Uses for Old red diesel?

[Niander]

I got loads of the stuff just emptied the starboard tank...maybe its 20 years old
looks good but has a strange smell?
tank was full.

 

[NickRobinson]

I got loads of the stuff just emptied the starboard tank...maybe its 20 years old
looks good but has a strange smell?
tank was full.

Put me down for some!

 

[MM5AHO]

One use is for running diesel engines...

 

[afterpegassus]

Put some in a 20l drum with a lid and use it for freeing off anything that's corroded or seized. Just chuck the item in and come back in a fortnight to freed off nuts, shackles or whatever.

 

[NUTMEG]

I do not think, but am happy to be corrected, that old diesel goes 'off'.

Seriously, if it were mine I would treat it with Fuel Fix, leave it a week or two, and using a good screen filter funnel, pour the lot back in and use it.

 

[Iliade]

It's already 60 million years old or so, I doubt another twenty will hurt.
I suspect that the strange smell is Cetane, something that diesel used to mostly contain, before they started adulterating it with alcohol and god knows what else.

 

[Niander]

So the panel thinks its ok to use then...maybe treat it with something?

 

[sailorman]

Yes & Yes.
Fuel set or similar

 

[omega2]

A bloke in Bolton Lancashire used it to bring down chimneys.

 

[JVL]

Treat it then syphon off and use it will be fine

John

 

[Avocet]

Handy as a degreaser. If you have oil central heating, you could maybe chuck it in your oil tank too?

 

[Jim@sea]

Put it into containers and ask a local farmer if he wants to buy it.

 

[Niander]

A bloke in Bolton Lancashire used it to bring down chimneys.

Yes Fred Dibna...what a great guy he was!
If I mix with some fresh would this be good enough?

 

[sailorman]

Yes Fred Dibna...what a great guy he was!
If I mix with some fresh would this be good enough?

yes use it

 

[Piers]

+1 Use it.

 

[Niander]

Wonderful!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Nothing is wrong with it, provided that it is clean. Use it as it is.

 

[Yngmar]

If it's contaminated, dirty or has water in it, run it through a filter and water separator before putting it back in your tank, like so: http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/Diesel.html

Otherwise no reason not to put it in your tank. Your filters are made to cope with a bit of dirt, if it's just that.

 

[Niander]

Will add a bit of new red to it and see how the engine runs
ive just put in a new filter [because it needed one hadn't been changed for ages by former keeper]]but the fuel looks clear anyway.