Race gas may be a magical elixir capable of making cars high-performance machines do astounding things, but it still requires a certain level of care when not in use in the offseason. What you do with your fuel in the offseason is critical to ensuring you get the best possible performance when its time to go racing the following year.

The offseason can be brutal on a racer because they can’t get to the track for horsepower related fun, but it can be even more brutal on racing fuel if it isn’t taken care of properly. The incorrect storage of fuel will impact its potency and that will make an engine not run to its full potential, or even cause damage in some cases. The key factors in storing fuel correctly revolve around how it’s being stored and where by the racer.

Tom Henriott from VP Racing Fuels provides some great information about the best practices for storing fuel for the winter or offseason. By following these simple guidelines along with not opening sealed containers fuel is being stored in, you should have fuel that’s ready to use the next racing season.

“How the fuel is stored is probably the most important thing racers need to keep in mind when preparing for the offseason. We would always recommend a drum for the best storage since it has the great sealing capabilities. The metal five-gallon can the fuel comes in would be next best option and then plastic as a last option or worst case scenario. The main problem with plastic is it’s a porous material and it will allow the fuel to evaporate, lightens the oxygen content in the fuel, and it will allow moisture in.”

Henriott also emphasizes that where you store your fuel is just as important as how you store it. “Storing the fuel in a building with constant temperatures is the best. In a trailer or shop without temperature control would be next best option if that’s what you have access to. Storing the fuel outside would be a worst-case scenario. If that’s the only option, make sure the fuel is in a metal container out of direct sunlight and hopefully covered from rain or snow,” Henriott says.

By storing their fuel properly during the offseason, racers will see some benefits when it comes time to fire up their racecar for the first round the following season. The biggest of those that their car will remain consistent, along with seeing fewer issues when it comes to tuning and performance.

“If the fuel had been stored properly the racer should expect the same performance from the fuel that they had when they stored it. This way, they can start the fuel right where they left off instead of trying to figure out what went wrong with their combination. The racer will also see some cost savings since they won’t need to buy new fuel to start the season,” Henriott explains.

If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of your racing fuel check out VP’s website to see what additional tips and tricks they have to offer!