Diesel Fuel Shelf-life.

[Podunkadunk]

Does diesel fuel turn stale like gasoline does? If so, does it occur in the same timeframe? If I don't run my tractor until spring, will I be ok with the existing diesel in the tank, or do I need to drain prior to starting?


-Podunk

 

[schmism]

there is a slime that grows on diesel and breaks it down.... But it only grows under certian conditions.

I dont belive it is subject to the same evaporation of volitiles like gass does....

 

[MadReferee]

On some of the heavy equipment forums there are posts of people firing up older equipment where the diesel fuel has been in the tank for several years. Alot has to do with contamination (moisture, algae, etc). In my case, I had my dozer sit from November to the following September and it fired right up on the fuel that was in the tank.

If you don't feel comfortable then by all means use some diesel fuel additive. A little protection never hurt.

 

[Sully2]

...
If you don't feel comfortable then by all means use some diesel fuel additive. A little protection never hurt.

Most definately! That stuff is WAAAYYY too cheap to have to fight with clogged filters..etc..etc.

 

[California]

And a related question:

Does biodiesel keep as well as conventional?

I recall reading somewhere that biodiesel absorbs water out of the atmosphere and combines with it to form a destructive acid. Therefor biodiesel is better suited to an application where use is continuous and there won't be old fuel just sitting there. Is this really true? And if so, will ordinary DFA's remedy this?

 

[RalphVa]

I had a diesel car sit in the garage for 9 months while in Singapore. I put the battery back into it (had been on 2 timers to a charger in the basement), glowed it, and it started up immediately. Didn't look at the fuel. No problems whatsoever.

Last time in Singapore was 4 1/2 years. Diesel in tank was a light brown. Ran the car with it. It developed a constant speed ping like it had not long after I bought it with 22k miles on it and 1 year old. Used Chevron Techron both times to fix the ping. It didn't start right up, because the battery was stone dead. New battery required a bit of cranking to start, but not much more than a carburetered gas engine would have after sitting 4 1/2 years. They were supposed to start it every month, but they obviously had not.

Ralph

 

[GarthH]

A while back I was involved with selling a product power service. Without question diesel fuels heavy particles will settle out of the fuel. As you start up in the spring you will start using up the heavy particles clogging filters and gumming up injectors. Once you get through those messes the lighter ends will go through; they are missing the carbon particles so your equipment will seem not perform well - lack of power.

The conditioner is very inexpensive but be careful. Some have high alcohol content with can dry out seals and the such. Typically alcohol based products will indicate to use very small quantities to treat a 100 gallons. Petroleum based products typically use a quart to treat around 100 gallons.

I am out of date but based on the stuff I saw 10 years ago I would still use Power Service - usually found in truck stops.

Fill your storage tank on the last fill of the season that way the fill process will mix the conditioner.

In colder climates like here in Canada, some of the conditioners help the fuel from gelling.


Garth

 

[Podunkadunk]

Preshiate it.

 

[cmhyland]

Every winter when we put the boat up on the hard for the winter season we use a diesel fuel dryer/conditioner and never have a problem starting inthe spring....

I wish I could say the same for my little 9.9 four stroke outboard....

Regards,
Chris

 

[Mahana79]

Power Service makes some interesting additives. One for just aobut any situation you could get a diesel into. check out their Website PowerService