How long will kerosene last in plastic containers? I have a kerosene heater plus a wood stove. I need to buy and store some fuel. What problems will I see with the fuel stored safely but in plastic containers?

-- PBJ (Help@me.com), September 27, 1999

Answers

I'm not a fuel professional but use both K1 & diesel on farm.

I've been using K1 for a few years each winter in Kerosun type heaters. I think officially, 6mos is standard shelf life. Although I invariably keep some portion for over a year and it burns the next year. Whether it's plastic or not shouldn't matter if it's opaque. There is a treatment/additive I usually add which can be found in hw stores. I don't know whether it can support microbe life like diesel or not. Since diesel & k1 are not hugely different, I would presume it can and that shows up as either a black algae or gelling (gel also caused by freezing in diesel). Water - usually caused by condensation - is bad for both and is managable by filtering and additives to keep it dispersed. I had a metal can rust pinholes in the bottom (water sinks) once. So plastic is better that way. Keep it out of sun, or hot / cold extremes to minimize condensate and possible microbial growth. I also recall hearing to keep containers off concrete storing on shelf , wood blocks ,etc, instead - which I have always done "incidentally" without planning it that way.

-- wd (wds@toptxs1.com), September 28, 1999.

wd, Do you have any idea why it might be recommended to keep the kerosene storage containers off concrete? I have my 55 gal. plastic drum sitting directly on concrete. So far, I've only stored about 30 gals. of kerosene, but plan to get more. Could it be that there would be a little less conducting of cold into the drum if it were placed on wood? Any other reason anyone can think of?

-- Diana (healthy53@hotmail.com), September 28, 1999.

Diana:

Try placing level, sturdy wooden planks on the concrete floor to elevate the drum. Do this before it gets too heavy to move, then continue to fill with kerosene. For long term storage add a commercial diesel additive to prevent water problems.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), September 28, 1999.

PBJ This might help if you need the info; I have used old discarded water heaters, the 40 and 50 gallon size. After i got them I took them down to the car wash and removed the heating elements and opened the drain plug. Washed them out and let them dry for about 3 days. Oh, I also used a vacuum /wet dry type to get out the remaining calcium from the bottom of the tank.

I keep the tanks looking like water heaters,so no body will check. Works for me. and the tanks are glass lined and free !!!

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), September 29, 1999.

Diane: Do not put your 55 gallon plastic water storage drums directly on concrete or cement. Put them on wood or wood pallets. Probably should not be up on any wood that is painted as well. The plastic can absorab chemicals from the cement.

sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), September 29, 1999.