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GasBuddy News Article


Can You Stockpile Gasoline?
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Slate -- Gas prices dropped to an average $3.871 a gallon on Tuesday after a two-week stretch of declining prices. Is it possible to stockpile cheap gas before the prices go up again?

Yes, but you have to be very, very careful. If you don't do it right, your stash of gasoline might spoil or blow up. For safety reasons, the EPA discourages consumers from storing more than 1 to 5 gallons, and the National Fire Protection Association proposes a limit of 25 gallons. Local fire codes determine whether your stockpile is legal: In New York City, for example, you can't keep more than 2.5 gallons.


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JT
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Message Posted: 8/7/2008 9:54:30 AM  Ignore JT Report Abuse
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Slate -- Gas prices dropped to an average $3.871 a gallon on Tuesday after a two-week stretch of declining prices. Is it possible to stockpile cheap gas before the prices go up again?

Yes, but you have to be very, very careful. If you don't do it right, your stash of gasoline might spoil or blow up. For safety reasons, the EPA discourages consumers from storing more than 1 to 5 gallons, and the National Fire Protection Association proposes a limit of 25 gallons. Local fire codes determine whether your stockpile is legal: In New York City, for example, you can't keep more than 2.5 gallons.

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REPLIES (newest first)
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/24/2008 12:04:30 PM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
don't mow her
STEVE853
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Florida

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Message Posted: 8/24/2008 10:06:36 AM  Ignore STEVE853 Report Abuse
You need to have gas for the mower.
defiancegasman
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/24/2008 7:47:58 AM  Ignore defiancegasman Report Abuse
I have heard that gas mixed with oil for 2 cycle engins will last a long time. But I still add stable to mine for the boat motor and snowblower. I have used it more than 2 years after mixing it with out any problems, yet.
tizbowwow
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Illinois

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Message Posted: 8/24/2008 7:24:38 AM  Ignore tizbowwow Report Abuse
sounds scary to me
gas101CA
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Orange County

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Message Posted: 8/23/2008 4:53:49 PM  Ignore gas101CA Report Abuse
some time i will do it my friend does that
jim92065
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San Diego

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Message Posted: 8/20/2008 9:57:48 PM  Ignore jim92065 Report Abuse
I hate to say it, but I do, too.
magnumCA
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 8/20/2008 8:06:05 PM  Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
POLELANE I always enjoy your comments.........................
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/20/2008 3:00:17 PM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
microwave it if it gets stiff
childoftibet
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Cleveland

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Message Posted: 8/19/2008 10:03:39 AM  Ignore childoftibet Report Abuse
jim92065

Thanks for the explanation, I understand a little better. Based on what you say, I don't believe we should stockpile .. sounds a little dangerous.
dmatte85
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Louisiana

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Message Posted: 8/18/2008 11:45:14 PM  Ignore dmatte85 Report Abuse
good idea. with the price of gas falling for now this will cause more people to stockpile and the prices will go right back up because demand will be higher.
MikeyGriz
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Louisiana

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Message Posted: 8/18/2008 1:07:19 PM  Ignore MikeyGriz Report Abuse
Buy your own gas station and store it in the underground tanks!
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/18/2008 11:08:11 AM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
A. D. DO
magnumCA
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 8/15/2008 8:13:17 PM  Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
yes
jim92065
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San Diego

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Message Posted: 8/15/2008 1:10:15 PM  Ignore jim92065 Report Abuse
childoftibet,

Gasoline is made of several different compounds. Some are more volatile than others, meaning they evaporate faster. The more volatile compounds are also the ones that make gas vaporize and combust better. As gas ages, the more volatile compounds, obviously, evaporate faster than others and change the chemical composition of the gas -- eventually rendering it useless.

Another chemical problem is oxidation. Oxygen, from the atmosphere, can also change the physical properties of the gas, forming new compounds. This, and evaporation, turn gasoline into varnish.

You may say, "Well I have an airtight container, so my gas shouldn't evaporate or oxidize." If you have a truly airtight container (which you won't get at your local auto parts store), then it will help stored gas last longer. Be aware that the volatile compounds have much smaller molecules that "air," per se. They can still leak from an "air-tight" container. There should also be a way to vent overpressure.

There are other factors to consider, such as moisture accumulation in the gas, but the main reason you can't store it is the change in chemical composition.

There are ways to make stored gas last longer, such as adding fuel stabilizers, using specialized containers, etc. Unless gas skyrockets very high in the near future, though, these would cost much more than the savings in stored gas.
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/15/2008 11:13:08 AM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
yep, do dat
childoftibet
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Cleveland

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Message Posted: 8/15/2008 9:46:52 AM  Ignore childoftibet Report Abuse
don1222

I didn't know gas could go bad. At the risk of appearing ignorant, how is that possible?

This female isn't very knowledgeable about gas and oil and fluids that go in my car. My mechanic takes care of all those things every 3,000 miles and my husband takes care of them in between. Maybe I should read up on this stuff.

But, to my credit I can change a tire. LOL
jim92065
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San Diego

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Message Posted: 8/14/2008 3:40:42 PM  Ignore jim92065 Report Abuse
POLELANE,

En Ingles, por favor.
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/14/2008 11:41:52 AM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
wrong mini magdumb; store it in lotsa dem, beverly hillbilly cars lying around the city of anhells
magnumCA
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 8/11/2008 7:10:51 PM  Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
The long and short of it is NO
Don1222
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Michigan

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Message Posted: 8/11/2008 5:47:59 PM  Ignore Don1222 Report Abuse
The problem with buying large quantities of gasoline it it goes bad. Not like the cheap stuff at 5/$1.
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/11/2008 2:12:10 PM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
not so; big dollar risk; buya buncha 70 road warriors cheap; store 30 gallons in each tank
jim92065
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San Diego

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Message Posted: 8/11/2008 1:43:47 PM  Ignore jim92065 Report Abuse
Buy oil on the commodities market. It's safer than stockpiling actual gasoline or oil.
magnumCA
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 8/9/2008 10:55:04 AM  Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
seems unsafe
Bill313
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Kansas City

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 11:43:48 PM  Ignore Bill313 Report Abuse
I would think that it could be done with enough room and the proper equipment
gasboygary
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Kansas

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 5:39:57 PM  Ignore gasboygary Report Abuse
I love these people who say gas goes "BAD". What the heck does that mean? I keep 40-50 gallons around all the time. Just dumped 6 gallons in my boat the other day that I bought over 6 months ago. Boat ran GREAT. Gas going bad is a myth. I have NEVER had that happen. I will buy your "Bad" week-old gas from you for 50 cents a gallon to take it off your hands! LOL!

Do I save alot of money doing this? Probably not. But it makes me feel better knowing I can my more when it's cheaper and a little less when it's higher.


[Edited by: gasboygary at 8/8/2008 6:42:46 PM EST]
MetroSexual
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New Hampshire

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 2:28:31 PM  Ignore MetroSexual Report Abuse
For RoboRobby: If you really have a stockpile of water from 1999, dump it -- water your plants with it, rinse your car with it. Water goes stale after a couple of years. And be sure to wash the container with a diluted rinse of bleach before refilling. You would be shocked at what can grow and is growing in some of the water around the country. Yes, even tap water.
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 11:37:59 AM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
must do it right must do it right must do it right
GasholeMI
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Lansing

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 10:59:52 AM  Ignore GasholeMI Report Abuse
I can not believe gas will go bad after a week or so. I know several people who fill up and then drive so seldom that they will not fill up again for several months. Besides, I use mower gas every spring after the mower has been put away for the winter.
FawltyPawl
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North Carolina

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 10:03:16 AM  Ignore FawltyPawl Report Abuse
any idea how many gallons of gas are stored in a city of say 50,000 people?
SomeChick23
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Edmonton

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 10:01:41 AM  Ignore SomeChick23 Report Abuse
please not in the city...
FawltyPawl
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North Carolina

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:52:48 AM  Ignore FawltyPawl Report Abuse
Exxon does.
alpenami123
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Michigan

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:47:54 AM  Ignore alpenami123 Report Abuse
your stash of gasoline might spoil or blow up
imnotadufus
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Virginia

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:46:01 AM  Ignore imnotadufus Report Abuse
"..your stash of gasoline might spoil or blow up."
-Really? LOL- Oh boy.
Mooseman1
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Manitoba

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:45:50 AM  Ignore Mooseman1 Report Abuse
Good advice.

BoerneWatch
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San Antonio

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:44:26 AM  Ignore BoerneWatch Report Abuse
Funny, but we did it in the 70's.

We had a 500 gallon tank and gas cost us just under 40¢ a gallon by buying it that way at that time.

The tax alone today is 40¢.
mahenv7
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Toronto

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:41:00 AM  Ignore mahenv7 Report Abuse
we, as a consumer lose anyway.. The money is sitting there and losses its value
TheSultan
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Rochester

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:40:53 AM  Ignore TheSultan Report Abuse
I'm sure this would only be worth it for someone with a large fleet--not an average consumer grade vehicle.
Rageagainsttm
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Tampa

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:39:32 AM  Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse
storing 1 to 5 gallons of gas is not a stockpile. It's called a gas can.
Drill_It
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Michigan

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:35:34 AM  Ignore Drill_It Report Abuse
More Speculation.
mvosevich
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St. Louis

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:33:39 AM  Ignore mvosevich Report Abuse
It's all speculation. How do you know when gas is going to go up or down. Gas does go bad after time. If you sit on it to long waiting for the price to go up you may end up losing. You would be better off in the stock market. If your house doesn't burn-up first.
ramboTX
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Dallas

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:31:38 AM  Ignore ramboTX Report Abuse
Gasoline is very volital. If it is in an open container, it dispense into the air. It is heavier than air and will travel which ever way the wind or breeze blows it and stay low to the ground. If it is a very light breeze and the vapor remainstogether, it can explode with the slightest spark. Diesel has a much higher flash point. Gasoline is very, very dangerous. It is like a bomb.
Lengas
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Gary

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:28:12 AM  Ignore Lengas Report Abuse
Risky
OKRifle
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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:27:40 AM  Ignore OKRifle Report Abuse
Not a wise idea!
rogerparry
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Florida

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:27:16 AM  Ignore rogerparry Report Abuse
Stockpiling isn't a good idea.
Barry
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Twin Cities

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:27:01 AM  Ignore Barry Report Abuse
The portable gas can I bought from the store is 6-gallon size. If they allow the store to sell 6-gallon gas can, I should be allowed to store 6 gallons of gas. Am I right?
RoboRobby
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Dayton

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:26:27 AM  Ignore RoboRobby Report Abuse
people have been stockpiling since the y2k scare. Hmmm maybe I will after I finally get through all those gallons of water from 1999 in my basement.
Blackice
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Twin Cities

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:24:41 AM  Ignore Blackice Report Abuse
Sounds like BO would love people to run out and start stockpiling gas, so they can say that the demand is up and they can start raising prices again.
brutus
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Alberta

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:21:47 AM  Ignore brutus Report Abuse
Not too smart if you live in a city.
tz2001
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Virginia

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:20:55 AM  Ignore tz2001 Report Abuse
Shucks, just as I was planning on installing a 500-gallon tank this article comes out. It just goes to show you it's always something.
Rivermedic
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Fort Worth

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Message Posted: 8/8/2008 9:19:21 AM  Ignore Rivermedic Report Abuse
It would cost too much to buy the storage tank.
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