank. All diesel fuel can be cleaned and made back into good useable fuel.
The longer you keep diesel around, the more likely it is to develop issues that will affect its own quality and the performance of the engines that its used in. Hence the need for additives like stability improvers to protect the fuel.
Which fuels have the longest shelf life? Propane, alcohol, wood, and charcoal are examples of good emergency storage fuels that can be stored indefinitely and still remain viable.
Diesel fuel should be stored away from direct sunlight, to reduce accelerated fuel degradation. The more heat, the less stable your fuel becomes. Don't allow your fuel inventory to drop too low.
There have been reports that dirty diesel can have such an adverse effect that it can damage injectors or actually destroy an engine, costing the owner thousands of dollars.
All diesel fuels need a storage stabilizer.
This can be a great strategy. By securing your premium diesel fuel supply, you don't need to worry about time-consuming fuel tank refills during planting and harvest. You can also stock up when demand is low to avoid the price spikes of peak season.
While you're storing dozens of gallons of highly flammable fuel, you'll want to make sure it stays cool, fresh, and depressurized. A tank of fuel left in the hot sun can be dangerous. Keep your fuel tanks stored in a garage or shed, in a well-ventilated area.
As ethanol is also a solvent it can eat through rubber, plastic and fibreglass, so hoses and seals are likely to perish more quickly because of the higher concentration of ethanol in E10.
Mix your old gas with new gas in a 1:3 ratio.
Then, gently rock your car or shake the storage tank to mix the gas together. Mixing new gas with old gas adds back in the combustive chemicals that evaporated out of the old gas. Even when you dilute old gas with new, it won't be as powerful as fresh gas on its own.
For over 30 years the Pro Quip Metal Jerry Can has been the highest quality portable fuel storage option on the Australian market. All Pro Quip Metal Jerry Cans are certified to AS2906:2001, stamped with UN approval and 20L versions meet stringent Defence Force Testing.