Long Term Storage Of Petrol?

[Zeemax_Mini]

Something I've been wondering about for a while, is how long you could store large amounts of unleaded fuel in optimum conditions? When I win the EuroMillions on Tuesday I don't want to be at the mercy of the pumps, so wouldn't mind investing say £1million in my own fuel storage with say a million litres of super unleaded...but how long could they be stored in the perfect tanks?

Dom

[poing]

I'm sure I read somewhere a few years ago that petrol has a fairly short shelf life, less than 90 days before it starts to deteriorate. Although I don't know what storage conditions that was, I think they were talking about petrol station tanks. It was a test of petrol types and the conclusion for best performance from your petrol was to use a busy station.

Diesel has a much longer life before any deterioration starts from what I understand.

[Monty Python]

If it's in a sealed container under an inert atmosphere, it should last at least a couple of years. You could probably extend it further by adding extra antioxidants.

[williamp]

Its also illegal to store more then a certain amount. This was introduced after the 70s oil crisis, to prevent hoarding.

[Rotary Madness]

Why not just store crude? Im pretty sure that doesnt go off, then have a mini refinery to make it when you need it?

[MikeyBe]

Or just buy your own filling station, then run it at cost...

All your customers will make sure your stash is always fresh.

[McSam]

MikeyBe said:

Or just buy your own filling station, then run it at cost...

All your customers will make sure your stash is always fresh.

This would be much better. As I understand, petrol does deteriorate and needs a decent turnover in big tanks to stop it turning to st.

Plus you're not allowed to store large amounts for private use. Just have a tank at your station that's as big as you want your stash to be, and sell it cheap, sorted

[Rovinghawk]

williamp said:

Its also illegal to store more then a certain amount.

Three gallons outside of the vehicle's tank. A jerrycan is illegal. In work situations you can store as much as you like provided it's done safely.

williamp said:

This was introduced after the 70s oil crisis, to prevent hoarding.

It was introduced in the 1920s to prevent big petrol fires.

RH

[RemainAllHoof]

Rotary Madness said:

Why not just store crude? Im pretty sure that doesnt go off, then have a mini refinery to make it when you need it?

I've done one better. My mini-refinery in SW London has a long pipe that goes under the Channel, Europe and the Mediterranean and taps into Libya's oil field. I draw it out half a tank at a time whenever I need to pop to the shops.

[Zwoelf]

As well as deteriorating, doesn't petrol also evaporate?

[fwaggie]

Rovinghawk said:

williamp said:

Its also illegal to store more then a certain amount.

Three gallons outside of the vehicle's tank. A jerrycan is illegal. In work situations you can store as much as you like provided it's done safely.

williamp said:

This was introduced after the 70s oil crisis, to prevent hoarding.

It was introduced in the 1920s to prevent big petrol fires.

RH

Now that's one I didn't know. All Jerrycans or just the ones bigger than 3 gallons?

I still see them for sale.

[McSam]

Zwoelf said:

As well as deteriorating, doesn't petrol also evaporate?

In a sealed tank, it ain't gonna evaporate very far

Jerrycans, as I understand, are meant to be used only for diesel.

Edited by McSam on Sunday 12th June 22:16

[russy01]

Incase it helps Ive had some 105 octane racing fuel in the cupboard for 2-3years. Just wacked it in the mower and it's fine!!

On another note, good heads up on how much fuel you can store, didn't know there was a limit. Back when learning to drive amidst the 100p fuel strikes my driving instructor had a garage full of jerry cans, you could smell the fuel in his house.