Storing diesel

mick

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I have 10litres of diesel in an appropriate can. Is it ok to store it until next season, given that a 10 litre can is necessarily bigger than 10 litres and I suppose the dreaded bug could be a problem?
 
Check it for water, dose it with any decent fuel treatment and then just visually check a sample next season before use.

Nothing to worry about.
 
I have 10litres of diesel in an appropriate can. Is it ok to store it until next season, given that a 10 litre can is necessarily bigger than 10 litres and I suppose the dreaded bug could be a problem?

Just stick it in the shed and use it next season.
 
The vast majority of us fill our tanks in the Autumn, and the fuel doesn't get used till the next year, so yes, it'll be fine.
 
I’ve had 10L of diesel in a black plastic can stored in a locker for 15 years, for reserve use. I guess I’m unlikely to need it but will it be usable come the day ?
 
I’ve had 10L of diesel in a black plastic can stored in a locker for 15 years, for reserve use. I guess I’m unlikely to need it but will it be usable come the day ?

I suspect that in a few million years it will revert to something like crude. Realistically, why not empty it into your tank, and refill it with fresh? At least if it's 15 years old, it's probably not biodiesel.
 
I suspect that in a few million years it will revert to something like crude. Realistically, why not empty it into your tank, and refill it with fresh? At least if it's 15 years old, it's probably not biodiesel.
But if I do that I’ll be replacing it with bio !
 
I’ve had 10L of diesel in a black plastic can stored in a locker for 15 years, for reserve use. I guess I’m unlikely to need it but will it be usable come the day ?

My 20L can of petrol for the outboard is now half empty and going into its 4th year and still works perfectly so I reckon your diesel will also be fine as it is much less volatile. :)

Richard
 
Unlike you lot I often go through 200 ltrs in a weekend!

But yes it can keep for up to two years. I work in IT and large data centres use backup generators and often have diesel in the tanks for two years. Again treat it and check it for water and it will be fine.
 
I have close to a 1000 litres of red diesel in a tank that is at least 7years old and may be 20 for my home generator. I’ve never run the generator for more than 5 hours at any one time (the electricity supply has become more reliable) but there seem to be no problems. May not be bio diesel, of course.
 
My experience this year has been that ULSD does go off. I found a black glue like substance (ashpheltines) in our tank which had adhered to the metal dipstick; the diesel was three years old. Fortunately our tank is made of fibreglass and was reasonable clean. We have been using FAME free diesel, but it is ULSD. I contacted the people who make Marine 16 Diesel Bug Treatment and they reported that this is becoming increasingly common with both marine and road diesel, although less so with road diesel due to its high turn over.
 
My experience this year has been that ULSD does go off. I found a black glue like substance (ashpheltines) in our tank which had adhered to the metal dipstick; the diesel was three years old. Fortunately our tank is made of fibreglass and was reasonable clean. We have been using FAME free diesel, but it is ULSD. I contacted the people who make Marine 16 Diesel Bug Treatment and they reported that this is becoming increasingly common with both marine and road diesel, although less so with road diesel due to its high turn over.

Brass dipstick?
 
Apparently yellow metals act as some sort of catalyst for the breakdown which produces the Tarry Black S@@@.

Brass fittings bad.
Copper pipes bad.

Certain reactive metals act as catalysts which increases diesel oxidation, which in turn causes residues including polymers, emulsions and other rubbish. Copper and zinc are definitely not recommended.

Are you sure about brass though? I'm not saying otherwise BTW
 
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