Poll: Cost of fuel and it's effect on your SHTF plans

[gmerkt]

I've got some USGI gas cans out in my storage building, they've been full of gasoline for SHTF purposes for many years. This might be the time to use them up as a part of stock rotation.

 

[GWS]

Fuel costs can't really be figured in SHTF plans beyond "They'll be really expensive."
As the issue continues prices will rise higher and higher while at the same time, paper money will be increasingly worthless. My advice would be to have gold or silver or some other barterable commodity for your fuel needs.

 

[The Heretic]

I've got some USGI gas cans out in my storage building, they've been full of gasoline for SHTF purposes for many years. This might be the time to use them up as a part of stock rotation.

If you do that and do not refill them, then it is a false economy. When you need that fuel because rationing has started, you will wish you had it. BTDT.

 

[Mono1]

If you do that and do not refill them, then it is a false economy. When you need that fuel because rationing has started, you will wish you had it. BTDT.

Doesn't that stuff need to be stabilized or something after awhile? You can't just keep it so long, right?

 

[GWS]

Doesn't that stuff need to be stabilized or something after awhile? You can't just keep it so long, right?

Sta- Bil is amazingly good
I had a Generac generator I had purchased for Y2K I filled the tank and put Sta-Bil in it and when I sold it prior to moving up here in 2018 it kicked over on the second pull with almost 20 year old gas. I swear by the stuff.

 

[The Heretic]

Doesn't that stuff need to be stabilized or something after awhile? You can't just keep it so long, right?

Pri-G & Pri-D and yes, you should eventually rotate it out. But rotating means replacing it when you use it, so you still need to buy fuel at current prices.

If SHTF and you have not replaced the fuel you used because you are waiting for the prices to come back down, you will be in a sorry position.

 

[Flymph]

Doesn't that stuff need to be stabilized or something after awhile? You can't just keep it so long, right?

About 6 months, however general consensus states gas starts to get bad after a month. Proper storage can push this back, anecdotals apparently claim 20 years.

 

[Member 52301]

Staying in place. I have said this before, back east, and out here.

The ONLY way that I would leave is IF there is a FIRE outside - very close to my house or a FLOOD that would fill up the entire valley.

Once the fire or flood was gone... I would come right back to my land even if I had no home left.

Fuel? We have some spare fuel on hand for the generator and my husband's truck and car. I no longer drive and I do not own a truck or a car.

I do NOT have a LARGE container of fuel here as I did back in farm/lake country - back east.

I had 2 types of storage back there over the years. A gravity fed above ground tank and an underground one with a HAND pump NOT electric. BOTH of them were removed years BEFORE I sold out after my late husband died. We did have fuel for the generators, tractors, snow blowers, boats, mowers, etc. stored properly and in SAFE cans.

We lived in the boonies and even when fuel was cheaper - we spent a LOT of money on fuel even with energy efficient vehicles shy of some pick up trucks PLUS we put a LOT of miles on our vehicles over the years since we lived so far OUT.

Cate
Typos and added more.

 

[The Heretic]

About 6 months, however general consensus states gas starts to get bad after a month. Proper storage can push this back, anecdotals apparently claim 20 years.

I can't claim 20 years, but I can claim several years with no noticeable effects in my cars, motorcycles, chainsaw or pruner - all of which require higher octane gas - the 2 strokes in the chainsaw & pruner (Stihl Kombi) would be persnickety (a tech term) about bad gas.

 

[Jay Walk]

Fuel quality is a factor, I had a buddy call me just last week and say his two year old gas in his carb motorcycle fired up second kick and ran fine.

I had a bike that would fire but not run until I replaced the three month old fuel with fresh.

ARCO (for one) is a no go for a fuel purchase.

 

[The Heretic]

Fuel quality is a factor, I had a buddy call me just last week and say his two year old gas in his carb motorcycle fired up second kick and ran fine.

I had a bike that would fire but not run until I replaced the three month old fuel with fresh.

ARCO (for one) is a no go for a fuel purchase.

If you ever have fuel that causes problems, and you can empty the tank (like on a motorcycle) into a container, shake it up and put some in a glass container and let it sit for 10 minutes. The gas and water should separate and the water should be visible - if it is present. The only time I have had problems with gasoline, has been when there is water in it.

There are chemicals you can buy that you put on a stick to put in the fuel to test for water.

 

[Longwalkhome]

I don't have a plan, just been living a lifestyle that won't get hurt too bad. Called retirement.

 

[Jay Walk]

If you ever have fuel that causes problems, and you can empty the tank (like on a motorcycle) into a container, shake it up and put some in a glass container and let it sit for 10 minutes. The gas and water should separate and the water should be visible - if it is present. The only time I have had problems with gasoline, has been when there is water in it.

There are chemicals you can buy that you put on a stick to put in the fuel to test for water.

I hear ya, the problem was a can of fuel my buddy left here, after I told him about it he said it was only 3 months old at most. I only put Chevron in my Moto's, weed eater, generator and chainsaws. I drain the saws if they will sit for more than a couple of months. Never a problem with Chevron ethanol.

 

[Catfishmoon]

At the first sign of trouble are you planning on filling up some cans? If so, how is the price of fuel going to affect your situation?

If SHTF were to literally happen, a few extra hundred dollars or a thousand, for current high fuel prices would be near the bottom on my list of concerns.

 

[arakboss]

Don't worry folks, the financial collapse we are in should bring fuel prices back down to $2 a gallon in no time. If the repo man snagged your rig and you are sitting at home eating ramen noodles, not much reason to buy fuel. Ignore the continued rush hour traffic, it is likely Canadians passing through to Mexico.

 

[GrayGoose]

Ignore the continued rush hour traffic, it is likely Canadians passing through to Mexico.

 

[ma96782]

I must have gained an additional 10 points on my IQ. Yeah......I bought a Prius a few years back.

Aloha, Mark

 

[The Heretic]

I hear ya, the problem was a can of fuel my buddy left here, after I told him about it he said it was only 3 months old at most. I only put Chevron in my Moto's, weed eater, generator and chainsaws. I drain the saws if they will sit for more than a couple of months. Never a problem with Chevron ethanol.

Chevron gas comes from the same refinery/storage tanks that Costco gas comes from.

 

[Mono1]

.I bought a Prius a few years back.

...and you're admitting that on a public forum??

 

[ma96782]

Shhhhh.................

I tell everyone else that I drive this.


Aloha, Mark