I'd post this in the fuels forum but it's not been active for over a year - and I trust this community's opinion (well, most of youall anyway - ha!).

Diesel is pretty cheap right now and I'm about ready to fill my farm tank with off-road. I've also got a 55 gallon drum I used for kerosene. Thinking about filling that up too but I won't use that up this year probably and am worried about algae etc.

When I rebuilt my CRD KJ it sat for 2 years with a full tank of ULSD and all I did was add some Power Service I think. I just got it running about a month ago and have put several hundred miles on it with no problems. I know common rails are less forgiving than our pumps (and all my 40-60 year old tractors) but injectors are still a choke point I assume?

Soooo, was wondering what you guys do or don't do. Thoughts, concerns, advice?

 

When my black crew cab was down for at least 3 years as I swapped the motor, and did a bunch of other, "while I am here" stuff, I never even worried about the diesel being bad.

The 2wd to 4x4 club cab '93 build I am working on sat in my shop for 4 years without moving once and it fired it up like it was running yesterday to start the build finally 2 months ago.

With my line up of Cummins trucks it is very common for me to not add any diesel to my back up rigs like my yard dump truck or yard plow truck for years on end.

Add a small shot of Power Service anti algae to it and I would guess you would have good fuel to use for at least 3 years if not quite a bit longer.
I have also bought trucks that have not run in 5-7 years and fired them up to drive on my trailer before too with no issues on the fuel still in their tanks.

Just try the best you can to keep water out of it and I would recommend a place out of the hot sun if you could.

Diesel is not like the new gasoline that can turn into toxic stuff in a year or less.

 

That's kinda what I was thinking Oliver. Biodiesel seems to be worse about it and I can't remember what % max we have here. I can ask my fuel guy.

BTW, did you get much snow out of this event?

 

I don't deal with Bio, but I know if I buy a truck that has any signs of veggie oil in it I will NOT reuse the fuel in that tank in my trucks.
That fuel I will drain off and either give to my friend that heats his shop with waste oil, or give it in gallon jugs to some local loggers to use it to start bonfires.

Yes I am looking at least 3, if not 4 inches of fresh snow this morning. That will keep the black flies and Skeeters at bay for a few more days.

 

That very uncommon this time of year? We got down to 27*F this morning, record setting for KY. Our last average frost is April 18th.

I can store my 55 gallon drum in the barn. Not climate controlled but out of the sun.

 

Yeah, that much snow this late in May is pretty odd. The winter snow piles, even in the plowed up snow banks had all up totally disappeared.
Freezing temps at night are not uncommon for this time of year. The lowest temp of the day for the next week is predicted to be high 20's every night.

 

Oliver is right, I have run 7-8 year old diesel fuel from gerry cans without issue. I believe I started a thread about it...Mark

 

My truck sat for about 11 years waiting to get painted and put back together. It never failed to start and have had zero problem with injectors. I did put a rebuilt VE on it but was still running the old fuel in the tank with no problems. I always put Power Service white bottle in it. IDK if it has an algicide in it or not.

Edwin

 

I occasionally recover fuel from old trucks, and even old furnace oil tanks.

I try to pump into a yellow jerry can or white bucket first. Then give it long hard look. If its got crap in it, I'll run it through a filter. If its looks clear, but possibly really old, I just make sure to blend it with known-good fuel (50/50), and maybe a shot of additive for good measure.

The rule of the thumb at work is diesel lasts 5 years.

 

$1.495/gal. I wish I'd had a 1,000 gallon tank now!

 

I was thinking the same thing but being in commiefornia I'd get busted for it I'm sure.

 

$1.49?...The lowest price for diesel I've seen here lately is $1.89......Ben

 

I think I paid 2.39 for it here a few days ago.

 

It was only $1.29 until they added state sales tax. Road diesel here is $2.55. My tractors are happy!

 

$2.59 here.

Keeping the storage container air tight is important for preserving any fuel, oil degrade in oxygen rich environments. glycol ( brake fluids ) are hydroscopic, and attract moisture.

I would add a quart of diesel fuel additive during the filling process.

I use this all year long, and I get better mpg from it. Supposedly removes h2o