Storing Diesel Fuel

[easternhunter]

Guys,

Is it good practice to use a fuel additive for diesel fuel that may be around 6 months to a year? If so, what is a good one?

Thanks!

 

[MikePA]

Yes, Power Service Anti-Gel plus Power Service Biocide.

 

[sixdogs]

I have used Stanadyne diesel treatment for 25 years and in all that time never even had an injector off. My fuel is now two years old and sometimes it gets to three years

 

[s219]

Lots of good choices. I like Power Service products, but recently started using Valvtect "BioGuard Plus 6", which combines their diesel stabilizer with biocide in one product. For warm climates, or when adding to winterized fuel, that's all you need. If in a cold climate without winterized fuel, I add Power Service Anti-gel too.

I got going on the Valvtect products because they are offered at a local marina. They sell gas and diesel pre-blended with Valvtect, and everyone swears by it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't put anything in my fuel storage tank and it has been serving me well for over 4 years. It stays inside my boat storage shed which is totally enclosed so no rapid temp changes or exposure to water. Never had any problems with algae or water, which I think the two problems go together, keep out the water and you wont have algae growth.

I did think I was going to have to get some anti-gel when the temps got to 9F but everything continued to work. Brother in law even got his NH out to move some hay when it was 10F and had no problems with gelling and all our fuel is summer blend, heck I don't even know if they change the formulation in winter here as most times it doesn't get below 25F in winter (except this year). Everyone up north recommends and uses anti-gel additive of some brand or other to prevent the wax from dropping out of suspension, so I suppose that it required in colder climates, but most places here don't even carry a biocide or anti-gel additives. Maybe a truck stop might have it, but I don't frequent those places.

 

[TerryR]

I've been buying my fuel, two five-gallon cans at a time, for 15 years and never added anything to it. Depending on the season, the two cans may last six months or more. It sits in an unheated shed while the outside temps typically range from single digits (minus 8 last week) to around 85 degrees over the year, though the temps in the shed are probably 10 to 15 degrees higher when the sun shines. I've never had any issues.