Does old diesel smell?

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RAI

RAI

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I just found a cannister of diesel hidden in a locker. I think it dates from 2016 from the Azores. It doesn't smell of anything, looks clear.like white diesel. Could I use it ? It burns easily using a paper towel as a wick.
Here is a sample picture.
 

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RAI said:
I just found a cannister of diesel hidden in a locker. I think it dates from 2016 from the Azores. It doesn't smell of anything, looks clear.like white diesel. Could I use it ? It burns easily using a paper towel as a wick.
Here is a sample picture.
Click to expand...
Could it be paraffin (kerosene)? Although I think you would probably smell that if it was. I had such a "find" in Spring, some dregs of kerosene that I'd taken out the heating oil tank when I was changing the valve a couple of months before, I put it in a 5 litre plastic petrol can then forgot all about it and used it to tank up the petrol lawn tractor for its first mow of the year . Luckily I didn't spend too long wondering why it wouldn't start before it dawned on me what I'd just done 😂😂😂. So then I drained its tank and disposed of the contents back into the central heating tank.

Personally I would put that into my boat heater (paraffin or diesel are both fine for that) because its a nice easy way of getting rid of it, easier than trying to explain to the guys at the dump/recycling centre that I have an unknown but not so smelly flamable liquid that I want to get rid of. I'm not sure they even take fuel and I don't know where else I could take it.

Chris
 
Diesel heaters tend to be more sensitive to old/contaminated fuel than engines are. Owen (Autoterm) comes across many heaters that refuse to burn old fuel from the main tank even though the boat drives ok. Very small clearances in the fuel pump cause seizure or blockage by wax or bug. The heater is the last place to put dodgy fuel.
 
In my former job, fleetmanagement 750 cars, we had many trouble with incorrect refueling, costs from 2.000-10.000 € with modern Diesel cars.

I would not risk any trouble with 20 l of an unknown liquid!

Fill it in a disposal tank written above!

Cordially! Stefan
 
Probably fine. Was diesel bio in 2016?

But as above, not worth risking in anything sensitive / valuable.

Clean winches with it, or use as a penetrating oil.

When I had a car I mixed old diesel with veg oil and used it as a rust inhibiting spray, but then I drove bangers.
 
Blimey ... blend it with a decent amount of 'fresh' ...... even if its Kero / Parafin - it will not do any harm mixed with fresh diesel.

If the canister has been in a cool dark place and closed / sealed ... there is no reason it should be bad. If its Clear and Bright ... no gummy residues on bottom of canister ..
 
Found some strange liquid in a cannister in the depths of the lazarette. Yes, it'll be garunteed to be as safe as houses. Use it in your ferrari V12, or supercharged high performance formula one speed boat racer

Then report back.

Folks on here will give plenty of helpful advice when you start the "rebuilding the engines" projects. 😂🤣
 
PabloPicasso said:
Found some strange liquid in a cannister in the depths of the lazarette. Yes, it'll be garunteed to be as safe as houses. Use it in your ferrari V12, or supercharged high performance formula one speed boat racer

Then report back.

Folks on here will give plenty of helpful advice when you start the "rebuilding the engines" projects. 😂🤣
Click to expand...

Very funny ...

Just so happens that OP did say ..... quote >>

"I just found a cannister of diesel hidden in a locker. "
 
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