New engine / old diesel

zlod

zlod

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I've had a new engine installed with a new fuel system. I've got 15L of diesel out of the old tank in fuel canisters. Is it a good idea to use the old diesel in the new tank? I'm intending on using road diesel in the future and this would seem to be a good opportunity to try to ensure I don't get the diesel bug (from some diesel left hanging around in a marina fuel fill-up place). Or is the diesel bug inevitable and should I just get on and use the old diesel? There was a little bit of sediment in the bottom of the old tank. Any thoughts?
 
I would find another use for the £15 of diesel you have if you have spend 000's on a new engine/fuel system etc and start afresh.

If you want to use the old diesel think about filtering and using a bug prevention treatment before putting in your new system.

If you use road diesel, keep the canisters free of water, top your tank up frequently, and use a bug prevention treatment (eg M16 fuel maintenance) diesel bug is not inevitable. Even better if you have a drain on the bottom of the tank and can drain out the water/crud etc.

Make sure your breather/filler mechanism will not let water in-water in the tank often gets in via the breather if not looped to minimise the risk.
 
I had the same dilemma a few years back when I re-engined. I decanted all the old fuel into a couple of old 20L containers and rang the council who collected them a few weeks later. And it didn't cost! No idea what they did with it.
 
Any thoughts?
Other than you are a tight arse.... No
Would you put it in your car? If not don't put it in your boat!
 
Wish I was moored near you - I'd help you dispose of it ... via a deck filler marked Diesel on my boat !!

Why not offer to another boater near you ? I never stop being amazed by the tales of disposing of diesel ....

Let's put something to rest right now : ALL DIESELS / GASOILS have bugs in. The level of bugs is monitored and has to be below a specified limit. Given that most people use up their diesel in a reasonable time - means it usually does not create a problem.
 
Agreed!
The bug also needs water to breed, it will flourish at the boundary between water and diesel. Getting rid of the water gets rid of 99.9% of the problem. Let the old diesel settle, syphon off the clean diesel at the top and add it to your tank.
 
I wouldn't put it in my car: no way. I'll offer it up at the marina or find some other way of disposing of it.

I just thought I was being too paranoid, but it seems like I'm not.

Cheers, Zlod
 
I'd have no problem using it, if it were me. I'd use a biocide/emulsifier and filter it first, possibly even mixing it with some fresh but I'd only ditch it if I had had a serious bio-slime problem with it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't put it in my car: no way. I'll offer it up at the marina or find some other way of disposing of it.

I just thought I was being too paranoid, but it seems like I'm not.

Cheers, Zlod

[/ QUOTE ]

Sensible precautions and taken further would not harm you. lack of precautions will.

But that's where the question lays .. where is the dividing line between sensible level and lack of ? That is for each individual to decide.

Me ? I deal in fuels and I burn pretty well all in my boat engine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif honest. I know what's in the blends - I know what I can do.
If I was next boat along from you - I'd accept and use your 'old fuel'.

So question remains : What do you think is wrong with it ? Did you have trouble with last running of old engine and system that indicated fuel trouble ?
 
I would have thought that you could quite safely blend you old diesel with new on a 1:4 basis. If there is no moisture in your old diesel you wont get any diesel bug and it will store for years without any serious loss of Cetanes
 
No you wouldn't use red diesel in your car - an inspection for some time after would get you prosecuted for using the wrong fuel. As already mentioned, the fuel will last in storage for years. I picked up half a tank from a neighbour who wanted to go over to white diesel. The only problem is that white, with its small content of bio0fuel, is reckoned to be more prone to the bug, although it is the recommended fuel for most manufacturers (whose recommendation pre0dates the bio content) and is supposed to give better starting.

Despite the above, I have been gving this more thought than usual and it makes me think I need a smaller tankto ensure the new fuels are consumed in less time. My current 100l tank was last filled in 2006.

Rob.
Rob
 
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