Old Diesel New Diesel

[jfkal]

Have a specific problem here in Singapore. Due to the bad economy the diesel in the tanks of the marinas is aging like a good white wine. Gas stations however have a good turnover. Am I doing significant harm to a "Marine Engine 3GM 30" filling my jerry cans at the gas station instead?

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[Anchorite]

There was a long thread on this subject a little while ago: the general drift was that diesel does not deteriorate with time (unlike petrol).

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[charles_reed]

But it does grow nasty bacteria especially in hot damp climates.

You'll do your 3GM30 no harm at all, DERV is better refined than commercial marine diesel, and frequently deodorised,

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[seaesta]

Marine diesel has more sulphur which is bad for your engine.

Marine diesel typically has a higher calorific value and hence will last a few percent longer.

Get diesel in the best condition you can -I would get the newer stuff

older diesel may last OK but I think it gets smellier and there must be a higher risk of bacterial infection if its hanging around in a tropical climate

Carrying the jerry cans will also give you some very good exercise.

Stock up now before WW3





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[jfkal]

Like your comment on the jerry can exercise )). Thinking of changing my engine to post war fuel and solar cell technology.

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[vyv_cox]

Some misconceptions here:

Sulphur is good for your engine. It's a boundary lubricant that contributes significantly to wear life of piston rings and valves. Low-sulphur diesel requires additives to return these properties to their previous level before the sulphur was taken out. The only time that sulphur is bad for your engine is when you start it, run it for two minutes and shut it down again. Condensed sulphuric and sulphurous acids can then condense on bores, pistons and rings.

Marine diesel in UK (and Belgium and maybe Ireland) is exactly the same as road diesel except that it has a dye added. Elsewhere there is no difference except that marine diesel is customarily transported by barges that may previously have carried anything from gasoline to drilling mud. The likelihood of contamination may therefore be higher. Automotive diesel tends to be carried in dedicated vehicles.

Diesel deteriorates very slowly indeed and for all practical purposes not at all. Storing it where condensed atmospheric moisture can contaminate it is a likely recipe for microbial growth.

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[charles_reed]

What\'s wrong with

Sailing your boat?

and like the Purdeys, doing away with these devilish modern auxiliaries?

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[jfkal]

Re: What\'s wrong with

Hmmm. Always wondered what those big pieces of cloth are good for which are flapping around the boom and mast ;-))

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