In 2014, Americans consumed an average of 374.74 million gallons of gasoline per day. That comes out to over 1.5 gallons per adult each day.
In a total disaster situation where gasoline isn’t readily available, the shortage will take a significant toll on our way of life and could affect our very survival.
For these reasons, many smart-minded preppers are considering whether to stockpile gasoline.
Here we will go over:
- Should you stockpile gasoline?
- How long does gasoline last?
- Is it legal to stockpile gasoline?
- How much gasoline to stockpile
- How to store gasoline safely
- Gasoline alternatives
Should You Stockpile Gasoline?
All sorts of disaster situations could put our gasoline in jeopardy.
Gasoline is one of the first things to go during a war, as happened in the Bosnian war.
But, just because gasoline would disappear in a SHTF situation, it doesn’t mean you need to stockpile 10,000 gallons of it in a secret storage tank.
After a significant disaster, you won’t need 2 gallons of gasoline daily to drive to work and the supermarket (hint: you won’t be going to work anymore, and the supermarkets will be empty!).
What you WILL need a gasoline stockpile for is:
How Long Does Gasoline Last?
When stockpiling gasoline, the first thing to remember is that it is PERISHABLE. You should rotate your gasoline stockpile like the rest of your prepper supplies.
Exposure to air will cause gasoline to oxidize, which means the octane levels in the gas will change. This will cause sludgy buildup in your engine, which can clog and destroy it.
Never use old gasoline in an expensive engine! Because of oxidation, the gas might become so stale that it won’t turn on the generator or run the car – which would defeat the entire point of stockpiling gasoline.
Gasoline will probably hold up well for a few years if it isn’t exposed to air (remember that even a tiny pinhole will let in air!). Don’t keep gasoline for more than a year to play it safe.
You can add stabilizers to gasoline to help it last longer, but you should still abide by the 1-year real to play it safe when stockpiling gas.
Is It Legal to Stockpile Gasoline?
The EPA recommends only storing 1-5 gallons of gasoline, and the fire department recommends a maximum of 25 gallons. But these are just recommendations. Depending on where you live, you might have very different laws about storing gasoline.
For example, in New York, anyone with more than 110 gallons of gasoline in an underground storage tank must register. In California, gasoline must be stored in an approved container.
Before you stockpile gasoline, call your local fire department. They will know the laws and local fire codes regarding gasoline stockpiling.
How Much Gasoline to Store?
Since gasoline is perishable and needs to be rotated, never stockpile more than you can rotate in 1 year. So, that 10,000-gallon gasoline stockpile probably isn’t a good idea!
To estimate how much gasoline you absolutely must have stockpiled, calculate:
- How much gasoline you need to drive to your Bug Out Location
- How much gasoline you need to fuel your generator for 30 days
- How much extra gasoline you want to have on hand as a barter item
Generally, your Bug Out Location should never be more than a full tank of gas away – or about 15 gallons, depending on your type of car.
Assuming that you only use the generator when necessary, you’d need about 60 gallons of gasoline for a 30-day stockpile. The more alternative heating and lighting supplies you have, the less you need to rely on your generator.
Use your judgment to determine how much (if any) gasoline you want to stockpile as a survival barter item. I’d keep the gasoline stockpiles for myself and use things I know how to make myself for bartering instead.
How to Store Gasoline Long Term
You want to stockpile gasoline in case of a disaster…but stockpiling a highly-flammable liquid can be a recipe for disaster! If you are going to store gasoline, you better ensure it is done safely.
The most common way of storing gasoline is those red plastic cans which are usually 1-5 gallons in size. This is fine if you just want to stockpile a few can’s worth. Even with this small amount of gasoline, you still need to follow precautions:
- Store gasoline in a room not attached to the home, such as a shed.
- Keep the gasoline away from all heat sources, including direct sunlight, heaters, and hot water heaters. Remember that gasoline vapors are heavy and can travel to ignition sources! Keep the gas at least 50 feet away from pilot lights.
- Never smoke in the same room where gasoline is stored.
- Fill the gasoline tank to 95% to allow for expansion
- Store gasoline in a well-ventilated area – never in the trunk of your car!
- Choose smaller gasoline containers to make rotating your stockpile easier.
If you want to stockpile more gasoline, then you will need to make an underground storage tank.
Related reading:
Alternatives
I’ve got a relatively small amount of gasoline stockpiled in case of an emergency. The reason that I’m not stockpiling huge amounts is that I don’t want to be dependent on a commodity like gasoline.
Instead of investing in a fancy underground storage setup, I am putting my time and money into renewable energies – like solar power and biodiesel. The best thing about these fuel and energy sources is that they are knowledge-based.
I can’t lug around 500 gallons of gasoline with me in a Bug Out situation, but my knowledge of how to make solar panels will come with me!
Are you stockpiling gasoline? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below.
