In days past, some car owners would buy extra gasoline with the idea of future use, especially in rural settings, and keep it in the garage as a precaution during tough times. Today, a similar practice persists in some circles, not because of bread shortages but to guard against sudden price spikes. The question often arises: is this prudent, or does it risk waste?
Modern petrol behaves differently from older blends that contained tetraethyl lead. It tends to lose its optimal properties faster, which has prompted drivers to rethink the idea of long-term storage.
Expert Commentary
Mikhail Kolodochkin, columnist for “Behind the Wheel,” offers perspective:
Fifty years ago, the documented shelf life of gasoline varied by region: about 24 months for northern zones, roughly 18 months for the average climate, and as little as six months for southern areas.
Today’s standards specify a shelf life of one year from manufacture. The octane rating does not extend the period during which fuel remains usable.
As a result, stockpiling gasoline in anticipation of price increases holds little merit from a storage standpoint. Manufacturers guarantee that gasoline can be stored for up to 12 months without any loss of quality or performance, though it is not advised to keep fuel in a vehicle tank for more than six months.
Further reading
The specialist notes that more detailed explanations can be found in the material titled “5 common misconceptions about gasoline (there are dangerous!)”
A visual reference: Depositphotos