Storage of diesel fuel long term. Bugs can grow?
Discussion
I read some time ago that it is OK to store diesel fuel in airtight jerry cans for several years ( in case of shortages ) but now read that the diesel can deteriorate if kept longer than one year due to the formation of bugs.
Anyone know how long it can be safely kept and what is the best sort of filter to use if putting it in our cars.
Thanks
Anyone know how long it can be safely kept and what is the best sort of filter to use if putting it in our cars.
Thanks
I'm pretty sure you could use petrol to clean out the tank.
My reasoning is a small amount of petrol in diesel does no harm to diesel engines and the petrol in the storage tank will evaporate, eventually.
I found a 10 year old jerry can of diesel in a mates shed and apart from the odd smell it ran his car with no problems! (He is incredibly tight!)
My reasoning is a small amount of petrol in diesel does no harm to diesel engines and the petrol in the storage tank will evaporate, eventually.
I found a 10 year old jerry can of diesel in a mates shed and apart from the odd smell it ran his car with no problems! (He is incredibly tight!)
majordad said:
I have an old plastic home heating 1000 litre tank and am considering filling it with car diesel.
How do I wash out the home heat diesel ( its marked , ie rebated diesel so not allowed for road use ). I would need to ensure there are no traces of red diesel remaining .
Not sure how to remove traces of the dye but some folks from across St Georges Channel seem to know. They have allegedly been selling red diesel with the dye removed for some time. Seems the chemical they use also reduces the lubricity of the fuel and can wreck fuel pumpsHow do I wash out the home heat diesel ( its marked , ie rebated diesel so not allowed for road use ). I would need to ensure there are no traces of red diesel remaining .
I guess you will be careful to store this tank away from prying eyes. Where I live there is a gang (or more) going around pinching diesel from local hauliers and quarries. Local pub also lost 400 litres of heating oil.
majordad said:
I have an old plastic home heating 1000 litre tank and am considering filling it with car diesel.
How do I wash out the home heat diesel ( its marked , ie rebated diesel so not allowed for road use ). I would need to ensure there are no traces of red diesel remaining .
Jet wash it the best way as that will get all the crud out the bottom of the tankHow do I wash out the home heat diesel ( its marked , ie rebated diesel so not allowed for road use ). I would need to ensure there are no traces of red diesel remaining .
Then dry it out.
Several biocides are available, and it is important to use a good one. The bacteria that grows in diesel fuel is anaerobic, meaning it doesn't need air to grow.
With proper preservatives and biocides diesel fuel can last a LONG time. My father was RCAF/ Canadian Armed Forces and was part of NORAD. (Mother was USAF Norad, they met at Colorado Springs....) They had some installations where the fuel was quite old-there was a case where an underground installation had been abandoned for twenty years. It had a genset and ten thousand gallons of fuel, untouched. The starting batteries were dead, of course, and the odour of the fuel was a little off, but when new batteries were brought in and the engine was checked and barred over, she then started up and ran with no issues.
With proper preservatives and biocides diesel fuel can last a LONG time. My father was RCAF/ Canadian Armed Forces and was part of NORAD. (Mother was USAF Norad, they met at Colorado Springs....) They had some installations where the fuel was quite old-there was a case where an underground installation had been abandoned for twenty years. It had a genset and ten thousand gallons of fuel, untouched. The starting batteries were dead, of course, and the odour of the fuel was a little off, but when new batteries were brought in and the engine was checked and barred over, she then started up and ran with no issues.
rrusston said:
Several biocides are available, and it is important to use a good one. The bacteria that grows in diesel fuel is anaerobic, meaning it doesn't need air to grow.
With proper preservatives and biocides diesel fuel can last a LONG time. My father was RCAF/ Canadian Armed Forces and was part of NORAD. (Mother was USAF Norad, they met at Colorado Springs....) They had some installations where the fuel was quite old-there was a case where an underground installation had been abandoned for twenty years. It had a genset and ten thousand gallons of fuel, untouched. The starting batteries were dead, of course, and the odour of the fuel was a little off, but when new batteries were brought in and the engine was checked and barred over, she then started up and ran with no issues.
I was thinking of this one. Is it a good one or what do you recommend? Cheers.With proper preservatives and biocides diesel fuel can last a LONG time. My father was RCAF/ Canadian Armed Forces and was part of NORAD. (Mother was USAF Norad, they met at Colorado Springs....) They had some installations where the fuel was quite old-there was a case where an underground installation had been abandoned for twenty years. It had a genset and ten thousand gallons of fuel, untouched. The starting batteries were dead, of course, and the odour of the fuel was a little off, but when new batteries were brought in and the engine was checked and barred over, she then started up and ran with no issues.
http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk/scripts/pr...
The growth is called MBG (Micro biological growth) and it occurs on the water/ fuel interface.
Key is to prevent water ingress, this on large tanks can be caused by condensation in the tank walls.
Keep the tank as full as possible, and only use a biocide if necessary, as sometimes these can cause filter blockages.
If you get MBG, your fuel filter will block quickly, which will result in fuel starvation.
Sulphur reducing bacteria is another found in diesel, never heard of it in a car tank, more on large ships tanks but this rots metal, and is very difficult to stop.
Key is to prevent water ingress, this on large tanks can be caused by condensation in the tank walls.
Keep the tank as full as possible, and only use a biocide if necessary, as sometimes these can cause filter blockages.
If you get MBG, your fuel filter will block quickly, which will result in fuel starvation.
Sulphur reducing bacteria is another found in diesel, never heard of it in a car tank, more on large ships tanks but this rots metal, and is very difficult to stop.
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