It would seem that the best answer to availability of fuels would be based on personal needs and the amount of each type one were to squirrel away between now and the time it may be rationed under some executive order or another.

-- j.w.parker (j.w.parker@usa.net), February 13, 1998

Answers

Regarding the availability and storage of fuels. There is only one readily available liquid fuel that can be stored indefinitely with no deterioration and that is Propane. It is a byproduct of both natural gas and crude oil refining. But since it is stored under pressure there is no air in a Propane tank. No pump is required to get it out once it is filled. It can be drawn off the top of the tank as vapor or from the bottom as a liquid (-40 deg C or F very cold). Any gasoline engine made since about 1971 (unleaded gas and hardened valve seats) can be converted to run on propane or natural gas. Any natural gas appliance can be converted to propane or vice versa. Many RV generators are sold already converted. When the gasoline and Diesel runs out or cannot be pumped out Propane is going to look mighty sweet as a fuel. I called a local supplier, CENEX, and 1000 gal Propane tanks cost $1500.00 new and you can ask for a "wet" hose on the bottom to refuel vehicles that use liquid draw systems. Propane runs about $1.00-$1.30 a gallon depending on the season. You can lease the tank, but CENEX wants you to purchase a minimum of $3,000 of Propane per year if you do. Small engines, up to about 20 HP, can draw vapor directly off the top of a large horizontal storage tank. Larger engines need a liquid draw system like an automotive conversion. Propane is just barely heavier than air so the same precautions as gasoline apply. Yes there are additives that will stabilize gasoline or Diesel for up to 18 months. I read of one that claims 5 years depending on how fresh the fuel was to start. But you could store Propane for 1000 years and it would still be Propane when you crack the valve. 1000 gallon tanks will be hard to get next year. So will Propane conversions for cars and trucks.

-- Douglas V. Dorsey (Douglas.Dorsey@PSS.boeing.com), February 19, 1998.

A great posting! I have been debating over buying a super efficient low draw electric refrigerator, like a Sun Frost, and use a solar powered electric so

-- Dennis Sherwood (emdesher@iconnect.net), February 19, 1998.

A great posting! I have been debating over buying a super efficient low draw electric refrigerator, like a Sun Frost, and use a solar powered electric source or go with propane. A Sun Frost costs about $2,600 and heaven only knows how much for the solar panel/battery/inverter route. According to Servel, their propane refer uses about 1.5 gallons a week. A 1,000 gallon propane tank would last about 12 years at that rate. Hopefully the energy grid would be back up long before that! Questions: Can a rototiller motor can converted to use propane? What is the low season for cheapest prices for propane? What's involved in setting up a tank to refer supply line? Anyone have experience with a Servel propane refer?

-- Dennis Sherwood (emdesher@iconnect.net), February 19, 1998.

The Amish community in Kalona, IA uses Servel refrigerators and freezers and swear by them. They require very little repair. If the Amish didn't like them, they would just build their own. (They are a very resourceful people.)

-- Rebecca Kutcher (kutcher@pionet.net), February 19, 1998.

In my opinion, diesel is really the best fuel to stock up on. It will last 8-10 years (13 if stabilizer is added) and that's longer than just about any engine is going to without available parts. Diesel engines are much more reliable than gas engines (propane engines similar to gas) and you don't have to convert a diesel truck (which you will need to travel once our roads turn into long strings of potholes). But there is nothing that says you can't get one tank for diesel to run your truck and generator and another for propane to cook with and run other appliances.

-- Ryan Booth (ryanbooth@hotmail.com), June 06, 1998.