Winterizing your gas can

Living the Country Life Radio Program with Betsy Freese

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Keep it covered

Listen to this radio show (MP3 download) or read below.

Radio interview source: Ron Jensen, senior manager, warranty and consumer support, ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment

We use a plastic gas can to hold the fuel for our mower and other two-cycle engines. The can is virtually indestructible, but doesn't guarantee that you'll always have fresh fuel, especially if it sits all winter.

Environmental protection specialist Ron Jensen says gasoline doesn't store well. If left in the can, it turns cruddy pretty fast, sometimes in as little as 60 days. It'll happen more quickly depending on how the can is stored.

"Many people do not cover the gas can up properly," Jensen says. "That means when they open up the can, they have a cover over the fill spout, and then they also have the vent in the back and a lot of times that's left open. And once that's left open to air, that starts to break the fuel down rather quickly."

Another key to extending fuel life in the gas can is to add a stabilizer right after you've filled it with fuel. It has to mix together immediately to keep the gas fresh.