Will Gasoline Deteriorate If a Car Is Not Driven for a Month?
3 Answers
When a car is parked for an extended period, the gasoline in the fuel tank can expire and deteriorate. Below are the shelf lives of different types of gasoline: 1. Ethanol-blended gasoline: An increasing number of car owners are using ethanol-blended gasoline. It is important to note that ethanol-blended gasoline has a freshness period of one month. If the car is parked for more than a month, the ethanol-blended gasoline may separate into layers, affecting the normal operation of the car engine and reducing overall performance. 2. Regular gasoline: Under normal circumstances, the shelf life of regular gasoline is three months. This is because the structure of regular gasoline consists of complex organic chemical chains, and more than 99% of the carbon elements undergo chemical changes only when exposed to air. Generally, gasoline sealed in the fuel tank is less likely to deteriorate. 3. Diesel: Diesel has a shelf life of at least 12 months or even several years, but prolonged storage may lead to incomplete combustion.
Leaving gasoline in a car for a month without driving poses a low risk of deterioration. Modern gasoline typically has a shelf life of three to six months, and with proper storage, there’s minimal change within a month. The lighter components in gasoline may slowly evaporate, which could make starting the engine slightly harder, but it generally won’t spoil. I often use my car infrequently and handle similar situations with simple checks: fill up the fuel tank to minimize air exposure; park in a well-ventilated area to avoid moisture buildup; and try starting the engine after a month—if there are no unusual noises, it’s fine. Ultimately, regular use is ideal, or occasionally running the engine for about ten minutes to keep the fuel system active and prevent sediment buildup.
After buying my car, I went on a business trip for a month. When I returned and tried to start it, I found it a bit difficult. The gasoline had indeed changed a bit. Some components might have evaporated, reducing combustion efficiency, or it might have absorbed some moisture, affecting engine performance. The practical solution is simple: fill up the tank before parking or use additives like stabilizers to slow down deterioration. If the car is left unused for a month, check the fuel quality before ignition—replace it if it appears cloudy. Prolonged neglect can affect spark plugs or the fuel pump, so it’s advisable to develop a habit of starting the car for a few minutes at least once a month. In short, small issues are easy to handle—don’t let them accumulate into bigger problems.
