I goofed, and ended the flying season with a full jug of kerosene left (brand new, unopened, un mixed).

My question is, can I leave this jug in my unheated garage over the winter and expect to use it next spring? It is not unusual for temperatures to get down to 30 or 40 below on the coldest nights.

I really don't want to store it in the house, and I'm sure my insurance company would prefer that I didn't.

Thanks

Wayne, I've always stored kero outside in the shed in winter time on a wooden pallet or something similar. The understanding that I have is that it is more important to keep it out of direct sunlight for mold reasons.

btw, the above ground bulk containers we buy our kero from are sunject to our brutal ambient temps as well.

Ron

I store mine on a slab of styrofoam in the garage. Never had a problem.

Ah, I never thought of getting it off the concrete floor...thanks guys !!!

Hey Wayne,

I've found that mixed fuel will stay clear MUCH longer in the blue jerry cans as apposed to the clear 10L Cdn tire jugs. The blue jugs may filter the UV better. Another suspicion I have is keeping the jug sealed. I'm really guessing here, but the algae growth or possible oxidation of the oil may be hindered by a lack of oxygen, so sealing it may cause it to stop one the O2 in the air volume is used up... Anyway, my result was that I had one of my extra 20L jugs containing mixed fuel last more than 2 years, and when it was close to empty I could only see a slight hint of brown. I was always tempted to dispose of it, but each time I checked it the fuel was still clear!

I also have a 45Gal drum in my shed that I've been working off for a few years. Any condensation and debris will have settled to the bottom, so its important to just let it sit there for a long period before feeding off the top. Its still clear and runs great!

Kelly

Thanks Kelly..I'm more concerned about the effects of the freezing temps more than algae...

Nony,

Just send it to me, I'll "store" it for ya!

nony

Move to Texas where we fly all year. It was 83 deg F / 28C yesterday and I got 6 flights on the Facet 2300. I was a little windy though, 15 - 20 mph and gusty.

83 degrees warmer than up here!!

Nony:

I have been storing fuel in my full scale hangar for years, both mixed and unmixed Kero......I actually use a 1-K kero that is jugged up in Canada by RECOCHEM, INC......today it is a steamy -7C for the high, with a Canadian Blue Norther' blowing over the state....

Zero problems.....always crystal clear in the spring......stored on the concrete floor....temps in January get down into the low teens in the hangar......algae definitely won't grow.....too cold, and it grows in liquid water at the kero interface, not the kero....... any water at that temp is martini ice......

T....

Thanks Tom.. I hope you survive that heat wave down south there

you really need to move lol !! at those temps it's most likly jelly

either that, or a big ice cube......

ship that fuel to houston, i will store it from week to week. it may find its way to my jet, if so i will return the jug nice and clean. stay warm, barry

just an update...the jug of fuel survived in fine shape and has been consumed..mostly in flight - which was far more than I expected. Zero problems with the fuel.
Our lowest temp was -28 last Feb (20 below F.) I never stayed in the garage long enough to see if it was liquid or solid...

Many thanks for the kind offers to store it in more eviromentally friendly climes..

NONY,
If you had made the trek to the Mountain Thunder Jet Rally, you could have burned it up!

HarleyCondra
BVM REP
JetCat REP

You know, Harley, if I coulda, I woulda....I just got my (good) car back from the dealership, so I was stuck close to home last weekend...still managed to get 5 flights in though.........