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Fuel & Energy Sources

3 min read

Gasoline needs stabiliser if it is stored beyond 3 months, diesel lasts 6-12 months without stabiliser, propane in sealed tanks is stable indefinitely, and lithium batteries last longest of the common chemistries. Fuel gives mobility, power and heat that no other salvage item matches, but it is heavy and volatile and it degrades. Take only what you can store safely and use.

Part of Tier 4: Strategic Reserves

Fuels keep for very different times, from propane that lasts in a sealed tank to gasoline that needs stabiliser; getting fuel out of tanks is in Fuel Siphoning & Storage.

Different Fuels Keep For Different Times

How long a fuel keeps decides whether to take it now. Propane in a sealed tank is the most stable; diesel keeps longer than gasoline; gasoline is the most perishable of the three.

What To Take

  • Gasoline. Siphon from vehicles. Add stabiliser such as Sta-Bil if you will store it beyond 3 months.
  • Diesel. Lasts 6-12 months without stabiliser, longer than gasoline. Farm equipment, trucks and generators hold it.
  • Propane tanks. Stable indefinitely in sealed tanks. Barbecue grills, recreational vehicles and commercial kitchens.
  • Batteries. AA, AAA, D-cell, 9V and car batteries. Sort by chemistry: lithium lasts longest.
  • Solar panels. Residential rooftops, recreational vehicles and garden lights. Even small panels charge batteries.
  • Firewood and charcoal. Charcoal bags from stores, lumber scraps and firewood piles. Charcoal made for cooking is a fuel; do not confuse it with the activated charcoal used for treating poisoning.

Where To Look

Vehicles, farms, generators and fuel stations for liquid fuel; barbecue and camping stores for propane; electronics stores for batteries; rooftops for panels.

Method: Deciding What To Take

Step 1: Match fuel to what you own. A generator that runs on gasoline needs gasoline, and a diesel tractor needs diesel. A fuel with nothing to burn it in is dead weight.

Step 2: Check the container. Use containers designed for fuel. A sealed metal or approved plastic can is better than a bucket.

Step 3: Label and date. Fuel that cannot be identified, or whose age is unknown, is a risk to the engine and to you.

Step 4: Keep the oldest stock for first use. Date and rotate, since the fuel degrades with time.

Common Mistakes

  • Siphoning by mouth. This is a way to swallow gasoline and to inhale vapour. Use a pump or method in Fuel Siphoning & Storage.
  • Storing fuel indoors. Vapour can collect and ignite.
  • Assuming all batteries are alike. Chemistry decides life.

Safety

Fuel vapour burns and can explode

Gasoline and its vapour ignite from a spark, a pilot light or a static discharge. Work outdoors, away from ignition sources, and never test a container with a flame. Propane tanks must be kept upright and away from heat. Damaged lithium batteries can overheat.

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