Diesel Disposal

[virtualgardener]

After a very frustrating season trying to resolve fuel problems and restore my Bukh DV20 to its previous state of total reliability I eventually drained the tank and have removed it from the boat for cleaning. The bottom of the tank was heavily contaminated with solids and black gealatinous bacteria, which I am assuming is the cause of my problems.

I am now left with 50litres of contaminated red diesel which I do not want to return to the tank. Does anyone know how I can dispose of this? I have already tried the local council who referred me to the Environment Agency - but even they were unable to help.

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[capricorn]

Try the AA or RAC.

Emptying vehicle fuel tanks that have been filled with the wrong fuel is a frequent call out, they must have access to the "proper" way of disposing of this stuff.

As I'm sure you're aware the gunk at the bottom of your tank represents a not insignificant health hazard.

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[TonyBrooks]

Method 1

Decant into old gallon oil cans and pour into the waste oil point at your loacl tip over a period of weeks. This might not make the waste oil company very happy (although I suspect they would rather have diesel in it than petrol or thinners), but with no other easily available way you may have no option.

2. This is not entirely a joke !

Decant in to 4 or 6 pint plastic milk containers and hang up by handle so one corner is lower than the others.

Allow to settle until the visible contaimination is all in that corner.

Puncture corner and drain visble contamination into gallon oil container for disposal as per above.

Collect the visibly clean fuel in another container and add a very considerable dose of biocide type fuel additive. Return fuel to boat tank.


If you do have the bug, I would advise using an additive for a while and I am getting a number of independant reports that these additives do work, although the dosage may be a bit low for bad infestations anda quick cure.

Tony Brooks

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[EdEssery]

Don't know where you are... your bio doesn't have any info so this may or may not help....

You can dispose of unwanted diesel at the municipal recyling centre that's in Southampton about midway on the left on the road between Shamrock Quay and Ocean Village. I speak from experience - my crew dumped 45 litres there about two years ago after he contaminated it with water (thought he was topping up the water tank)!!

Ed

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[Katouf]

I had a similar problem. The environmental Agency wanted £50 call out fee even though I was prepared to take the waste diesel to them. The local council didn't want to know about 'Diesel' but the guy at the tip was quite happy to take 'Fuel Oil' ! !

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[MarkV]

I seem to remember a relativly recent post where someone got their tank cleaned and the diesel in it filtered/cleaned and put back in by a specialist company, I'll have a dig around in previous posts and see what there is.

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[rosamaldon]

ExpressLube based in Brighton clean tanks by filtering the diesel and running it back through the tank several times and reckon to get most of the gunk out of a tank, you also get to keep the diesel now cleaned and polished. I've got a 40 gallon tank but would need to save up a lot of pennies to get it done this way. A contact of mine in the trade reckons to pump out my tank and use the diesel in his diesel stove. It won't pick up all of the rubbish and I lose the diesel but the alternative is likely to be too expensive for managment to bear as we're a long way from the South Coast . Maybe it would be cheaper if you're down south.

Good luck.

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[Guest]

If I was back in UK - I would take the lot and filter off for my use !!

Diesel does not degrade such as Gasoline etc. and once filtered / doped is good - especially if done away from tank and engine .... so that only clean fuel goes back in tank .....

But I'm not there - so sounds like you'll waste it !!

<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel ..... <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/>http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/</A>

 

[Guest]

diesel is high grade \'fuel-oil\'

commonly referred to as gasoil in fact.

<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel ..... <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/>http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/</A>

 

[Guest]

Amazing ......

Contaminated by water ...... it does not take long for diesel and wqater to separate when left to stand. Then you can either siphon / drain off water from under the diesel - or siphon of the diesel.

Water does not harm diesel unless severely agitated / physically provoked ......

Water / sediments etc. can be settled out of diesel by simply standing the lot in a drum or large container till it drops out ..... a drop of bio in it once cleared and away you go.

I am surprised by the amount of diesel just in this post being wasted ..... I will have to rethink a solution to get you all to pass it to me for recycling in my old bus engine !!

<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel ..... <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/>http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/</A>

 

[sailorman]

marinas usually have oil disposal tanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Mines a Crocodile sandwich & make it Snappy

 

[Egbod]

Where abouts are you? A friend has a lorry that will run on anything liquid and vaguelly flamable. He is in Essex.

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[charles_reed]

Donate it to someone

with oil fired central heating and a potboiler.

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[charles_reed]

Your ideas have some merit

but the suggestion of treating the oil with biocide and then returning it to the tank is very risky.

If you want to re-utilise fuel in anything equipped with injection equipment you need to filter it with a <10 micron filter about 72 hours after biocide treatment before attempting to return it to the tank.

Once you have an infection there is no way of treating it except to drain the tank, have it out and steam-clean it, replacing all the filters and refilling with clean un-infected diesel.

Thoroughly cleaning infected fuel is time-consuming and quite difficult. A task for those with nothing better to do.

Best of all is to burn it in a drip feed system such as an Aga or an old-fashioned pot boiler

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[Guest]

Un-infected diesel ???

No such thing actually ..... unless treated specifically for 'bugs'.

Bugs are present in all diesel as shipped around the world ..... average can be 100 - 500 cfu per litre ....... specifications advised for commercial use are up to 1000 cfu per litre.

QED mate.

<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel ..... <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/>http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/</A>

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Un-infected diesel ???

Looking at your websites, maybe you can direct me to a website that has technical information on the subject of diesel bugs leading to engine problems? Preferably one that is not simply trying to sell me a product! I really would like to get to the bottom of this problem.... if it is such a problem.

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[Guest]

?? I deal with Oil but

related to actual engine use is outside of my remit. We test quality when shipped out ..... thats in 1000's of tons.

Suggest you type in browser > Microbiological contamination diesel ?????

<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel ..... <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/>http://www.geocities.com/solentlifeuk/</A>

 

[virtualgardener]

Thanks to everyone who has offered advice

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[Fuel_Doctor]

Re: Un-infected diesel ???

I wouldn't presume to try and flog you a product. If you'd like to read about the basic biological and chemical processes go to www.fueldoctors.com.au/fuel bugs



<hr width=100% size=1>www.fueldoctors.com.au

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Un-infected diesel ???

From the Fuel Doctors website "The outstanding benefits of their product are available to everyone, and now, from this site or from Castrol and Super Cheap."

I would certainly be prepared to buy any petroleum product marketed by Castrol. How could I obtain this product via Castrol?


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