what to do with 5 year old diesel?

[chuckgreen]

We've got around 200 gallons of diesel in an underground tank. The previous owner of the place says the stuff is maybe 4 to 5 years old. I pumped a bit out to check it out for myself, it looks clear and ok, not jelled up or anything. Is there any way this fuel could be used in a tractor after filtering and treating it, etc. We've got to do something with it anyway, what to do?

chuck

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am thinking I would pump it out and filter it into another tank. That will give you a good idea of the condition and you could go a step further and cut open the filter to check what it caught. You may want to try it out in something simple like small diesel engine so you cant mess much up.

I have personally used 3 year old fuel with no problems so my guess is you are ok. I would also call around to your local co-op, truck stops, or fuel delivery guys and see if there is a way to test a sample. I know stations test the fuel the take delivery of randomly.

Chris

 

[john_bud]

Toss in enough water separating additive for the 200 gal, then add some cetane improver, filter and use.


I would blend it in at first until I got some experience on how good / bad it may be.

jb

 

[Waltert]

Burn it in your furnace,,,

 

[RalphVa]

I used diesel that had been in the tank of our Benz while it was stored for 4 1/2 years. It was a little brown, and I had to use a dose of Chevron Techron to quiet a mid range, constant speed ping. That was only the second time in its life that I'd used Techron. First time was not long after I bought it off the showroom floor with 22k miles and 1 year on it.

If you have a filter with a water decanter after it to observe if you get any water, I'd use it.

The Benz tank was full; so, it had no water and never has had a water problem.

Ralph

 

[deere755]

I differ from the rest. I would not use it except maybe as a starter for a brush pile or something. The word underground scares me. Several years ago I fueled up our John Deere 4430 farm tractor late at night out of an underground tank and basicly filled it up with water. The tank was leaking and letting water in. After a couple new injectors cleaning the fuel tanks on the tractor and several fuel filters we solved the problem. Last time we used the underground tank ever again. 200 hundred gallons is a lot of money at 4 a gallon but engine repairs can be more costly.

 

[sixdogs]

Toss in enough water separating additive for the 200 gal, then add some cetane improver, filter and use.


I would blend it in at first until I got some experience on how good / bad it may be.

jb

I like this idea or just dual filter --regular and water trap--add some diesel condiitoner and see what it looks like. Then use it.
The only concern is the underground tank and the water thing.

 

[Skyco]

How does it smell? If not "sour" smelling I'd use it like some mentioned, blending it in with new diesel after water/particulate filtering. Interesting it isn't red if it was for a tractor/farm machinery.
Whatever you do don't add a water "remover" that attempts to disperse the water, if it has any, into a fine suspension with the fuel. You want to separate the water out.

 

[tommu56]

chuckgreen

I'm with Diamondpilot filter it good send a sample out for testing a $4.00+ a gallon even if it cost $50.00 it would be deal at $0.25 a gallon

tommu56

 

[groundcover]

I think I would burn it in a furnace,filters/nozzles for that are a lot cheaper than for the tractor. There are additives that will kill algae etc. but I sure wouldn't want to get that started in my tractor tank.