Diesel fuel storage for gen set

[Bertram65]

I have a 100KW diesel generator that sits on top of a 200 gallon fuel tank. The unit is run for 20 minutes a week to verify operation and I have it load banked every 12 months. The problem I forsee is the fuel, I am not using enough, in a 12 month period I may go through 30 to 40 gallons. Power outages are pretty rare here. The generator has been in service for 3 years, in that time I have burned around 120 gallons or slightly less. I am concerned about the age of the fuel in the tank. I have the unit serviced every 6 months and there have not been any indications of any fuel related problems. I am wondering if I should have the tank pumped out and start fresh or add fuel additives at this point.

 

[QRTRHRS]

For starters, I would treat the fuel everytime you have a delivery. I have had fuel over a year and did not notice problems using it in my tractors. I don't suppose you have oil heat? I have an ag fuel tank on my truck which I keep filled over the winter for weight. On the rare occasion I get through winter with fuel in it, I simply dump it into my home oil tank.



If you decide to pump it out, is this going to cost you? Is this a big issue? Can you gravity feed it? I have already used three lengths of garden hose to gravity feed one tank to another. Once and done for the hose.

 

[me4osu]

Biocide is your friend.

Racor makes a pretty good one that is alcohol free. Biocide

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Diesel fuel Stability



There is a fuel stabilizer meant for long term storage but I can't think of it right now. It is intended for commercial fuel tanks that are used as a back-up source at power plants like Gas Turbines that burn Natural gas most of the time but K-1 or #2 once in a while and their tanks may sit for years on end without use.



The general rule of thumb is that diesel has a shelf life of 1 1/2 - 2 years. Now as a side note we run our 500 kw diesel once a week for 10 minutes or less and once a month we do an automatic transfer to the emergency bus for 30 minutes so that it is loaded, provided the power plant is off-line (don't want to cause the plant to trip just to satisfy the tech manual). According to the Onan manual they want it run 30 minutes per week loaded, obviously that can't always be done. The 10 minute run was pulled from our rump as a "lets not run it very long unloaded because it runs cooler" type of thing. Ours has been installed for 10 years and has 900-1000 hours on it, with over 125 of those coming during this year. The fuel tank has a automatic fill connection from a 300,000 gallon tank that sits and does nothing most of the time. Our fuel is sampled at each delivery day and once per year for thing like biological growth and BTU content and we have never had any indication of growth. By the way it is ultra-low sulfur #2 so according to the article above maybe that has something to do with it. Hope this gives you some ideas.



Tim

 

[Sageair]

Stabil is specifically formulated to extend the shelf life of either gasoline or diesel.

 

[Bertram65]

Thanks for the responses, I think I am going to have the tank pumped (cost is $300) start fresh, and treat the fuel on a regular basis.

 

[JLEONARD]

Or... you spend the $300 building a "fuel polishing" rig like a lot of boaters do, and filter the fuel yourself.

I figure with your handle you would know about that



An electric fuel pump, a Racor or similar filter unit, and some plumbing and you can build your own "polishing' system.



Just another thought from a cheap yankee.



Jay

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Bertram65

Thanks for the responses, I think I am going to have the tank pumped (cost is $300) start fresh, and treat the fuel on a regular basis.

I wish you were closer to NJ.

I'd do you a favor and take that nasty ratty old fuel off your hands for free.

Eric

 

[RobertBolinger]

Yeah the oil companies love to pump out "old" oil. We have a corporate 2500KW Trailer mounted Cat with 1500 gal belly pan-they thought it could not be hauled cross country with fuel in it and PAID $75 to DISPOSE of 1500 GALLONS of fuel



Now they say it can be towed with no more that 600 gallons in it, so we try to only keep that much in it.