Diesel fuel Age ?

[JPope]

Does diesel go bad with age as does gasoline?

Say over a winter, if the truck is infrequently used, and the tank is not filled at reguler intervals?



If so does use of additives help?

 

[EKlem]

Yes and no. Diesel itself does not go bad. While the oil has been refined, it was in the ground for thousands of years and didn't go bad. The two biggest problems are algae and water. The water comes from condensation so make sure to keep the tank full. The algae is a bigger problem in warm temps but you still want to be careful of it. I recommend putting algicide in the tank. Storing diesel can be problematic so try to avoid it but look at how many boats sit for 8 months a year without a problem.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I burned diesel that was over 30 years old, but because it had so much water in it I burned it in the push mower instead of my trucks. I let the water settle to the bottom and used the fuel on top, but even then diesel is hydrophilic & can hold quite a bit of water before it reaches saturation. Luckily the mower has a carburetor so no injection pump to worry about :-laf:

 

[The patriot]

I would tend to think that if it's stored properly, it should be good for many decades.

Storing it properly would constitute:

No fluctuation in temperature (causes condensation)

No exposure to direct sunlight """"""""""""""""""""""""""""

start with a good clean tank etc. etc. etc.

 

[klenger]

If the tank was full, condenstation would be at a minimum.

 

[The patriot]

Yea, I thought that but it didnt make it to my fingers. :-laf

 

[obert]

Luckily the mower has a carburetor so no injection pump to worry about :-laf:

Love it!! :-laf So is that a "one pull" start?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Love it!! :-laf So is that a "one pull" start?

heh. . . not quite, I have to spray a little gas down the carb to get it going



Here's the whole long story, haven't used anything but diesel in the push mower since 2003 https://www.turbodieselregister.com...l-topics/78251-ol-briggs-stratton-diesel.html

 

[tgordon]

I would simply keep the tank full and not worry about it. Most farm tractors in the US sit over th ewinter and never get started, they don't have troubles from the fuel in the tank.

 

[obert]

I would simply keep the tank full and not worry about it. Most farm tractors in the US sit over th ewinter and never get started, they don't have troubles from the fuel in the tank.

And old tractors that run just a few times a year. I dumped WAY too much fuel in the ol' WD9 McKormick about 4 years ago, still running on that fuel. My uncle put a tank coating in evrything we've restored, pretty much eliminates rust/dirt. Still keep an eye on moisture though, but I havn't seen to much of a prob. Oh..... too much was about 10 gal. Not much for a ~35 gal tank. She only gets run hard few hours a year.











I'm gonna mix in #2 in the mower this year. Sounds like fun!