A fuel composition of the present invention exhibits minimized hydrolysis and increased fuel stability, even after extended storage at 65.degree. F. for 6-9 months. The composition, which is preferably not strongly alkaline (3.0 to 10.5), is more preferably weakly alkaline to mildly acidic (4.5 to 8.5) and most preferably slightly acidic (6.3 to 6.8), includes a lower dialkyl carbonate, a combustion improving amount of at least one high heating combustible compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, bromine, bismuth, beryllium, calcium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, francium, gallium, germanium, iodine, iron, indium, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, palladium, rubidium, sodium, tin, zinc, praseodymium, rhenium, silicon, vanadium, or mixture, and a hydrocarbon base fuel.