Can gas really get old?

Question

And if so how long does it take for gas to get old and what exactly happens to it?

Answer 1

Absolutely it starts to degrade after about 3 months and after 6 months you take a risk but after 1 year there is a very good chance that you will have problems with it one thing it absorbs some moister and develops varnish this can s***w up a carburetor real fast the more complex the carb the easier it can do harm I E larger boat carbs or old model cars also the old fuel loses octane as it ages  

Answer 2

Yes. If you are talking about gasoline the answer is yes, it can change as it ages.

The problem isn’t that it’s old but that some parts of it have evaporated away.

Gasoline is made up of chains of hydrocarbons. Some contain eight hydrocarbons and are called “octane.” Eight is about the average length of a gasoline hydrocarbon chain but some are 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 carbon atoms long. Together they give the approximate results of octane.

In an open container, the lighter chains evaporate and the lighter they are the more quickly they evaporate. After a while the “average” length of the remaining hydrocarbons is around 9 or 10 carbons and the mixture will act differently (and not as well in a car). The rate of evaporation can vary. With a large surface area exposed to the air, it could become useless in a week. In a normal approved plastic container it will be good for a couple of years. (When winter comes I empty my remaining stored gasoline into my car tank.)

In a closed container sitting in a hot place, the fumes expand and may rupture the container. Some containers have a spring lid that keeps evaporation down and also allows expanded fumes to escape. In a closed container such as your auto gas tank, your gasoline will last just fine for a long time.

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Answer 3

It does degrade after a couple of months or so, see the reference.  A fuel stabilizer can be added to extend its useful life to a year or two.

Answer 4

Yes. I'm not certain of the exact shelf life but I believe it may be a year or less. It can turn gummy when old & really do a job on a carburetor.