Is it true that gasoline expires in a year?

Yes gas can go bad, sorta like a varnish and it really screws up carboraters and injection systems.

It will last longer if you add Stabil, a fuel stabilizer.

Yes, gasoline actually has a rather short shelf life.

It begins to return to it’s unprocessed form. Often returns to a solid.

You can stay this process to a degree if you use a fuel stabilizer as @LuckyGuy has recommended.

If I was a character on The Walking Dead I would charge someone with collecting as much fuel stabilizer (and dehydrator/alcohol) as possible. I would consider this to be as vital a supply as anything.

As the series progresses the idea that one simply walks up to a car, hotwires it and takes off down the road becomes increasingly unrealistic.

In a way you can see it as the fuel turning back into the prehistoric creature it used to be.

True. The reason you should run the gas tank empty on your lawn mower before the winter or at least put Stabil in it.

In my experience yes, a year is about it. I generally don’t use stabil I make sure I run all of my vehicles and toys with engines every couple of weeks. The worst thing you can do to an engine is let it is for too long. Stabil works pretty well when used properly. You do need to run the engine a while after adding it to make sure it’s in all of the lines/carb if you have one…etc.
I restored an old yamaha that sat for a looong time. It was like someone coated lacquer inside the fuel system.

Wow. I had no idea about this at all.

Ever since I once ran out of gas about 5 years ago, I’ve carries a small (3–5 Gals. or so) gas can in my car just in case. So, now I’ll start to rotate it every few months.

What’s the longest one could keep it for without it getting gummy? Would 3 months be ok? What about 6 mos.?

Why isn’t this more common knowledge? Like being taught as part of Driver’s Ed classes?
It sounds like pretty essential info to me and I’ve NEVER heard anything at all about it. That’s kinda scary.

@Buttonstc make sure you use it every 6months or so, and you will be fine.

Thanks. Will do.

Here are a few little known facts. Gasoline lasts a long time if it is kept cool and is stored in a sealed container. Gasoline is actually a complicated blend of dozens of hydrocarbons. For engine starting the most important characteristic is the volatility, measured as Reid Vapor Pressure RVP, of the fuel. The RVP is the pressure gasoline vapor will reach when heated to 100F in a sealed can. The higher the RVP, the more volatile and easier it will be to start the engine. But, high RVP fuel evaporates away quicker leaving the low ends like varnish, greases, oils and tars. The gasoline you buy in the summer is very different from winter gasoline – even though the octane is the same. Summer gas has a lower RVP typically in the 7–9 psi range. Winter gas is more volatile and has an RVP of 10–13. The actual blends are adjusted for the region. If you buy summer gas and live in a cold climate you might have trouble starting your snowblower if you only put in only the summer gas. Conversely if you have winter gas and leave it in your lawn mower all winter you might end up with varnish.

The best situation is to rotate the gas every 3–6 months and keep it in a cool spot out of the sun in a sealed container. I have never had a problem even with 1 year old gas without Stabil. I am pretty casual about the gasoline that goes into my chainsaw and have been know to let it sit for well over a year maybe even 2 years. If I want to get rid of really old gas I will dump the gallon into my truck gas tank after a fill up. Nothing goes to waste.

By the way I write the purchase date on a strip of blue masking tape and stick that to the can so I can keep track of what is in which can. I have many.