🔌⛽ Generator Fuel Planning: How Much Gas Do You Really Need?
When the power goes out, your generator becomes your lifeline — but fuel is what keeps that lifeline alive. Watching the fuel gauge drop during an outage is stressful, and guessing wrong can leave you in the dark when it matters most.
Proper generator fuel planning isn’t about hoarding gas cans. It’s about knowing your real fuel burn, planning realistic runtimes, and storing fuel safely so it actually works when you need it.
📊 Why Fuel Planning Matters
Most portable generators burn 0.5–1 gallon per hour at 50% load, but efficiency depends heavily on how you use it:
🔹 25% load = inefficient
🔹 50–75% load = best fuel efficiency
🔹 100% load = high consumption, short bursts only
⚡ Realistic Daily Fuel Scenarios
🧊 Essentials only (fridge, lights, devices): ~4–5 gallons/day
🏠 Comfortable living (TV, freezer, fans, microwave): ~9–14 gallons/day
❄️ HVAC running (AC or electric heat): 18–25+ gallons/day
📦 Safe Storage Reality
Most areas limit gasoline storage to ~25 gallons in approved containers
Use DOT/CARB-approved cans, store in ventilated areas, and keep fuel rotated
Treated fuel lasts 12–24 months, untreated fuel only 3–6 months
🔄 Fuel Rotation = Reliability
Label cans with dates
Rotate fuel every 3–6 months
Run stabilized fuel through the generator during testing
Ethanol-free fuel lasts longer if available
🧠 Prep Smarter, Not Harder
Most households can cover typical outages with 15–25 gallons of properly stored, rotated fuel — if they plan honestly and test their setup.
⚠️ The generators that fail in emergencies usually aren’t broken — they’re running bad fuel.
Know your numbers. Store safely. Rotate consistently.
That’s real generator readiness. 💪
🔗 What’s your current generator fuel plan? Gas, propane, or dual-fuel? Let’s compare notes.
https://thesensibleprepper.com/generator-fuel-planning/