Does pump fuel go bad?

Yes. Don’t take fuel for granted. A major engine manufacturer sent us a bulletin stating that if you put fuel older than 30 days in their engines you will void the warranty. 30 DAYS! Know your fuel sources.

The main reason for this is the ethanol found in today’s fuel. Ethanol attracts water and it does break down faster than gasoline. Ethanol decreases the life of the engine and its parts. The alcohol is not good for seals and causes a quicker break-down. With water absorbing into the fuel, there is the chance that rust will form on the interior of the engine. For obvious reasons, this is bad for any piece of equipment. The particles that get into the gas from rust flakes will clog up the fuel filter sooner or later. It is possible that these flakes will also cause damage to the pistons, rings, seals, and any number of other components of the engine.

We recommend high volume stations with name branded fuel. It is a great idea to treat all fuel with a stabilizer such as Starbrite, Seafoam or Stabil to extend its shelf life and reduce the negative effects of ethanol.