how long can I store diesel fuel before it goes bad?

KICK · Oct 13, 2007

DP, you sure thats gel because that shyt looks like Jif peanut butter

DieselPower · Oct 14, 2007

Yep, that's gelled wax that came out of a school bus. Saw quite a bit of it last winter at temperatures I have never seen fuel gel problems before.

Here's one that doesn't look like Skippy peanut butter.

Skyco · Oct 14, 2007

Yeah I was wondering why it was so brown. Seems like it would be the color of the fuel....
BTW been running a little commercial biodiesel mix the last two months in my Powerstroke 7.3 and now have a fuel leak from the rear tank when I get it really full.

I've gotta run the tank down and drop it to take a look, I've heard the sending unit seal can leak, don't know whether the bioD caused that or it is just time, truck is a 96 and will be 12 years old from build date this month, I'm the original owner.

AlanB · Oct 14, 2007

DP, how are you fixing / treating those? If you put in new filters, would it not just blind off again in short order?

DieselPower · Oct 15, 2007

These were fuel filters from vehicles that had untreated fuel. After they had the gelling problem they started treating their diesel fuel with a pour depresant/anti-gel additive. A lot of people got caught off guard last winter.

jayhaitch · Oct 17, 2007

cp1969 said:
Every year people post on here about how their tractor fired right up at -30F. Not me. I have never even tried to start a diesel at that low of a temperature and probably never will. I can't imagine a non life-threatening situation in which I would want to be outside on a tractor when it's that cold. Even if it would start.

Take a drive 4 hours north of Fargo, ND. Spend the winter. Yup. Have to start the tractor in -30 sometimes.

But seriously, your point is well taken. Only twice last winter did I have to get on the tractor at -30C or colder because snow drifts were blocking my driveway. Snow tends to fall when it's warmer, but wind will blow anytime it seems. After killing my battery twice and taking a propane bullet heater to my engine, a block heater kit and synthetic 5w30 are imminent for my GC2310. Cheers.

KICK · Oct 20, 2007

I'm glad I'm in FLA.

been down here long enuf to forget what it was like to try fire up the fleet on a cold morning, back then used to have to wander the job parking lot with a 30 foot long pair of jumper cables and a can of ether.

those were the days. NOT.