Need some info

[Unclelevi]

I'm thinking of storing #2 diesel for my JD 1250 in a 55 gallon drum( I have a barrel pump). The questions are these : Will I need to use #1 diesel in the winter ( Minnesota ) and If I use a second barrel for #1 do I need to worry about the not-full #2 barrel ( because I didn't use it all in the summer) collecting moisture ?

 

[bmaverick]

I'm thinking of storing #2 diesel for my JD 1250 in a 55 gallon drum (I have a barrel pump). The questions are these : Will I need to use #1 diesel in the winter ( Minnesota ) and If I use a second barrel for #1 do I need to worry about the not-full #2 barrel ( because I didn't use it all in the summer) collecting moisture ?

You ask wise questions.

When you buy off-road diesel for AG, and it's a bunch, be sure it's coming from a fresh source. If not, the microbes in the unfrequently used holding tanks at the stations or distribution centers can go bad much sooner causing expensive downtime.

I too store diesel due to keeping the price low and buying when the prices are best. Plastic tanks don't rust, don't dent, and attract condensation like metal tanks do. HDPE is the ideal plastic tank material in use for fuels.

I have both 15-gallon and 30-gallon tanks. Easy to move, and easy to fill/dispense. Easy to put in the back of the truck to fill too.

My location is in the bottom of zone-5, you are more in the center of zone-5. Beloit, WI gets down to -22F. Your location could see the -40F in the hardest part of winter. I use diesel #2 all year.

For the diesel #2 in storage, 30-gallon tank is treated with 1-bottle of Seafoam. It's far better than the PS junk sold everywhere. Never had any issues with microbes or diesel going bad. Plus Seafoam keeps the injectors nice and clean. This works far better than Stabil.

Your JD1250 is really a Yanmar YM5000, yet in JD green paint. Made in the same factory and assembly line as my YM2610.

Seafoam's original use is for diesel engines and fuel.

 

[5030]

My opinion and real time use differs from yours but I'm not getting into it on here because if the OP does a site search, there are literally dozens of threads about fuel and storage and all things related to it...

 

[bmaverick]

My opinion and real time use differs from yours but I'm not getting into it on here because if the OP does a site search, there are literally dozens of threads about fuel and storage and all things related to it...

Yes, so many ways to store fuel and what not. The OP mentioned about 55-gallons. So it's close to my storage needs.

I don't buy diesel whole-sale as my CUT sips fuel doing a few acres of gardening. For someone in a large scale operations with several 40 acres, it's whole different story. Plus, I bet they have more than 1 machine.

There are all kinds of tanks, pumps, and dispensing devices out there too. For the small farms and homesteads, we often look for solutions on the smaller part of the operating scale.

There is a thread you and I were involved in a few months ago taking about what tanks or containers to store fuel in. It got so broad in scope, yet I too learned how small to big has huge differences.

 

[5030]

Oil and fuel threads are always about what a poster does and likes personally and what I do and what you do are probably polar opposite. Candidly, I do use Seafoam but not as a fuel additive. I use it as a carbon remover in my Ford Focus RS Turbo to remove the carbon buildup in the intake tract as it's a GDI engine with a dry intake tract so the intake valves over time will build up a carbon deposit and that impacts performance and fuel mileage.

Touching on fuel storage just a tad, I use Powerservice Biocide in my bulk fuel (500 gallon) storage tank and really nothing else of substance unless it's bitter cold out and then I may or may not use an anti-gel additive in my tractor if, I intend to use them in the winter, which, as a rule I don't. Most times they sleep all winter anyway.

I do run fuel polishing units on all my diesels and have for a while now. The fuel polishing units (Racor) remove any and all contaminant from the fuel, including water and any junk that may get in the fuel tanks and since I have installed them (2 years ago), I have yet had to change the primary engine mounted fuel filters or have anything collect in the see through fuel bowls (engine mounted again) on my Kubota's or my Ford diesel pickup truck. I consider them a very worthwhile investment and of note, Kubota is installing fuel polishing units on their T4 final, common rail engines now.

While primarily designed for commercial marine application, they work just fine in other applications as well and you can buy spin on filter elements in any micron pass you want. I run 2 micron pass on mine. Standard fuel filters are usually 10-50 micron pass as a rule.

 

[Williy]

When I lived in Wiscinsin I had a 275 gallon tank in
the garage only used the white bottle PS. and only used
approx 10 to 15 gal a week VW got low 50's for mpg

willy

 

[oldnslo]

When I farmed in central minnesota we used a 50/50 mix of #2 & #1 diesel in the chore tractor that was run a few times a week. Never had fuel gelling problems but I do believe quality of fuel is lower today than it was 40 - 50 years ago. We had 1,000 gallon tank for #2 diesel and 250 gallon for #1.

 

[5030]

I would imagine that ULSD treated with a biocide would last about forever, not that I can find out however. I have to fill my 500 gallon tank about once a year.

 

[number two]

Doesn't sound like you don't use lots of fuel.
Why not keep it simple and bring home the #1/kerosene home in 5 gallon cans.
Add it to the fuel from your barrel when you refuel.
Blend 30-40% #1 and add your favorite anti-gel additive.
This will keep your barrel use quicker,if you're worried about the storage downside.
I use plastic and steel drums for storage and don't worry about turnover.
Good Luck!

 

[Williy]

IMHO add the treatment to keep from jelling and
fill up both drums with diesel then use it when needed.
I had 275 gallon fuel tank in my garage in Fond du Lac
Wisconsin and the temps got down to 35 degree's below freezing no heat in garage and never had any problems just treated the fuel and forgot about it. Also I never added any fuel to the tank as it lasted me 2 years with 2 winters and no problem

willy

 

[dodge man]

In Illinois is I have had my fuel gel on 3 occasions. Every time during an extended time with temps near zero. I was using treated fuel also. Adding kerosene seems to have fixed that problem. I’d think in Minnesota it’s be smart to add kerosene. As far as how you store your fuel I don’t have any input, I use 5 gallon cans.

 

[Texasmark]

You ask wise questions.

When you buy off-road diesel for AG, and it's a bunch, be sure it's coming from a fresh source. If not, the microbes in the unfrequently used holding tanks at the stations or distribution centers can go bad much sooner causing expensive downtime.

I too store diesel due to keeping the price low and buying when the prices are best. Plastic tanks don't rust, don't dent, and attract condensation like metal tanks do. HDPE is the ideal plastic tank material in use for fuels.

I have both 15-gallon and 30-gallon tanks. Easy to move, and easy to fill/dispense. Easy to put in the back of the truck to fill too.

My location is in the bottom of zone-5, you are more in the center of zone-5. Beloit, WI gets down to -22F. Your location could see the -40F in the hardest part of winter. I use diesel #2 all year.

For the diesel #2 in storage, 30-gallon tank is treated with 1-bottle of Seafoam. It's far better than the PS junk sold everywhere. Never had any issues with microbes or diesel going bad. Plus Seafoam keeps the injectors nice and clean. This works far better than Stabil.

Your JD1250 is really a Yanmar YM5000, yet in JD green paint. Made in the same factory and assembly line as my YM2610.

Seafoam's original use is for diesel engines and fuel.

View attachment 861100

I use SF in a lot of my engines but my diesels get Power Services products. One of the items they sell is anti-gelling.

Being a N. Texan I usually don't have a freezing problem but year before last we got down to -4F......since 1978 +10 was the coldest it ever got.

I use 3ea. 55 gallon drums in a trailer with a 12v pump I bought from TSC years ago. I have the pump on one barrel and keep the plugs in the other two when not in use.....so that they can't "breathe". On the one in use I have a Goldstar final filter and a 20' refueling hose. The filter froze up. I bought some PS anti-gel and added it to the tank in use and stirred it up. Then got out my heat gun and heated the filter till it would pass fuel. Problem solved.

I don't know the specs on #1 vs #2 diesel as I fill up in the summer and #2 is all I ever use. Maybe PS anti-gel will work for you, maybe you need diesel #!. Might ping PS and ask the question.

 

[bmaverick]

In Illinois is I have had my fuel gel on 3 occasions. Every time during an extended time with temps near zero. I was using treated fuel also. Adding kerosene seems to have fixed that problem. I’d think in Minnesota it’s be smart to add kerosene. As far as how you store your fuel I don’t have any input, I use 5 gallon cans.

REALLY to the south of me! I'm here at the stateline of WI/IL. I only treat mine with Seafoam go below -24F from what's going on up here. No issues. Kerosene is just a tad better than diesel. Kerosene can go bad too.

 

[5030]

One thing to keep in mind and that is, every time you remove the fuel cap and put in fuel, you stand the chance of introducing dirt in the fuel tank and that dirt migrates it's way to the fuel hose and will eventually block it off, which is why I at least run a fuel filler strainer in my fuel tanks in addition to a fuel polishing filter pre engine fuel filter. Most fuel filters only filter to 80 microns where as a fuel polishing filter can filter down to 2 microns and strip out any water as well (depending on which element you choose to install). I tend to run 10 micron pass filters myself which is 8 times the filtering capacity of a standard spin on fuel filter and that don't even take into account the bowl filter which is most likely around 80-100 micron pass.

 

[big bubba]

i see diesel additives as addressing 1) water contamination 2) gelling in cold
3) algae 4) adding lubricity to low sulfur fuel (about all there is these days)
never seen an additive that will address all 4.

so you may want to consider maybe 2 types of additive. overall i have good luck with Howes (w/no algaecide though) never had problems with that, but don't use bulk tank. Optilube is another quality additive... regards

 

[90cummins]

I'm thinking of storing #2 diesel for my JD 1250 in a 55 gallon drum( I have a barrel pump). The questions are these : Will I need to use #1 diesel in the winter ( Minnesota ) and If I use a second barrel for #1 do I need to worry about the not-full #2 barrel ( because I didn't use it all in the summer) collecting moisture ?

I would suggest using a poly barrel rather than steel to eliminate/minimize tank corrosion & condensation accumulation.
The white poly tanks are also semi transparent making it easy to monitor fuel level without removing a bung. I also have a breather filter for tank on a standpipe. I had a 55 gallon steel drum in my power house & condensation would collect on outside surface during those humid false spring days in the winter. The inside of barrel was also rusted.
My 275 gallon supply is inside my shop & I use a CIM-TEK 10 micron filter followed by a a 2 micron filter and finally a goldenrod water block for peace of mind.
The fuel supply in the power house has a 24 volt Facet fuel pump that continuously pumps fuel thru a 2 micron filter then into a day tank which overflows back to the 30 gallon poly tank. There are 2 shutoffs on each fuel line going to two separate generators.
It may seem over the top but it’s certainly cheaper than a failure from particulate contaminants or water.

90cummins

 

[dennyd]

Here in MN, I fill up my barrel with #1 when they start to sell it at the pump, usually around Nov 1-15. If I have some #2 left, I usually use it up mixed with #1 plowing snow unless it's going to be really cold.If I have some summer diesel left in the middle of winter, I add some Howes & biocide.