Survivalists pay plenty of attention to their food and weapons reserves, but what about fuel? A few extra gas cans won’t be good enough in an SHTF scenario — you have to gather different fuel sources and create multiple storage methods to keep your homestead running.
This guide takes you through the safest stockpiling methods for 12 viable types of fuel.
1. Gasoline
Gasoline is the most important fuel source, so it should make up a majority of your stockpiling efforts. Its shelf life depends on whether it contains ethanol, a common additive that gives gasoline a higher octane level. Ethanol-blended gas only has a shelf life of about three months, while pure gasoline lasts about six.
There are some obvious do’s and don’ts about keeping gasoline. Most obviously, you need to store it in the proper containers. Metal cans are better for high-volume and long-term storage than plastic cans because they won’t degrade and release chemicals into the fuel.
If you want to maximize your stockpile, consider getting some metal gas drums instead of the smaller handheld containers. You can prevent rust by applying a coat of corrosive-resistant paint and storing the cans on an elevated surface. Also, try to avoid dragging the cans on the pavement so you don’t scratch the bottoms.
Location is another crucial factor. Neverstore gasoline inside your house or near electrical wiring. Keep it in a cool shaded room — ideally a garage or shed — far away from any fire sources or other flammable materials. Shade is important because excessive sunlight can evaporate gasoline and deplete your supply.
2. Diesel
Diesel is any type of petroleum-based fuel for diesel engines or compression ignition systems. It’s not as pure as gasoline, but it’s more durable and stable. It has a shelf life of one to two years or longer if you use a fuel stabilizer. You can store it in the same room as your gasoline, but make sure you use different-colored containers to avoid mixing them up.
You have to do some maintenance to keep your diesel stockpile healthy. Keep the room below 70° Fahrenheit, but don’t let the room get too cold. Diesel can harden and turn into gel in freezing temperatures and you won’t be able to recover it.
You also need to mix the diesel now and then or else a layer of algae-like microbes will form at the solution’s water separation line. These microbes are similar to the algae that form inside unattended pools that will clog your fuel lines and give your diesel machines issues. There’s no excuse for allowing your diesel to contaminate itself.
3. Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a unique diesel concoction of vegetable oil, lye and methanol. Animal fat could also serve as the main ingredient instead of vegetable oil.
This alternative fuel source has many impressive advantages. You can make it at home in just a few minutes, which means your supply is endless if you have the three necessary ingredients. It’s also non-toxic and biodegradable, causing much less air pollution than regular diesel.
On its own, biodiesel doesn’t always work on every diesel engine. However, you can quickly solve this problem by adding trace amounts of regular diesel to the mixture. Using them together means you can make both fuel sources last longer. All of these qualities make it an ideal DIY fuel source for survivalists.
Biodiesel has a shelf life of one to two years and is sensitive to extreme temperatures, just like other petroleum-based fuels. It’s still a combustible substance, even if it’s homemade. Store it in sealed containers with a special label so you don’t confuse it with your regular diesel stockpile.
4. Propane
Propane is the short name for liquified petroleum gas. Unlike other gaseous fuels, it’s stored as a liquid and released as a gas when used. It has applications for heating, cooking and operating vehicles. You can get tanks that hold up to 1000 gallons and as long as the container remains intact, the propane will last indefinitely. It’s an ideal emergency fuel choice.
However, you must follow a few careful instructions to avoid damaging your supply. Due to propane’s high density and flammability, it’s unsafe to fill the tanks to 100%. Fill them to no more than 80% of their volumetric capacity so they don’t burst. Even with this limitation, you can still expect a standard 500-gallon tank to support your home for at least two months.
If you live near a water source, you should place your propane tanks downhill from your home and downstream to eliminate the risk of leak contaminations. The tanks must also stay upright on a flat, stable surface. Many people use concrete platforms to stabilize their larger propane tanks.
5. Kerosene
Kerosene is a hydrocarbon fuel that usually powers small devices such as lanterns and stoves. It used to be the primary fuel people used to illuminate their homes and remains extremely useful for heating and cooking. For survival purposes, it’s safer than gas or diesel because it’s less flammable and has a much longer shelf life of up to five years.
However, you should still never store large amounts of kerosene in your house. A small supply for culinary purposes is okay, but the rest should go in a metal container along with the other aforementioned flammable liquids. Your stockpile is starting to add up now, so make sure you clearly categorize every different type of fuel.
6. Butane
Butane is a colorless, odorless gas often used for portable heaters and stoves. It’s much easier to control than liquid fuels, so you can safely use it indoors for small-scale purposes. However, you must store it in temperatures higher than 32° Fahrenheit. It also shouldn’t reach any higher than 125° Fahrenheit, be in high humidity or rest in sunlight.
It’s also denser than air, so you need to watch out for leaks during storage. Butane can last up to eight years inside metal canisters, but you have to keep the room above freezing. This task shouldn’t be an issue since most of the other fuels on this list also require dry, moderate environments. Make sure your storage room doesn’t change too much year-round.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol isn’t the strongest fuel, but it’s widely available and has some essential survival purposes, including heating, cooking and sanitizing wounds. It also provides a source of entertainment if the product is safe to drink. A bottle of vodka from your nearby liquor store could save your life in more ways than one.
The best types of alcohol you should stockpile are denatured, isopropyl and ethanol alcohol. You can find them at any hardware or liquor store. They come in various ABV levels and container sizes to suit your needs. Your supply will last indefinitely and the alcohol won’t lose its potency — the flames might be small, but you’ll have no issue keeping the fire going.
Make sure you keep the bottles away from other chemicals and flammable materials. A fire can easily start if one of the bottles leaks. It’s a good idea to wrap them in absorbent towels that will soak up any liquid that manages to escape. Put them in a box or crate and take them off the floor as another precaution.
8. White Gas
White gas is an umbrella term for a wide range of hydrocarbons. Its most common types are iso-octane and n-heptane, both of which are efficient fuels used for small camping purposes. These gasses have shelf lives of about two years but can last up to seven if you don’t open the factory seal.
White gas is considerably more volatile than most other fuels on this list, so you must take some precautions. Manufacturers sometimes mix it with isopropyl alcohol or another safer fuel to make it more stable. You can create a similar concoction, but you must follow the container’s instructions and create your mixture outside.
Metal containers are also more prone to rust because of white gas’s corrosive nature, but plastic ones aren’t strong enough to hold it. You might have to transfer the gas to new containers a few times a year. Always make sure the containers are strong enough to withstand the fuel before filling them with white gas.
9. Firewood
Wood is an essential fuel for survivalists because of its abundance and wide variety of uses. Regardless of their lifestyle, everyone should have a healthy supply of firewood on hand. You can use it for heating, cooking and building. Dead wood can last for decades with sufficient shelter, but it will rot in a few years if exposed to the elements.
The best trees for firewood are oak, maple, hickory and birch. The bark on these trees is highly flammable and the wood is dense, which means it will burn slower and hotter than other trees. Coniferous and deciduous trees — such as the hemlock — have softer wood. They also tend to have lots of knots, which makes splitting the wood more difficult.
Avoiding moisture is the key to making your firewood last. You need to keep the wood dry so it can season properly and produce the hottest flames possible. Moist and unseasoned wood will produce more smoke than fire, emitting low heat and wasting your supply. Aim to season your wood for at least a year before using it for fuel so you get powerful flames and heat.
10. Charcoal
Firewood is also excellent because it naturally produces another cheap alternative fuel source — charcoal. You can collect chunks of charcoal from your firepit and store them in weathertight bags indefinitely. They will as long as they stay dry. The flames will also be hotter than regular firewood flames.
However, there is one downside — you can only burn charcoal outdoors. Burning charcoal indoors can produce lethal amounts of carbon monoxide without you realizing it. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so you won’t know until it’s too late and opening a window or turning on a fan won’t solve the problem. Use your charcoal for outside purposes only.
On the bright side, you can use charcoal for other unique survival purposes. It can serve as toothpaste in a pinch and remove surface stains on your teeth. You can also smear it on your face and body to create an effective camouflage.
11. Coal
Coal used to be the go-to fossil fuel before oil and natural gas took center stage. It’s still beneficial for heating purposes, igniting with ease and producing more substantial heat than firewood. It also has an indefinite shelf life, staying in the same condition for decades if left alone. However, you may have to find a new furnace that will burn the coal properly.
Coal’s storage requirements are easy to meet — you just need to provide shelter from the elements and keep it away from fire sources. The challenging part is transporting the coal to its new storage location. This heavy and dirty fuel produces lots of dust and ash that might lead to respiratory problems if inhaled, so wear an N95 mask while handling coal at all times.
You shouldn’t rely on coal as your primary fuel source, but it’s a great backup plan because of its simplicity, longevity and burning power. Keep a pile on your homestead so you always have a heat source on standby.
12. Gel Fuel
Gel fuel is a jello-like fuel source of 90% isopropyl alcohol and a gelling agent, such as soy wax. It was initially designed for the catering business, but it has become popular among outdoorspeople for its convenience and portability. You can safely burn the gel inside the can and the flames don’t emit any smoke, which makes it the ideal portable fuel source.
A standard 13-ounce gel fuel can will burn for about three hours. They’re lightweight and compact, so you can store dozens of them without occupying much space. They will last forever if the factory seal remains intact. Unlike the other fuels, you can safely store gel fuel inside your home as long as you keep the containers closed.
Always Have Multiple Fuel Sources
Whether it’s food, water or fuel, you’re always trying to give yourself more options as a survivalist. Never get backed into a corner — your homestead should have multiple fuel sources at all times. The more, the better. Just make sure you follow these stockpiling instructions to keep the fuel safe and secure.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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