Can I hoard gas?

[cliss]

I live in Portland. As some people might know, the U.S. West Coast has been making news lately with the highest gas prices in the U.S. Our average is $2.67 per gallon (at least it was for a while).

I believe this is only a taste of worse to come. This is just the appetizer to $3.00 gallon, coming soon to a station near you. And this is just THIS YEAR, supposedly by June but I think it'll hit sooner.

The question is: can I hoard the stuff now, before it goes through the roof? And how would I do it? I just can't see storing plastic jugs of the Black Gold in my garage. That place is full of dust & dirt. One cigarette thrown in the wrong direction, and poof - the garage would be gone.

[trotsky]

1. Gasoline degrades.

The components in gasoline begin to break down after a few weeks. For inefficient two-stroke engines, this isn't a big deal. I used 2-yr-old gas in a lawnmower once, seemed OK.

But for cars and their fuel injectors, etc., it would be a big problem. You could ruin your fuel system.

And then there's the safety issue, as you mention.

[Jack_DeLeon]

9. I've heard....

of stuff you can put in gasoline, stabalizers I think, to make it last longer but I'm no expert on that.

Also if you have a diesel vehicle, I've heard that diesel will last longer than regular gasoline without breaking down, but it too will eventually.

[NickB79]

15. We have a 500-gallon gasoline barrel on our farm

There must be stabilizers in it, because it lasts for quite a few months before it has to be refilled.

[wuushew]

2. 55 gallon drums are space efficient

One drums worth could fill my tank 3.5 times. As long as they are sealed I don't think the risk of explosion is that dire.

[Warpy]

3. If you were in a rural area and owned a gazillion acres of land

you could probably get a permit for underground storage tanks. They'd have to be far away from any actual or potential wells, and you'd have to figure out how you were going to pump the stuff with no elecricity, but you're certainly entitled to try.

However, I sincerely doubt you could get a permit in an urban area.

Not only that, but it would be easy to steal, and your neighbors likely would. It's hard not to notice underground tanks going into the back yard and fuel trucks arriving to pump them full.

Otherwise, forget it. Invest in a good bicycle. That'll serve you much better than hoarded fuel will.

[oneighty]

4. You answered your own question

But. Some local farmers have above ground gasoline storage tanks with hand pumps on their farms.

You might look into something like that.

180

[realFedUp]

5. Bush is

at the highest prices too...

[tubbacheez]

6. Why not just buy oil futures if you're very certain prices will rise?

If your primary motivation is economic, as in locking in today's prices in anticipation of rising prices, why not just buy some oil futures?

That way you wouldn't have to invest in a private storage facility, or worry about potential environmental damage, or worry about your private stash degrading into less useful or less valuable stuff.





And don't forget the story of John Denver, whose nature-loving Rocky Mountain high profile public image was severely tarnished when news broke that he was hoarding gasoline in an underground tank at his Colorado home.

IIRC, he basically put in the same kind of tank that gas stations use and was about to set up a personal filling station. But the negative publicity was huge. I don't know if he finished the project.

[amazona]

7. didn't John Denver get in trouble doing this?

No, you can't hoard gas. I think getting permits to do such a thing would be difficult even if you had a legitimate reason, and "hoarding" is not particularly legitimate. If everyone did it, we'd have a real shortage instead of the current price-gouging.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Jack_DeLeon]

11. I predict a Mad Max future....

ROFLMAO.

Anyways hoarding is perfectly legitimate. Anything can be hoarded, you may claim that hoarding gasoline or whatever may not be ethical by your standards but there isnt anything ilegitimate about it, it is possible to do.

It would certainly fuck over alot of people if enough people hoarded but those that did hoard would probably be better off. Hey we are all going to run out of gas anyways might as well keep some for yourself incase of a real emergency.

Myself when the shit hits the fan I'm going to steal something diesel powered and them I'm going to hit up SAM's or COSTCO for some vegetable oil. :P

[ktowntennesseedem]

8. Maybe if you eat lots of beans...

oh, wrong kind of gas. Never mind.

:hurts:

[leveymg]

10. Forget it. Unless you have an in-ground tank, I don't think its even

legal to have more than a couple jerry cans full in your residence.

And, do you really think your insurance company would pay out for that sort of claim if something happened?

If you must pursue this, make a call to your local fire department. I'm sure they'll talk you out of it.

:hi: :grr:

[rman]

12. i'd say hoard as you can but realize that eventually you'll run out

and think about preparing for that.

[NNN0LHI]

13. I had a neighbor in the subdivision where I live who filled his garage...

...completely full of 5 gallon containers full of gas for the Y2K scare. Had to have had several hundred gallons of gas in there. He couldn't even park his cars in the 2 and a half car garage. Attached garage to boot. His wife had him committed soon thereafter. I haven't seen or heard from him since she did. Needless to say I don't miss him.

Don

[applegrove]

14. I think you could get charged under the patriot act. I think there are

regulations concerning the distribution of gas... or did Bush do away with those too as "too expensive".

[unkachuck]

16. sure, but think....

....back to the future....think, charcoal power....sure, you would need a N/A engine, but you could be the first on you block to have a real wood-burner while everyone scrounges for gas....

http://lindsaybks.com/bks/producer/index.html

....if the supply and price of gas get much worse, and if you build this, let us know how it works.... :)

[cliss]

18. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.....and

warnings. I think I'll skip the Backyard Gas Pump, and instead focus on conservation. Like a car that gets an amazing amount of miles to the gallon....I've read the Prius is amazing.

I think most everyone agrees that it's too risky.
:smoke:

[lonestarnot]

17. Hoard it? Fuck it buy a mule and grow some grass....medical marjuana

too...maybe you can barter it for some good homegrown tomatoes or potatoes...what about some strawberries or pumpkins? Better learn to weave too....loomes are expensive... if you're close to a res. hit up an ancient for their construction. Have fun.