Full or empty??

[Greg2]

Recent posts have suggested that diesel degrades significantly if stored but this is contrary to previous advice I have recieved. When we bought our boat the surveyor suggested leaving the tank full over the winter to reduce condensation. I also recall a post refering to diesel being stored for an emergency generator for years without any problems. Recently I dropped a pump to the bottom of the tank of my 28 year old boat and got pristine diesel (none of the sludge that I had been assured would be there).
So, what do I do? Fill the tank before winter lay up or leave it empty? What does the panel think??

 

[muchy_]

Diesel is unlikely to "go off" over a winter period so I would fill it up just in case its true what the surveyor said. If its not then you've lost nothing, if it is it could cause you problems later.

 

[oldgit]

Re: Full NM.

NM

Just hold tight dear it will not be so rough when we get round the corner,trust me.

 

[hlb]

Maybe if we all pretend it's still summer and just keep playing. Winter wont know to come, or maybe, forget. So leave it full for quicker play time/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Haydn

 

[DepSol]

Sludge is a product of something happening with your diesel and the remains of it being left in your tank. Diesel does not technically break down into sludge after prolonged storage if you get water or other unwanted items in your diesel that will enable it to break down and then sludge may occur. Most sludge is the part formation of bug which has died and its rotting carcass left in the bottom of your tank.

Keep em full is best.

Dom

I am boating again ;-)

 

[Col]

Winter will be here soon enough. How do I know?, because my boats nearly ready to go back in.
The summer arrived just as boat was lifted, and no doubt finish when it goes back in.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

 

[hlb]

You seem to be doing things a bit arse about face! no doubt you know what your doing???

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Haydn

 

[Guest]

Dont forget that condensation can form on the walls of a partially full tank, which then settles in the bottom, another good reason to leave it full, Ive never come across an instance of diesel going off through standing though.

 

[Guest]

Your surveyor was right. Diesel doesn’t suffer significantly if stored for extended periods. Any air gap in the tank encourages condensation. Apart from the fact that water in the fuel system is a bad idea, as I understand it the diesel ‘bug’ proliferates at the interface between fuel and water. So no water, no interface, no bugs. Or so I’ve read.

Petrol, on the other hand doesn’t last so well, losing octane rating. This might not matter in a low-tuned engine running at moderate loadings, but could in a highly-tuned one running at large throttle openings.

Pre-mix two-stroke fuel shouldn’t be used after extended storage, as the oil degrades. You could chuck it in your car, if you don’t mind towing a plume of blue smoke down the road and trashing emissions regulations.

If your boat’s coal-fired, you’re OK. The black stuff has already lasted around 300 million years, so a few more months shouldn’t make much difference.

 

[BarryH]

I haven't got an oil burner, mines petrol. What I do is fill the bugger to the brim one year ( handy when the petrol shortage thingy was on) and then the next year leave it totally empty so I can take out the tank to clean it check it etc. Never had any probs with the fuel being in there over winter tho. The thing to make sure of tho is that it is totally filled, as the other post said.

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[tynesman]

I leave my twin diesel tanks full every winter with no problems,plus you can bet diesel will be more expensive every new season so you have two nice full tanks cheaper to start the season!

Happy sailing


Tynesman