{"id":75145,"date":"2022-10-10T00:01:38","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T07:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=75145"},"modified":"2025-04-11T11:54:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T18:54:44","slug":"does-gasoline-go-bad-how-long-can-it-sit-in-your-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/does-gasoline-go-bad-how-long-can-it-sit-in-your-tank\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Gasoline Go Bad &#038; How Long Can It Sit In Your Tank?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column75145_40b850-86{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column75145_40b850-86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column75145_40b850-86 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-c94884  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-61b83f\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading75145_afca7c-37\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gasoline can typically last about 3-6 months before becoming unusable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gas goes bad because of water contamination, microbial growth, and chemical deterioration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you leave gas in a sealed and clean gas can, expect the fuel inside to last around six months to a year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Signs that the gas has gone bad include a rough idling engine, stalling while speeding, and an illuminated check engine light. The gas could also smell sour and look darker.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Once upon a time, we could hop into our cars and go for a drive whenever we felt like doing so. It could be a quick stop by the grocery, the daily drive to work, or a road trip to visit family or friends. After all, driving is convenient and pretty fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then the global health crisis forced us to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. The overall situation has improved, but our cars still spend a lot of time gathering dust in the garage or sunning themselves up front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, gasoline can go bad if it goes unused for a long time. To find out more about bad fuel, including its symptoms and ways to prevent it, read on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Gasoline Go Bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like the car it powers, gasoline will not last forever. It breaks down over time, especially when the contents of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/fuel-tank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"gas tank\">gas tank<\/a> are exposed to the elements or contaminants make their way inside the fuel system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"blue car refueling gas\" class=\"wp-image-75157\" style=\"width:1024px;height:682px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/blue-car-refueling-gas.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Like the car it powers, gasoline will not last forever.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, gasoline will degrade to the point when it will not combust properly. It cannot produce the energy needed by the engine to propel the vehicle. When this happens, the fuel has gone bad and should be removed immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Makes Gas Go Bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two things that make gasoline go bad: Chemical deterioration and water contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chemical Deterioration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gasoline is made up of all kinds of chemical compounds. Some of these compounds are lighter and more volatile. When they come into contact with air, they react to oxygen and evaporate. These compounds account for the telltale smell most people associate with gas, especially when they&rsquo;re topping their car&rsquo;s fuel tank off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the volatile compounds have evaporated, all that&rsquo;s left of gasoline is a thick substance that resembles varnish. The varnish-like residue does not burn well and can clog fuel system components, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/carburetor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"carburetors\">carburetors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/fuel-injector\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"fuel injectors\">fuel injectors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water Contamination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the worst things that can happen to a fuel system is for water to find its way inside. The nasty part is that water doesn&rsquo;t have to enter through an open gas cap or a leak in the gas tank. Cold temperatures can cause condensation to form on the tank&rsquo;s inner surface. If you live in a state with harsh winters, the water can freeze and block the gas line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Water is also a leading cause of corrosion in the fuel system. Rusty parts won&rsquo;t run as designed and can even fall apart. Rust can also clog the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/fuel-line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"gas line\">gas line<\/a> as well, depriving your car&rsquo;s engine of the fuel it needs to run properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Microbial Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If fuel is exposed to moisture, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms can cause fuel to break down, which leads to fuel becoming slimy and having sediment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Does Gas Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pure gasoline can take anywhere between three and six months before it starts to break down. In comparison, diesel enjoys a much longer fuel shelf life&ndash;it can last for a year thanks to its different composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same cannot be said for ethanol-blended gasoline. Ethanol is made from more volatile organic materials, so it evaporates and oxidizes much faster than pure gas. Blended gas can last for three months at the most and will usually start going bad earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should be noted that these estimated shelf lives start from the day that the refinery produced the fuel in question. After distillation, gasoline can spend anywhere between days and weeks in storage before it gets shipped out to a gas station. Once there, the fuel gets transferred to the station&rsquo;s storage tank. By the time you fill up your tank at the pump, the fuel could have already spent at least a month in storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Is Gas in a Gas Can Good For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuel that has been in a gas tank for 6 months to 1 year will be fine. Gasoline and diesel don&rsquo;t degrade much if they&rsquo;ve been stored 6 months to 1 year in a clean, sealed, and dry container like a gas can. However, as previously mentioned, gas breaks down at different rates depending on its composition and storage history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the gas can is left open, then the gas inside will be exposed to oxygen, moisture, and contaminants that will reduce its quality and octane rating. It might also have more sediments and sludge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of Bad Fuel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The earlier you find out that the fuel in your car&rsquo;s gas tank has deteriorated, the better. If you come across any of the following, you may have bad fuel on your hands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Engine problems like rough idling, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-shuts-off-while-driving-causes-what-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"stalling\">stalling<\/a> while speeding up, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/my-car-wont-start-what-should-i-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"failure to start\">failure to start<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sometimes, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/check-engine-light-flashing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"check engine light illuminates\">check engine light illuminates<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gasoline has a darker color than normal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gas smells sour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should You Do With Bad Gasoline?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remove bad gasoline from your car&rsquo;s fuel tank as soon as possible. Driving with bad gas can cause problems like damaged internal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-engine-parts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"engine parts\">engine parts<\/a>, clogged fuel lines, and corrosion. You can prevent those issues and save yourself both money and time by bringing your vehicle to an auto service center to remove the deteriorated gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to easily remove old\/ bad gas from your car.\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m4D9pEzVBVQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Make Gas Last Longer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some easy tips to make gas last longer in your car&rsquo;s fuel tank:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stick to Pure Gasoline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use pure gasoline because it lasts much longer on its own. Avoid adding ethanol or blended gas. Ethanol-based fuel has higher volatility&ndash;it will evaporate faster and make the rest of the gas go bad as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Add Fuel Stabilizers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are times you need to store your car for many months. In those cases, you want the fuel in the gas tank to last. For long-term storage, you can add a fuel stabilizer. This fuel additive slows down the chemical reactions that break down gasoline. Depending on the stabilizer, the gas can last for at least one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Top off the gas tank before adding the recommended amount of stabilizer. Next, drive your car for a short period to make sure the additive goes through the whole fuel system. Then you can put your vehicle in long-term storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"person pouring fuel stabilizer for car\" class=\"wp-image-75156\" style=\"width:1024px;height:681px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/person-pouring-fuel-stabilizer-for-car.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">For long-term storage, you can add a fuel stabilizer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&rsquo;d like to see more tips about preparing your car for long-term storage, we have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-store-car-during-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"an article\">an article<\/a> that can help you keep your vehicle &ndash;and its fuel&ndash; in good condition for future use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Always Get the Freshest Gasoline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh gasoline will last longer and burn better than old or bad gas. To increase the chances of getting the freshest fuel, look for a popular gas station with lots of customers. A heavily used station is more likely to have received a new batch of fuel. If you&rsquo;re not keen on waiting in a long line, find out when the station doesn&rsquo;t see many customers and drop by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check the Gas Cap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As the gas cap gets older, it can grow loose and not seal the fuel tank properly. Inspect your car&rsquo;s cap and make sure it&rsquo;s tight. Fortunately, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/gas-cap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"replacement gas cap\">replacement gas cap<\/a> is easy to obtain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bad gas will always be a problem as long as your vehicle sits in place for weeks or months. Fortunately, you can take effective steps to make sure that the gas in your vehicle&rsquo;s fuel tank can last until you can drive once more.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Once upon a time, we could hop into our cars and go for a drive whenever we felt like doing&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/does-gasoline-go-bad-how-long-can-it-sit-in-your-tank\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":75158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3744],"tags":[338,1185,1209,1198,1253],"ppma_author":[2607],"class_list":{"0":"post-75145","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-ignition-system","9":"tag-carburetor","10":"tag-fuel-injector-2","11":"tag-fuel-line","12":"tag-fuel-tank-2","13":"tag-gas-cap","14":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Does Gasoline Go Bad &amp; How Long Can It Sit In Your Tank? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Gasoline that sits in your car\u2019s fuel tank for too long can go bad. 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