Does diesel need a stabilizer for long-term storage?

[dresslered]

Products like STA-BIL claim that even diesel needs a stabilizer for long term storage. Specifically, I have a 550-gallon underground diesel tank on my vacation home which runs the forced air heating and water heater. I typically refill with 'red diesel' every 3-years and change the filter a couple of times during this interval. I also polish the tank (recirculate the remaining fuel through a dual-filter system) when the level gets down to about 80-gallons. I've never seen more than a cup of water and almost no algae over this time interval. I've never had a problem using this method, but the last time I filled up, the pumper said that I should add a stabilizer to it. Is this true?

 

[Grizzly]

Yes.



george

 

[Bob Cochran]

I would say yes also but if you have not had a problem? I am kind of a belt and suspenders guy with most things so I would say yes even though you have not had a problem. Maybe it is not "if but when" thing I don't know.

 

[dresslered]

Thanks guys. I use the Sta-bil religiously in all my gas applications, but seem to recall a post here years ago about a guy that had 20-year old diesel that he pumped right into his truck. Probably cheap insurance considering the last bill for the red stuff.

 

[guldam]

This is what I found this weekend. Fuel filter was clean, but the pre-heater filter had what I think is residual fungus from when the previous owner of my truck got a bad batch of fuel. He paid a lot of money to drop the tank and clean out the fuel system. I think the dealer skipped the pre-heater filter.



I'd add stabilizer, and anti fungal additives.



GulDam

 

[dresslered]

That is pretty nasty. I've never seen anything like that in my home system either at the main filter or when I polish it. Any recommnedations on the brands of stabilizer and anti fungal additives?

 

[bheiting]

Power Services Diesel Clean is supposed to kill algae and condition fuel, but I have never seen an unbiased test to see if it works. Better insurance would be to buy what you will use within a years time and get it from a supplier that has a high volume turnover. I would be concerned with condensation in an underground tank. You need a very good water removal filter, that's for sure.

 

[AABEN]

All above ground tanks will get water and algae! So watch it going in to winter and watch it going in to spring and summer! The chang of tempture is the dog that will get you.

 

[Removed at users request]

It is never too late to post. I will, hopefully, help someone out with this. I have experienced a lot of gasoline applications where this unleaded fuel turned to varnish rather quickly. Leaded fuel had a much longer life rate before it even thought about going the varnish route. On to diesel fuel, I spent many years working on and around diesel equipment and never had any varnish problems. This after months of equipment sitting idle and not even being started in the meantime-----UNTIL. I had a diesel powered piece of equipment delivered to me to prep for the gangs use. Two saddle tanks (80 gallons each), the first thing I did was remove the tank cap and, whoa, that ole varnish smell was rampant. I pulled the head and found the seals and gaskets were bad. The varnish had even dissolved one of the head gaskets. This was a new engine install, once installed it was put aside and neglected for seven years. How long did it actually take to turn the diesel to varnish I do not know. Considering the condition of the engine I would venture to guess 2 to 4 years.
Use fuel treatment and additives to protect your investment.

 

[Shadrach]

Fleetguard does make a "Micobicide" that kills fungus etc
https://catalog-stg.cummins.com/html/en/products/fuel/additives/microbicide.html




David

 

[brods]

It is never too late to post. I will, hopefully, help someone out with this. I have experienced a lot of gasoline applications where this unleaded fuel turned to varnish rather quickly. Leaded fuel had a much longer life rate before it even thought about going the varnish route. On to diesel fuel, I spent many years working on and around diesel equipment and never had any varnish problems. This after months of equipment sitting idle and not even being started in the meantime-----UNTIL. I had a diesel powered piece of equipment delivered to me to prep for the gangs use. Two saddle tanks (80 gallons each), the first thing I did was remove the tank cap and, whoa, that ole varnish smell was rampant. I pulled the head and found the seals and gaskets were bad. The varnish had even dissolved one of the head gaskets. This was a new engine install, once installed it was put aside and neglected for seven years. How long did it actually take to turn the diesel to varnish I do not know. Considering the condition of the engine I would venture to guess 2 to 4 years.
Use fuel treatment and additives to protect your investment.

Can't compare the old fuels to the new biofuel garbage being forced down our throats.

Find someplace to buy real, non-biocontaminated fuel and then use a stabilizer before storing.