Lifespan of stored fuels

[tarmactatt]

Couldn't find a thread on this, so thought best to make a new thread.

Having had a good shed tidy last weekend, I've been thinking about the lifespan of some of the fuel I have stored.

[*]5L of Petrol Mostly for the mower (I don't routinely keep spare fuel for the car, but I should, I guess I should get back into the habit of storing c.10L and set a reminder system up to rotate it regularly...)
[*]Butane cans for refilling lighters and chef blowtorch thing
[*]Methylated spirits in plastic and a metal can
[*]Paraffin in plastic 5L bottles
[*]Camping gas cylinders

The camping gas cylinders had the feigntest hint of rust on the bottom rim, so I gave them a wipe over with some 3 in 1 oil, did the same to the butane cans and metal meths tin as a preventative measure.

With the exception of the petrol, which I know to be "doesn't store well, try to use it regularly", what is the conventional wisdom for the "shelf life" of the other fuels?

Given the Paraffin is now approaching 3 years old, and I only really use it in a Tilley lamp for fun, I'm contemplating getting rid and selling the Tilley lamp to reduce the different types of fuel I "stock".

So my questions:
1) What is conventional wisdom on lifespan of the listed stored fuels,
2) what do others do for fuel storage that they feel works well for them?

[Yorkshire Andy]

Cartridges last forever if the can doesn't rust through. The little o ring in the stove / lamp would be my concern going hard with age



Paraffin seems to be indefinite in a sealed container

https://fireflyfuel.com/what-is-the-she ... njcMUMeBSn


Not so clear cut for meths guessing the cheap bottle is the reason

https://gbr.sika.com/en/distribution/fi ... irits.html

Says 24 months

Yet others say indefinitely suppose a decent fuel bottle helps

[tarmactatt]

Thanks Andy! This was pretty much the conclusion I had come to but wanted a sanity check.

Now that end of summer is rapidly approaching, I was pondering backup heating solutions given I feel I'm currently lacking in this department, in my research I found Zibro paraffin heaters and noticed with interest they reccomend fresh fuel each year..

I do have a multi-fuel camping stove that could run the paraffin, but 1) it's a bugger to light on the stuff and 2) it is far more dirty than when running on gas, so while I'd risk using the stove indoors on gas (in the kitchen, set up on the glass hob, all windows open, CO alarm, fire blanket etc), there's no way I'd want to do try it running on paraffin .

I did have a nose on Google before posting and got meths shelf life of 2 years to indefinite, but given these are international search results, I'm not fully certain that all methylated spirits is created equally.

I do use the meths for camping but at the rate I go through it, my stock of 7 litres is likely to last a good number of years. Will probably replace with bioethanol fuel, assuming similar indefinite shelf life due to methanol toxicity concerns.

[Frnc]

Sealed butane-propane mix backpacking style gas cylinders last indefinitely. Don't store in damp freezing conditions, or in the sun. Inspect for damage. 10-20 years or even longer should be perfectly fine. Don't use if there is an issue like the gas won't turn off properly. Burn it all off and dispose.
I assume the bistro cylinders are similar.

Cans of 'white gas' liquid fuel last years if unopened, but once they are opened, some react with oxygen and spoil, clogging stoves. I think 5-7 years unopened.

Meths should last 20 years. Trangia make good containters. Or you can just keep it in the container it comes in.

I've not looked into the large refillable type cylinders. Maybe 10 years? I think I read that you're supposed to test them.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

The newer type of petrol - e10 - with a higher percentage of ethanol can go off quickly. I use fuel stabiliser in a jerry can, then decant off what i need into a smaller 5 ltr can%

[Peter]

Believe it or not even the petrol companies say it starts to degrade at 2 months.

Stabiliser delays it to 2 to 3 years, fuel injection vehicles fare better than carburettor ones.

[jennyjj01]

Believe it or not even the petrol companies say it starts to degrade at 2 months.

Stabiliser delays it to 2 to 3 years, fuel injection vehicles fare better than carburettor ones.

Petrol mostly goes bad because it soaks of air in the container. A FULL jerry can might be good for a couple of years or more without stabiliser.

[Peter]

Believe it or not even the petrol companies say it starts to degrade at 2 months.

Stabiliser delays it to 2 to 3 years, fuel injection vehicles fare better than carburettor ones.

Petrol mostly goes bad because it soaks of air in the container. A FULL jerry can might be good for a couple of years or more without stabiliser.

If the petrol companies say it starts to degrade at two months it’s not worth the risk. Do your own research.

But yes it will keep better in a full container, put some polythene over the filler under the cap.

For longer storage buy the best E5 you can get like Esso synergy supreme.

[Nurseandy]

For what it's worth I store e10 in 5l plastic cans, rotate through it for chainsaw/strimmer/topping up mbike. Also fill bike tank before putting it away for the winter and I've never had any issues with it having gone off by the time spring comes around. I'm happy with thinking you'd get an easy 6 months storage before probs.

[jennyjj01]

Believe it or not even the petrol companies say it starts to degrade at 2 months.

Stabiliser delays it to 2 to 3 years, fuel injection vehicles fare better than carburettor ones.
If the petrol companies say it starts to degrade at two months it’s not worth the risk. Do your own

Fair point.
However, I look at it differently. If I store 250L* and use 50L a month and rotate it, then none of my stored petrol will be much more than 5 months old. Store less, worry about expiry less.

Mind you rotating it is a heavy chore.

* I don't yet store that much.