{"id":983,"date":"2022-01-08T18:33:26","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T18:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/?p=983"},"modified":"2022-01-08T18:33:27","modified_gmt":"2022-01-08T18:33:27","slug":"how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/fluids\/how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Gas Expire: How Long Does Gasoline Last in a Car Tank?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Do you have a second vehicle that doesn\u2019t get used as often as your main car? Or maybe you filled up your riding lawnmower just in time to store it away for the winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/fluids\/how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank\/#Will_Gas_Go_Bad_While_in_the_Car_Tank\" title=\"Will Gas Go Bad While in the Car Tank?\">Will Gas Go Bad While in the Car Tank?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/fluids\/how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank\/#How_Long_Until_Gasoline_Goes_Bad\" title=\"How Long Until Gasoline Goes Bad?\">How Long Until Gasoline Goes Bad?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/fluids\/how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank\/#Factors_that_Determine_the_Shelf_Life_of_Gas_in_the_Tank\" title=\"Factors that Determine the Shelf Life of Gas in the Tank\">Factors that Determine the Shelf Life of Gas in the Tank<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/fluids\/how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank\/#How_Do_You_Prevent_Gas_from_Going_Bad_in_a_Tank\" title=\"How Do You Prevent Gas from Going Bad in a Tank?\">How Do You Prevent Gas from Going Bad in a Tank?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/fluids\/how-long-does-gasoline-last-in-a-car-tank\/#Can_Old_Gas_Ruin_an_Engine\" title=\"Can Old Gas Ruin an Engine?\">Can Old Gas Ruin an Engine?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_Gas_Go_Bad_While_in_the_Car_Tank\"><\/span><a><\/a>Will Gas Go Bad While in the Car Tank?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gasoline does have a limited shelf life. Many factors determine how long gas lasts before it goes bad. It deteriorates over time and can harm your engine. Below is a list of these negative factors and some tips on prolonging the shelf life of your gas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you suspect your car has old gas, the engine will sputter when idling. Your car may also be hard to start. These are a few signs that the gas may be old, but when in doubt, just smell the gas to see if it soured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car has been sitting for more than a couple of months, it\u2019s best to put in fresh gas before attempting to start it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Long_Until_Gasoline_Goes_Bad\"><\/span><a><\/a>How Long Until Gasoline Goes Bad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Depending on the type of gas in your car, generally speaking, it can last from 3 to 12 months. Diesel fuel lasts longer than conventional fuel. So while regular gasoline can start going bad after a few months, diesel can sit for up to 12 months without any deterioration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The amount of ethanol in gas affects how long it lasts as well. The higher the ethanol levels, the faster it will expire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factors_that_Determine_the_Shelf_Life_of_Gas_in_the_Tank\"><\/span><a><\/a>Factors that Determine the Shelf Life of Gas in the Tank<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many different factors affect how quickly the gas breaks down, oxidizes, and causes deterioration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on for more details on what determines the shelf life of gas in a tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Temperature Outside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gas is made out of a mixture of chemicals that help your car start. Some of the chemicals are more volatile. When chemicals are more volatile, they burn more efficiently in the engine. But the volatility also means they evaporate quickly to aid in the efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New gas burns optimally because the composition of the gas hasn\u2019t evaporated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that the hotter the temperature outside, the faster these chemical compounds evaporate and degrade the quality of the gas over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Oxidation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, oxidation occurs, even if the gas is secured in the fuel tank. Oxidation of the gas will do more damage to your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gasoline has a component called hydrocarbons. When these components get exposed to oxygen over time, it changes the chemical composition of the gas. When these changes happen, gunk starts to form and build up in the fuel system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These gunky deposits cause a lot of damage if they clog up your fuel lines or get trapped in your carburetor. If gas has been sitting in your car for a long time, this oxidation can prevent your car from starting at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Exposure to Water Contamination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few different ways water can find its way into your gas tank. Gasoline itself is hygroscopic. This means that it naturally absorbs moisture from the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bellperformance.com\/blog\/water-in-gas-tank-symptoms%5C\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Condensation <\/a>is another way water accumulates and mixes with gas. Condensation can happen in the larger tanks at the gas station as well as in your car\u2019s fuel tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cars can handle a small amount of water mixed in the gas without it causing many issues, but more water accumulation can lead to serious engine problems. It can cause corrosion and wear and tear on the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-2-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-2-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-2-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-2-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-2-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Does-Gas-Expire-2.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Prevent_Gas_from_Going_Bad_in_a_Tank\"><\/span><a><\/a>How Do You Prevent Gas from Going Bad in a Tank?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There may be risks to fuel going bad, but there are steps you can take to help prevent this from happening and prolong the shelf life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Only Buy the Amount You Expect to Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have to use your car every day, don\u2019t fill up your gas tank every time you go to fuel up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially true if you have two cars and only use one of them once every couple of months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2) Close the Gas Cap Properly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This may seem like a no-brainer, but having a cap that isn&#8217;t tight and secure will cause your gas to go bad faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the cap is loose, the gas will evaporate faster and cause it to degrade more rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you put new gas in your tank, make sure to turn the gas cap until you hear a click. If you don\u2019t hear a click, it\u2019s not tight enough. If it doesn\u2019t click at all, make sure you have the right size gas cap and replace it with the proper one if it\u2019s too big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3) Use a Busy Gas Station<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to prolong the life of your car\u2019s gas is to fuel up at a busier gas station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Busy gas stations replenish their supply more frequently. If you buy gas at a gas station doesn\u2019t that doesn\u2019t fill up their supply as often. The gas you\u2019re putting in your car could already be about a month old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Busier gas stations will supply you with newer gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4) Use a Fuel Stabilizer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding a fuel stabilizer to old gas won\u2019t restore it, but it can prevent any more deterioration from happening. A fuel stabilizer will prolong the life of the gas, so if you\u2019re planning on putting away a car for a few months, we highly recommend using a fuel stabilizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to use a fuel stabilizer is to fill your car up with new gas, then add the stabilizer and drive your car for at least 15 minutes to make sure it mixes in with the gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_Old_Gas_Ruin_an_Engine\"><\/span><a><\/a>Can Old Gas Ruin an Engine?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For gas to be so bad that it ruins an engine, it would have to be sitting for a very long time under the harshest conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Old gas can cause problems with the engine firing or sputtering, but these can get remedied before it gets so bad that the engine gets ruined altogether.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you have a second vehicle that doesn\u2019t get used as often as your main car? Or maybe you filled up your riding lawnmower just&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fluids","wpcat-22-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=983"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1004,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983\/revisions\/1004"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}