Stockpiling diesel

[Indian Territory]

I am a VERY small-time farmer. Probably better to say I am VERY large gardener.

Anyway, I use a small tractor and appropriately-sized implements to grow using large-scale, row-crop, conventional agricultural techniques (though we are organic). Sub-grade drip fertigation, plastic mulch, etc.

It's really just an all-consuming hobby. But in recent months the whole practice has given us some peace of mind as a hedge against times that seem to want to go bad. We are not preppers as such, but we do preserve/can what we grow (which is a LOT), etc.

Anyway, I have a couple concerns that perpetually niggle the back of my mind. One is the availability of water, should things go REALLY south.

But more concerning still is the availability of diesel. I have MS. This fact, plus the sheer size of my operation, makes it an impossibility to grow using an all hand-tool "peasant" approach. My health just can't keep up.

So my question is, how can I safely stockpile enough diesel to sustain operations in bad times, given that the small scale of my operation makes certain infrastructure additions (underground fuel storage, etc) financially and laughably impractical?

Thanks.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I 've never had any problems at all, keeping a several hundred gallon tank or even a drum of fuel out in a storage building, out of the weather, even for a year or more...

No additives added, I just start out with a clean drum and keep the water out of it.

SR

 

[duffer]

As Sawyer stated, keeping water out of the diesel is the key. It will store for a long time. But with the changing seasons comes different humidity and heat variations, that CAN cause condensation (not always visible) in your tank.

I have a 275 gal tank, and I put in some BioKleen (can get online or most auto parts stores) to add to the storage tank to prevent bacteria growth which will cause you all kinds of problems if it gets in your tractor.

For your situation, it sounds like you don't go thru a bunch of diesel every month, so a 55 gal drum should work for you. (get a plastic one). You can also pick up an inexpensive 12v elec submersible pump to pump the diesel from the storage tank into your tractor (check ebay). I fill up my 9 gal tractor tank in less than a minute with my pump.

 

[TractorGuy]

I don't guess this is stockpiling but I keep two 55 gallons drums under a shed that I fill 3 times a year. I have read it will keep much longer. I do use additives. I use a biocide and lubricity additive during the summer and some anti gelling for the fall delivery. My pickup tube for the pump is up off the bottom so if it gets any moisture it should be safe. When my pump stops picking up fuel the drums have 5 gallons left in the bottom. I tilt them so I can get the last 5 gallons out in a can and inspect it for water then pour it in something that needs topping up. So far I have NEVER had any water in the final 5 gallons.

 

[fried1765]

I don't guess this is stockpiling but I keep two 55 gallons drums under a shed that I fill 3 times a year. I have read it will keep much longer. I do use additives. I use a biocide and lubricity additive during the summer and some anti gelling for the fall delivery. My pickup tube for the pump is up off the bottom so if it gets any moisture it should be safe. When my pump stops picking up fuel the drums have 5 gallons left in the bottom. I tilt them so I can get the last 5 gallons out in a can and inspect it for water then pour it in something that needs topping up. So far I have NEVER had any water in the final 5 gallons.

In many 3rd world areas, diesel is sometimes stored for years.

 

[Paystar]

Where I live you are allowed to have a 500 gallon portable tank without doing anything special. Above that you need spill containment and inspections, etc.

Anyway, I just keep two twin wall 200 gallon furnace oil tanks full and the 100 gallon transfer tank on my truck. Only reason being is I'm tired of the oil company scams and I buy in the summer when it is cheap. Every winter without fail just before heating season starts, prices sky rocket and they announce there was a refinery fire, or the ships couldn't get in, or some other BS to justify their price increase.
Luckily we get quality fuel around here, so even buying it in the summer I have no winter issues down to minus 40. Even our summer fuel is treated. But depending on your climate and fuel quality it wouldn't hurt to put some conditioner in it. I always put some Howes in mine.

 

[Diggin It]

Figure out how much you use and go for a six month supply. For me that's about 40 gallons. I see no reason to have more than that on my place at any one time.

 

[true temper]

I have 2 semi trucks that I rarely use, I try to keep them full of diesel, that’s over 400 gal. Plus a couple of 100 gal tanks of red fuel hanging around.

 

[WranglerX]

Figure out how much you use and go for a six month supply. For me that's about 40 gallons. I see no reason to have more than that on my place at any one time.

Most reasonable. solution....

Dale

 

[Tomtint]

If you have the ability to stockpile some, I see no reason not too. Diesel out here now is 2.45 ish.. gone up a fair amount since the nov implementation. It will be well over 3.00 by this time next year. ..and I think 3.75 will be easily reached in 22/23

 

[fried1765]

If you have the abolition to stockpile some, I see no reason not too. Diesel out here now is 2.45 ish.. gone up a fair amount since the nov implementation. It will be well over 3.00 by this time next year. ..and I think 3.75 will be easily reached in 22/23

I think it could be in the high $4 area.
Trucking will cost more, so as a consequence, EVERYTHING will cost more!
Might be a good time to buy oil stocks now though.

 

[DPS67]

Long term storage can lead to algae growth among other issues. Get some Howe’s diesel additive, or Power service. Treat the fuel per gallons stored. It also prevents the diesel from gelling/freezing in cold temps.

 

[RjCorazza]

I just replaced my backup generator from gasoline to diesel, so I am now storing 55 gallons of diesel in a lined steel drum that previously had gas in it. I kept treated gasoline for 2 years at a time without issue over 20 years, and I plan on cycling the diesel every 5 years or so. The drum is kept full and stored in a shed.
I will be adding biocide, and did add anti gel.
My total diesel storage is 13g in the tractor, 24g in (2) zero turns, 37g in my truck transfer tank, and the 55g in the drum. 129 total.

I used (5) 55g plastic drums to reclaim 250g of diesel 10 years ago, and had significant water problems. Granted these were stored outside with a board covering the tops, which was not ideal. I ended up with several gallons of water contamination over a few years use at the time.

 

[LouNY]

I keep quite a bit of fuel on hand, I get fueled up once a year for the house and tractors.
for the tractors I have 2 275 gallon tanks, I keep one with straight #2 and the other has a
blend of #1 and #2 about 30/70 for winter use.
None of my tanks have been completely emptied in decades.
Most years I have a half or better left over when I get filled in the summer.
I did put a pump suction line into the bottom of most of the tanks a couple of years ago and
pulled 10-15 gallons out of each tank, then let it sit for a couple of months and pulled the top 2/3s
off and used it the left over I left to sit for the winter and poured off what hadn't froze one day,
wasn't much a bit of sludge and ice maybe a gallon in all.

 

[Reb954]

I have a 15 gallon plastic container and a 5 gallon plastic container that I fill each January or February so I get the winter blend of off highway fuel. That will get me through the winter and partially into summer. I make sure I keep enough of it to get me into January or February of the next winter. During the summer I just run the tractor up the road a 1/4 mile to the filling station. They don't have off highway fuel but do rotate it quite a bit.

I also mix the fuel with Howes, more in the winter than the summer though.

 

[Hay Dude]

Figure out how much you use and go for a six month supply. For me that's about 40 gallons. I see no reason to have more than that on my place at any one time.

:laughing: a 6 month supply? For me would be 2500 gallons. Aint no 6 month supply happenin here.....
One tractor alone has 106 gallon tank, other 2 about 50 gallons. Wide open they use 7-10 gph.
3 trucks with 50 gallon tanks and 100 and a 50 gallon fuel cell.
Maybe a 1 week supply

 

[Hay Dude]

I keep quite a bit of fuel on hand, I get fueled up once a year for the house and tractors.
for the tractors I have 2 275 gallon tanks, I keep one with straight #2 and the other has a
blend of #1 and #2 about 30/70 for winter use.
None of my tanks have been completely emptied in decades.
Most years I have a half or better left over when I get filled in the summer.
I did put a pump suction line into the bottom of most of the tanks a couple of years ago and
pulled 10-15 gallons out of each tank, then let it sit for a couple of months and pulled the top 2/3s
off and used it the left over I left to sit for the winter and poured off what hadn't froze one day,
wasn't much a bit of sludge and ice maybe a gallon in all.

Yep, running down till the light comes on is bad news.
I have 2 or the truck mount fuel cells and I dont store much anymore. Have a 275 at the shop, but tractors are away from shop so much, its not getting used.

 

[Jstpssng]

:laughing: a 6 month supply? For me would be 2500 gallons. Aint no 6 month supply happenin here.....
One tractor alone has 106 gallon tank, other 2 about 50 gallons. Wide open they use 7-10 gph.
3 trucks with 50 gallon tanks and 100 and a 50 gallon fuel cell.
Maybe a 1 week supply

You also are commercial, not a hobby farmer.

 

[Hay Dude]

You also are commercial, not a hobby farmer.

My point that you missed is storing 6 months worth as a general rule, isnt for everyone.

 

[Peter 315]

I have a 275gal tank and a 110gal truck transfer tank...