Is a fuel shutoff enough for short term storage?

[Ozcubowner]

What about getting a large bottle of fuel stabilizer
Oz

[docmirror]

Originally Posted by EternalArianne

One thing I don't understand is how my neighbor can just leave gas in all his stuff for months on-end and never have any issues they fire right up. Even his string trimmers. And I know for a fact he doesn't use ethanol-free gas or fuel stabilizers...

Here's a potential answer, but may not be accurate, I'll give it a try.

Ethanol will suck water vapor right from the air, and emulsify it easily over time. It's possible your neighbor keeps his fuel in a dryer local 'climate' than you, and possibly he keeps it better sealed against humid air.

When I keep Ethanol fuel in a gas can(rarely) I keep it in a well sealed 2Gal metal container. I also keep it fairly full, with a sealed top, and in a location where it isn't subject to a lot of direct heat or sunlight.

All access between the surface of a liquid like Ethanol and the absolute humidity(not standard humidity) around it will have a significant effect on how much water vapor is drawn by the Ethanol. Rel humidity is the saturation level, and the conditions for emulsion are greatest in the highest relative humidity, but the absolute humidity determines the amount of water vapor that can be absorbed.

Short answer - keep your Ethanol fuel sealed up in a dark place in a metal can for best results.

[CubDieselFan]

Originally Posted by Ozcubowner

What about getting a large bottle of fuel stabilizer
Oz

Snake oil.

[EternalArianne]

Originally Posted by docmirror

Here's a potential answer, but may not be accurate, I'll give it a try.

Ethanol will suck water vapor right from the air, and emulsify it easily over time. It's possible your neighbor keeps his fuel in a dryer local 'climate' than you, and possibly he keeps it better sealed against humid air.

When I keep Ethanol fuel in a gas can(rarely) I keep it in a well sealed 2Gal metal container. I also keep it fairly full, with a sealed top, and in a location where it isn't subject to a lot of direct heat or sunlight.

All access between the surface of a liquid like Ethanol and the absolute humidity(not standard humidity) around it will have a significant effect on how much water vapor is drawn by the Ethanol. Rel humidity is the saturation level, and the conditions for emulsion are greatest in the highest relative humidity, but the absolute humidity determines the amount of water vapor that can be absorbed.

Short answer - keep your Ethanol fuel sealed up in a dark place in a metal can for best results.

We actually store our equipment almost the same way - small stuff in a shed and the lawn tractors outside with a cover. Gas is kept in those red plastic containers (although mine is one of the old skool containers and his is newer).

He also mixes his own 2-cycle fuel and never has any issues, buying the cheapest oil be can get. I always buy the canned stuff for 2-cycle but I still drain it after use cuz I'm paranoid about cumming up the carb.

[R Bedell]

cuz I'm paranoid about cumming up the carb.

Then stop buying gas containing ethanol.

[docmirror]

Originally Posted by EternalArianne

We actually store our equipment almost the same way - small stuff in a shed and the lawn tractors outside with a cover. Gas is kept in those red plastic containers (although mine is one of the old skool containers and his is newer).

He also mixes his own 2-cycle fuel and never has any issues, buying the cheapest oil be can get. I always buy the canned stuff for 2-cycle but I still drain it after use cuz I'm paranoid about cumming up the carb.

Then only thing left is - you are cursed.
j/k

[EternalArianne]

I've never actually had one of my carbs getting gummed up, I've just seen so many that were that I don't want it to happen to mine. Hence the initial question about fuel shutoffs.

I guess if I install shutoffs and run them dry I shouldn't have any issues. And if the fuel sits too long in the tank, I'll drain it and put it my car.

[Frank1541]

I started using Stable in all the gas that goes into 4 cycle engines a few years ago. I have no problem starting anything now, even after 8 months of storage. All the gas has ethanol. I do keep it in those Jerry can gas containers that have a good seal.
For 2 cycle engines I use the premixed stuff. Same thing, everything starts without a problem. YMMV