Yes, gasoline goes bad - here's what you should know.

 Did you know that the gasoline in your car can actually go bad? 

We know, we're sorry - one more thing to worry about when it comes to car care. However, the chances of you having to deal with bad gasoline are slim if you know what steps to take to prevent it AND how to spot when it's turned bad. Toyota of Clermont is here with tips. 

How soon does gasoline go bad?

So yes - long story short, gasoline can go bad whether it's sitting in a gas can, at the gas pump, or in the fuel tank of your car. Regardless of where you keep it, gasoline has a shelf life. Here's the breakdown: 

• Regular gasoline has a shelf life of 3-6 months; after that, it starts to degrade. 
• Diesel has a longer shelf life because it's a different formula and typically can go about a year before any degradation takes place. 
• Ethanol has a shorter shelf life than both gasoline and diesel - oxidization and evaporation affect it more quickly, which means its shelf life is about a month before it starts to degrade. 

As gasoline degrades, its chemical properties start to change. So what does this mean for your Clermont Toyota? Basically, as the fuel's chemical makeup changes, your engine will no longer be able to process the gasoline. This can result in operational problems - your car not starting, stalling out while you're driving, rough idling, and even losing power when you're trying to accelerate. 

So how can you tell if the gasoline in your car is bad? Here's what our Clermont auto service experts have to say about it. 

• Bad gasoline has a distinct smell and appearance. It will smell sour or spoiled - not the normal gasoline smell - and will look cloudy or muddied and darker in color than normal gasoline. 
• If you notice any of the operational problems we discussed above, then it's high time to have a look at what's in your gas tank, especially if you have enough clean oil in your vehicle to keep things running smoothly. 
• You may also notice your check engine light come on if you have bad gasoline in your car. This light can come on for a multitude of reasons so whatever is causing it, it's a good idea to bring your vehicle in to have it checked at Toyota of Clermont. 

Continuing to cycle bad gasoline through your car can have significant negative side effects. It can actually create a gummy residue that can damage your engine and clog fuel lines. Additionally, ethanol can draw in water vapor, which leads to rust and corrosion. That's why it's critical to address the issue as soon as you notice that the gasoline has gone bad. You'll need to completely empty your fuel tank - let the techs at Toyota of Clermont help you get it flushed out. 

Finally, we've got some tips on how to avoid bad gasoline: 

• When you put gas in your car, fill it up all the way. This will ensure you don't have space for moisture and water to accumulate. 
• If you see a gas station that's rarely busy, avoid it. Gas stations without a lot of clientele usually have gas that sits for a while. Busy gas stations, on the other hand, are routinely getting deliveries of fresh gas. 
• Drive your vehicle, even if just for a short distance, every week at least once a week for a few minutes. This is especially true if your car is a garaged vehicle that doesn't see the open road too often. Driving it a few times a week will circulate fuel through the system and also ensure that you're adding fresh gas to the mix routinely. 

You can also ask Toyota of Clermont's techs about fuel stabilizers - they'll help prevent the degradation of the gas in your car. 

Let Toyota of Clermont help you deal with gasoline gone bad

Need advice when it comes to bad gasoline? Call Toyota of Clermont today. We're open seven days a week at (352) 404-7000 and conveniently located just west of the Florida Turnpike at 16851 State Road 50.