Washing out diesel storage containers

[hession]

How do I wash out plastic diesel storage cans at the end of the season, please?

Or, having used them to fill my boat's main tank, can I leave them in the garage over the winter, with a small residue of diesel left in?

Any advise would be most welcome

 

[hlb]

Well, if you want to get pedantic about it. Wash them out with diesel, next year.

 

[sarabande]

If you really want to reduce the fire risk (yes, it's my job, instant panic at a moment's notice!) you need something like a biological cleaner as used on the forecourt of garages and fuels stations.

http://www.oiltechnics.co.uk/Petrol/Forecourt/Forecourt_Bio.html

welcome to the nautical madhouse. Add a few bits of bio info to let us see if you can join in with the inmates.

 

[hession]

Thanks, but - pedantic or not - does leaving them risk bugs growing over the winter?

 

[pennycar9]

nice one hession we are not all pillocks on here RE HLBs post

 

[hlb]

I notice you offer no better solution.

 

[omega2]

Why not leave them full?

 

[pennycar9]

how about a solution of hot soapy water or am I being pedantic

 

[hession]

Considered doing so, but asked my local Volvo Penta dealer if Diesel has a shelf life. Was told that in a big boat tank, it was around 18 months to 2 yrs or - if one wanted to be pedantic - one could risk contamination.

But in small containers kept on board as emergency reserves, eg 30 ltrs containers, it was advisable to rotate the fuel every 4 to 6 months, or risk contamination & maybe - being pedantic again - b*#*~ up the injectors

 

[beards]

Not an expert but just rinse out with a bit of paraffin (and you can still use the paraffin afterwards)

 

[hlb]

Not padantic at all, maybe a bit silly though. I thought water was what was trying to be avoided.

 

[sarabande]

It can be much less than that, given the right conditions for growing bugs. e.g. existing minor contamination in tank, water (salt or fresh) in tank, warm temperature of fuel in tank (praps from internal temp in boat), low % volume of diesel in tank especially with high rel humidity outside, poor quality fuel to start with.

There are lots of recent articles and posts on prevention and treatment of diesel bug (the two are very separate issues).

 

[DorsetPete]

I bought a boat that had been ashore for three years with a half full tank. We launched it and the engine started and ran perfectly. Over that season we used up that old 50 or so gallons of aged fuel.
I emptied a small bottle of magic fluid (bio clean or something) into it to disperse the gremlins just in case.
Three years on now and still no problems. She certainly starts easier now with fresh diesel but thats the only difference.

 

[pennycar9]

Wash out with hot soapy water at the end of the season ,really should be dry by the start of the next one would have thought.

 

[hlb]

Not if you put the lid on, it wont.

If you dont, it will be full of creapy crawlies.

 

[pennycar9]

and there is me thinking that there are mostly sensible people here

 

[whisper]

Sounds eminently sensible to me hlb. Could even suggest that container is left with the filler cap off and the filler orifice at the bottom to ensure any water residue is able to drain away /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[compie1]

open both holes and put a nylon sock over both ends so no crap inside after the winter /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif