What do I do with contaminated diesel?

[Kaliburz]

If it were me, I'd put it in a smudge pot.... aka agricultural heater for tree fruits. They burn straight heating oil (aka diesel).......

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have 6 or 7 gallons of diesel that started to grow algae that I drained out of the tractor and what was left in the yellow can that is sitting in the barn. Is there any use for it or do I take it down to the Household Hazardous Waste Center?

Chris

Doesnt the stuff fall to the bottom? Filter it out, add a little Power Service and use the fuel promptly. Its still got 7hrs of tractor power in it.
larry

 

[frank_f15]

I have 6 or 7 gallons of diesel that started to grow algae that I drained out of the tractor and what was left in the yellow can that is sitting in the barn. Is there any use for it or do I take it down to the Household Hazardous Waste Center?

Chris

i never have old diesel, but do have lots of stuff to burn during a year, so i just use new diesel to get it going , better than gas and safer.

 

[Jimbrown]

Being as PA salts the heck out of roads in the winter. I would mix it 50/50 with used motor oil and spray the undersides of my trucks/cars. It really works to stop rust.

 

[pennwalk]

Thanks for the good ideas. In the old days I would have just dumped it on the gravel driveway to keep the dust down sometimes we did wonder why the well water tasted funny. I did think about filtering it. The way I noticed that I might have a problem is that when I was refueling the red funnel with the brass screen that I used slowed to a trickle. I noticed that the fuel was real dark and cloudy. I drained the tank and added Killum to the new fuel.The tractor has been running fine. I figured that it would be hard to filter and I wasn't sure if something would get through so I just set it aside.

Chris

 

[AlanB]

If it has the algae growing in it, for 6 0r 7 gallons there is no way in heck I would fool with trying to save it and use it in a vehicle.

That can be just flat out miserable to get out of the system.

 

[xlr82v2]

If you filter it, you could pour it back into your tank.

If the fuel was growing bugs inside your tank, then you haven't fixed the problem by just draining the fuel. The bugs (it's not algae, but bacteria... bugs!) are still in your tank, laying on the bottom and sides... everywhere. You'll need to shock it with an anti-microbial additive like Biobor or similar.

The bugs don't actually grow in the fuel, but in the boundary layer between the fuel and moisture that has accumulated in the storage vessel (tank, storage container, etc). So, if you keep your fuel dry, you won't have a problem with bugs. Unfortunately, easier said than done at times.

Since the bugs don't actually grow in the fuel, but in the boundary between the fuel and moisture (water) that has collected in the fuel, you could filter it and then return it to the tank along with a shock treatment of anti-microbial additive to kill the bugs growing in your tank.

 

[mahlers]

I use old diesel to start campfires and to get my charcoal BBQ going. It sure is a lot cheaper than buying quart containers of Kingsford and, in my opinion, the new low-sulfur diesel adds less off-flavor to things that I cook on the charcoal.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I swear im gonna fill a fve gal can with 4 gal of water and 1 gallon gas, and leave it in the driveway next to my boat, or in the back of my truck, that way when my neighbors steal it, I can laugh at them on the side of the road..

 

[WarrenF]

If you have a ditch you need to clean out from the fall weeds.....pour the diesel down the ditch....Tell your wife to get some newspaer and when you say OKAY, have her light the paper and put in the ditch.....She will be your permanent helper from then onl....I have never met a woman who didn't have a bit of pyromaniac in her....LOL