# Gasoline stability **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 13, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026 "2010-03-13T19:01:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woody1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@woody1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/woody1)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/1 "2010-03-13T19:01:50Z")
I drive approx 4000 miles per year and at times have had same tank of gas in car for 2mos or so-and dont drive everyday-someone told me i need to put gas stablizer in–I thought that was only if storing gas in containers over a long period of time-I have not noticed any performance problems–is this something to be concerned about? ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/2 "2010-03-13T19:08:11Z")
Stabilizer can’t hurt and isn’t all that expensive, so you could always add some from time to time for peace of mind. But 2 mos is no big deal I wouldn’t worry about it. FYI: there is this thing called SeaFoam that acts as both a fuel stabilizer and fuel system cleaner. If you tossed a but of that in once in a while that couldn’t hurt either. I use this in my gas cans in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/3 "2010-03-13T22:29:00Z")
Put in stabilizer. ( Put in to NEW gas. Stabilizer will not make bad gas good again. ) My 79 pickup takes a good year to use up the gas in two tanks. Used to have trouble gettin’ ‘er goin’ after sitting for the winter. Then I added Staybil. Vroom ! started righ up yesterday. ( I use a solar battery tender ) ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/4 "2010-03-13T22:43:03Z")
I agree.I use stabile redularly and believe that gas begins to break down within weeks. I also believe the effects are cumulative and stabile will help prevent but not clean fuel system problems…so I would throw the seafoam in initially, then add stabile of seafoam after; abd use on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/5 "2010-03-13T23:31:33Z")
Pump gas is OK for at least 6 months… ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/6 "2010-03-14T00:25:24Z")
agree.I use stabile redularly and believe that gas begins to break down within weeks. It begins to break down in minutes. However it is going to take a lot longer than a couple of months to cause any problems. at times have had same tank of gas in car for 2mos or so Two months is nothing. However, I would treat it with a gasoline stabilizer. The stuff is not expensive and it is worth the bother. Generally you don’t get problems with less than a year and seldom if ever at two months. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gasoline-stability/46026/7 "2010-03-14T01:19:13Z")
How long gas remaines stable enough to cause problems depends upon temperature and how air tight the container is. So “generally” you can take more of a chance if it’s cool and stored well and store it for perhaps years… But"generally" with ethanol blends, hot weather and not so tight containers/perhaps tanks, I’m not going to say how long and will continue to err on side of caution 2 months gets my attention under less than ideal conditions, especially in cars I may not know when I’ll drive again as in OP situation.