Keeping Fuel Fresh

Preserving gasoline and diesel fuel will help in a time of crisis.

January/February 2009
Steve Maxwell 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

MAIN STORY
Choosing the Right Generator 

RELATED CONTENT

Gasoline and diesel fuel are both perishable commodities. They simply don’t burn as well after several months of storage. So take precautions to be sure your generator will start and run reliably when an unexpected power outage occurs. Keep two things in mind: fuel preservation and fuel rotation.

Start by spending a few bucks on a gas or diesel fuel preservative. If you always add a measured amount of this liquid to stored fuel cans, your generator will fire up much more easily, even a year or two down the road. After adding a new batch of gas, run the engine long enough to draw the preserved gas into the carburetor.

Even if you add a preservative, get in the habit of rotating your fuel supply. I keep six 5-gallon cans full of stored gas at all times, though I make a point to use each can in my truck, tractor or lawn mower before the fuel is 6 months old. This way I always have relatively fresh gas on hand for the generator.
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Grit readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to GRIT?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Pay Now & Save 50% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Live The Good Life with Grit!

For more than 125 years, Grit has helped its readers live more prosperously and happily while emphasizing the importance of community and a rural lifestyle tradition. In each bimonthly issue, Grit includes helpful articles, humorous and inspiring articles, captivating photos, gardening and cooking advice, do-it-yourself projects and the practical reader advice you would expect to find in America’s premier rural lifestyle magazine.

Get your guide to living outside the city limits delivered straight to your mailbox. Subscribe to Grit today!  Simply fill in your information below to receive 1 year (6 issues) of Grit for only $19.95!

SPECIAL BONUS OFFER!

At Grit, we have a tradition of respecting the land that sustains rural America. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing to Grit through our automatic renewal savings plan. By paying now with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of Grit for only $14.95 (USA only).

Or, Bill Me Later and send me one year of Grit for just $19.95!