When Y2K or some other disaster strikes, many people who thought they were well prepared will be surprised to find that their generators won't work because their fuel degenerated . Approximately 70 percent of all back-up generator failures are fuel related . This is due to heat, moisture and time that initiates the oxidative process.
Oxidation causes fuel to develop gum, resin and varnish.
Fresh fuel can go bad in just a matter of week. There are measures you can take to insure the longevity of fuel being stored for power generators and vehicles in the event of disasters and shortages. One of the major factors involved in poor fuel stability is today's modern fuels. Another factor is the new efficient processing techniques being used today by fuel refiners. The new refinery techniques produce more gasoline per barrel of crude, but the fuels produced by these methods are often far less stable and in some cases, are out of spec for stability by the time they reach your tank.