Diesel in storage

[Gypsy_Pete]

Hi all. I've done a search on this forum but can't find a thread relating to this issue. I'll be heading off overses for three months and I'll be leving my trusty 2.7 lt diesel in the garage.

A friend of mine suggested that the fuel in the tank may 'go off' when left for that long. He was concerned about bacteria. He says that condensation causes bacteria in diesel fuel.

My question is does anybody know how long it takes for this to happen. I wouldnt have thought three months would have been a problem.

I'd just like to be sure.

[Blknight.aus]

dose it with anti-snot fill it to the brim, top it off as close as practicable prior to storage and you'll be apples.

[Davehoos]

diesel doesnt go off like petrol.add some diesel treatmentbefore you store it. and it can take a few months if the tank is contaminated..

advise with fuel use is to keep the tank full and in vehicle in a dry area

Not Parked On Grass Or Clay.

[Dougal]

Never had a problem and I've gone longer than that with nothing done.

[Nomad9]

Hi Pete,
Like others I've left diesel in the tank for longer than three months without a problem, especially in the LR tank. Fill to the brim or as full a practically possible, reduce the amount of air in the tank. I usually drain a little bit off the LR tank just to check for moisture or contamination, never had a problem. Rust in peace...........

[discotwinturbo]

When arb put the long range tank in my last 4wd they commented on the smaller original tank. They said that they have never removed a tank and found it that clean. Apparently they see a lot of algae growth and spots. When I told them that i only used gull biodiesel they said that must be the reason why. Something to do with the solvents in the fuel.
I have not used gull biodiesel in the D4.
Brett

[Davehoos]

the new hilux has a plastic tank and no drail plug.

a few that ive had out needed to be wiped clean with rags.

these have a fake pump in a surge tank that was choked with algy-but had not allowed any into the primary filter.the filter has a service light-ive never seen one work.

so if i hadnt removed the tank to flush out petrol I could have said we never have problems with algy.

[Dougal]

the new hilux has a plastic tank and no drail plug.

a few that ive had out needed to be wiped clean with rags.

these have a fake pump in a surge tank that was choked with algy-but had not allowed any into the primary filter.the filter has a service light-ive never seen one work.

so if i hadnt removed the tank to flush out petrol I could have said we never have problems with algy.

Algae or just sludge/sediment?

Every fuel tank I've ever been into had sediment/sludge in the bottom. But I've never come across anything growing. My 27 year old rangie tank doesn't appear to have a drain either. It would be great for fuel theives if they did.

[Gypsy_Pete]

Thank you all for your advice. I think the best assurance seems to be to reduce the amount of air in the tank by topping to the brim. I don't think I'll even disconnect the battery which is new and fully charged.

Thanks again to all. - Peter:)

[Dougal]

Thank you all for your advice. I think the best assurance seems to be to reduce the amount of air in the tank by topping to the brim. I don't think I'll even disconnect the battery which is new and fully charged.

Thanks again to all. - Peter:)

Filling the tank the the brim is a best practise thing even for not storing vehicles. I always fill my vehicles to the top on each fill. It keeps moisture out compared to those who keep putting $10 or $20 in each time while venting the tank to atmosphere.

[elsey]

All fuel dose deteriorate when stored. Filling the tank and a dose of stabiliser/anti fungal is the way to go.

Bugs and moisture are you biggest enemy with fuel. Moisture from the atmosphere will get in what ever you do, Aviation fuel stored in 200ltr drums must be laid on their sides and have the bungs positioned at 3 and 9 o'clock so that they are isolated from the air gap in the drum by the fuel itself. This prevents moisture being drawn in past the seals by the change in atmospheric pressure as temperature and humidity levels rise and fall.

One other thing to consider is the time of the year that you store fuel as it is provided as either a summer mix or a winter mix.

Lou...