I have a remote vacation shack, we will be living there next spring. how can i safely store 75-125 gal of gasoline at the shack?? I want enough, to bug out to another location, if needed, In an underground tank ?? I wont be getting an epa permit obviously.

-- georgia ranger (garanger@bellsouth.net), July 29, 1998

Answers

This has worked for me.

Purchase a 55 gal. drum and a product called Stabil. Most automotive stores carry Stabil. You will want to use the highest octane gas you can find. You will need to store the product in a cool place if possible and away from your home. You will want to fill the drum with the Stable and then the gas on a hot day. This should give you close to the maximum expansion.

CAUTION: THE 55 GAL. DRUM IS NOT VENTED AND THIS CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS IF IT CANNOT BE STORED IN A COOL PLACE.

With Stabil, gas will store for a year. I have first hand experience with this in 5 gallon cans. You will most likely lose an octane rating over the year.

If you have a good location, dig a root cellar into a hillside, this should provide you with a cool location.

A 55 gal. drum filled with anything is very heavy, plan around this.

CAUTION: STORAGE OF GAS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT. I MAKE NO CLAIMS OF EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA. THIS HAS WORKED FOR ME.

J

-- j (yada@yada.com), July 30, 1998.

Oh, by the way, the very best way to store gas is purchase a commercial gas storage tank. They can be had in above, below ground models. They are expensive. I would still use Stabil to help the gas survive.

Have fun and be careful.

j

-- j (yada@yada.com), July 30, 1998.

Buy a few "junker" cars & store the gas in them. Put 'em up on blocks if you're worried about them... uh, rolling away. I'd guess the only thing safer would be an approved tank.

Ditto the comments on Stabil. STP also makes a stabilizer that works OK.

-- Larry Kollar (lekollar@nyx.net), July 30, 1998.

Larry,

Actually, that's a good idea around here (West Virginia) .........blends right in with the scenery. Can't tell the gas storage from a lawn ornament.

-- Rocky Knolls (rknolls@hotmail.com), July 31, 1998.