Will Gasoline Deteriorate If a Car Is Not Driven for a Month?
2 Answers
If stored properly, gasoline will not deteriorate in the short term. However, due to its volatile nature and susceptibility to environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, gasoline generally has a shelf life of about three months. To prevent or slow down the oxidation process of gasoline, minimize direct sunlight exposure and reduce air contact while storing it. Lowering the storage temperature can also help extend its shelf life. Disadvantages of using deteriorated gasoline: It can easily damage internal vehicle components. Deteriorated gasoline, with increased impurities, tends to clog the engine throttle, leading to carbon buildup and reduced performance. It may also block fuel lines, valves, injectors, and other parts, making fuel supply more difficult and failing to provide sufficient power to the vehicle. Storage method: If a car owner plans to leave the vehicle unused for an extended period, it is best to keep only a small amount of gasoline in the tank and park the car in a cool place, such as a garage, to avoid direct sunlight. When restarting a long-idle vehicle, it is advisable to replace the gasoline once to prevent potential damage. Fuel tank cleaning: If possible, regularly clean the fuel tank to remove gum deposits formed by gasoline oxidation. These deteriorated substances have catalytic oxidation properties and, if not cleaned, will accelerate the deterioration of gasoline in the tank over time.
Leaving a car unused for a month can indeed cause gasoline to degrade. As someone who frequently deals with such issues, I can confirm that ethanol-blended gasoline absorbs moisture from the air, leading to phase separation and the formation of gummy deposits. The oxidation process also breaks down gasoline, affecting combustion efficiency. While the risk after one month of inactivity is relatively low, it still exists; hot and humid weather accelerates deterioration, potentially causing hard starts, rough acceleration, or stalling issues. I recommend preventive measures: adding fuel stabilizer before parking can slow oxidation, and keeping the fuel tank full reduces space for moisture accumulation. Degraded gasoline not only wastes money but may also clog the fuel system, requiring expensive cleaning of filters and injectors. Based on experience, special attention should be paid if the vehicle sits for over six weeks – modern ethanol-blended gasoline has a short shelf life, and careful handling extends your car's lifespan.
