Old Diesel Fuel

[rideev]

My Uncle gave me a fuel storage take. About a 400 gallon tank. There is a little over 100 gallons in it. There is no water in the fuel, but it appears to be darker than what I am used to. Still red, just a darker red. The fuel might be 2 years old. How do I tell if it is ok to put in my tractor?

 

[RalphVa]

Don't know. The diesel fuel in our 240D stored for 4 1/2 years was BROWN. It ended up burning a valve. I'd be inclined to use it as winter fuel oil or something else for just burning.

 

[dragoneggs]

I agree with Ralph. Water in fuel really messes up your injectors. Not worth the risk to me. Here is an video (although geared towards boaters) about water in fuel that I liked. Part way into the video I thought the guy was going to drink it! :laughing:

Boats: How to check diesel fuel for water - YouTube

 

[murphy1244]

I use a Mr. Funnel it won't let water pass thru it.

 

[Ken45101]

Two years shouldn't cause problems if it is otherwise stored well. You might run it through a water and particulate filter (like GOLDENROD Fuel Filter, Water-Block, For 3MMG1 - Oil, Air, and Fuel Filters - 3MMG5|596-5 - Grainger Industrial Supply), which is a good idea anyway. I think TSC may carry them also.

A big risk for diesel is, if moisture gets in there, it may allow organic growth which is really bad for your engine. Again, a good filter should stop it.

I am leery of older metal tanks, I'm always afraid of internal rust.

 

[90cummins]

If you are going to store diesel for tractor use you should have a filtering system with both a 10 micron particulate filter and water block.
Diesel has an indefinite storage life if the tank in indoors with minimal temperature fluctuations which causes the tank to breath & take in moisture.

90cummins

 

[dodge man]

That's $300 worth of fuel. If its only 2 years old, I'd be tempted to try and use it. I'd treat it and filter it and use it. Part of that depends on the type of tractor. My Kubota is indirect mechanical injection, I wouldn't be afraid to run it in it. On the other hand, newer diesels such as the common rail in my Dodge truck are a little more sensitive, so I'd be a little more carefull with it and might blend it with some fresh fuel if I had doubts.

 

[Gary Fowler]

2 year old or 10 year old diesel is just as good as the day it was bought if it hasn't got any water in it. Diesel doesn't get stale like gasoline. Get yourself a good 10 micron filter with water block and pump it thru that and you wont have a problem. It may have some rust in it but the filter will trap that.
If you don't want it, let me know if you are close to Arkansas and I will take it off your hands with no charge for disposal fee.

 

[clemsonfor]

Yep get a transfer pump and put it through a water seperator. If really worried mix teh result half and half with fresh fuel. I will take it from you if you dont want it!!!

 

[sdef]

I agree with Murph. Mr. Funnel for point of use filtering and with the F15 model, for anything. Reading all of the specs on the Mr. funnel technology, they state that fuel additives and stabilizers can defeat their water blocking technology and to add these products directly to the tank instead of to the storage container.

I have a prepper mentality and use Power Research Inc.'s, Pri-G and Pri-D products for any fuel I store. This post encouraged me to perform an impromptu test using a Mr. Funnel F3 model. I added small amounts of water to the funnel until it started dripping, then poured off some until the dripping stopped. I performed this test several times to ensure I had a good baseline of how this particular filter reacted to filtering my well water.

I then added Pri-D in a concentration at least 10 times greater than recommended to a batch of water in a coffee tin and agitated a small amount to ensure reasonable mixing of the two components.

When I slowing added this Pri-D/water mixture to the funnel, it reacted very similarly to the pure water testing, convincing me that Pri-D probably does not interfere with the water blocking technology of the Mr. Funnel product.

I just ordered the F15 model to use with the tractor and the F1 model for the 2 cycle equipment.