Long Term Fuel Storage

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Preparedness – Emergency Power

Emergency power is a critical lifeline when disaster strikes. But experience has shown that fuels stored to operate the emergency standby diesel or gasoline generators are too often neglected.

In fact – when disaster strikes – these failures are quite predictable. During Hurricane Sandy for example, generator failures at three New York City hospitals forced mass patient evacuations in the midst of the storm. When Hurricane Irene hit Connecticut in August 2011, backup generators failed at the Johnson Memorial Medical Center in Stafford, with 41 patients evacuated.

Generator manufacturers estimate that more than half of all generator failures in emergency
situations are the result of fuel gone bad. When stored for months and years at a time, fuel will deteriorate and become unusable – disabling engines, plugging filtration systems, damaging engine components with excessive carbon – and in some cases – refusing to ignite. This neglect of stored fuel is one of the weakest links in disaster preparedness.

This stored fuel can be preserved and insured against such deterioration and performance
failure. The solution is application of industrial grade PRI-D for diesel fuel, or PRI-G for gasoline, to the stored fuel.

By simply applying a small amount of PRI-D or PRI-G at the time of storing, the fuel will remain refinery fresh and stable. This freshness will hold for a minimum of 18 months, and often many years depending on storage conditions. With periodic re-treating of the fuel, it will remain fresh indefinitely.

PRI-D and PRI-G are industrial chemistries – the choice of nuclear power plant operators, public and private emergency service providers and even operators of more than 2,500 ocean going ships. PRI chemistry is much stronger than “lawn and garden” fuel stabilizers, and ensures quick startups each and every time. PRI chemistries are also used to restore de-graded fuels to refinery freshness. PRI chemistry is available at many emergency
preparedness supply outlets.

Ralph Lewis
Vice President, Technical
Power Research Inc.

 

Any chance someone with your expertise might be able to recommend a generator and large fuel storage container that works best with your product?

 

@CurtisPRI and others.
Quick question regarding stabilized fuel.
Lets say I only have access to ethanol fuel.
storing in 30 USG epoxy lined sealed drums.

Drums are not vented.
How long will fuel last if:

• treated using standard lawn and garden fuel stablizer?
• not stablized/treated?
• treated using PRI-G?

Can previously treated fuel be treated with PRI-G?

 

• With the standard consumer grade stabilizer you would probably get a maximum of 12 months.
• Not treated probably 3-4 months
• With PRI-G you can keep the fuel indefinitely with an annual treatment.

There is no problem with using PRI-G on previously treated fuel.

 

To TheEconomist -
Honda and Generac make some pretty nice small to medium sized generators.
As to fuel storage, no recommendations, although I would suggest storing fuel in approved containers designed for fuel storage.

 

I've used gasoline stored for two years with Marine-grade STABIL, with no problems in my carburetted motorcycle and 2005 FI Dodge van. I do restabilize each six months. But these days, I try to cycle the gas in and out within a year. My gensets and other small engine gear get only non-E10 gas,alos stabilized.
This works for me.

With the reported Port Strike supposed to happen in late January, make sure your fuel stocks are up! They are talking supplyline interruptions for maybe six weeks! We had something similar happen duringthe 2008 storm season, with fuel having become virtually "unobtanium" for a month when the Gulf refineries were down. I had 25 gallons stored and rode my motorcycle - I had little problem getting to/from work. Folks with cars and no stored gas had to forage and wait in long lines. We will see this happen again.
My bike stands ready, and I have tripled my fuel storage.

 

I don't use stabilizer because I rotate my stored fuel through my vehicles every 6 months or so. Of course I only have 55 gallons in storage.