Data from subsidence tests with coal–methanol and coal–coal 1iquid–methanol slurries are presented to suggest that coal liquids may serve to enhance the storage stability of coal–methanol slurry fuels. A two parameter system–the relative sediment height and the terminal sediment volume was used to characterize the compactness of coal sediments. The stability of coal–coal 1iquid–methanol slurries was found to depend upon the coal liquid content of the slurries. Addition of coal liquid to coal–methanol slurries caused coal particles to flocculate. These flocs form a loose, easily redispersed sediment bed which is very desirable from a practical point of view.