55 gallon barrel... "full" of old diesel

[Industrial Toys]

I have a friend with a Lantz Bulldog , "Hot Bulb" Diesel Engine. He jokes, saying it will even run on Butter Milk. THOSE were the days!

 

[Richard]

Depends if you have an emission diesel. If NOT, strain it, Filter it, use it.

No emissions. Though I don't know the exact year... the backhoe was bought (by TVA) in 1987 so they likely bought it new. My tractor is an IH 1066 so nothing on there and my mower is an old Deere 430. All diesels.

Maybe I'll talk to him. I must admit, I didn't think about mixing it at all.

 

[Richard]

Just called him. Turns out it's in a plastic barrel, not a steel one (and I really wanted to use the barrel as a burn barrel in a specific location so I can burn in place rather than drive tractor or backhoe across yard pulling fallen trees down.... oh well)

So it's a plastic barrel. He thinks it's about 55 gallon in size ("full size" he said) BUT it's only got 20-30 gallons in it so they must have drawn it down when they worked their land with the bulldozer.

He said come & get it and it's mine so after this incessant rain stops I'll drive the backhoe down there and figure out how to carry it back.

He also said it had a bung on it rather than the lid being removable. That's got me hoping that it's not had as much condensation in there. Never having had to deal with old diesel (he verified it's TEN years old)....anyway, having never had to deal with old stuff I was wondering if algea might have taken hold in there by now and what issues that might present, if any.

This said.... if it is an intact, good condition barrel, NOW I'm wondering about using it up.... cleaning it out and then putting it on one of the small trailers to drive to the Co-op and use it to carry diesel from there to here. That might beat having to lug 6-7 five gallon jugs every several weeks..... crammed in the trunk of my Camry!

 

[fried1765]

Just called him. Turns out it's in a plastic barrel, not a steel one (and I really wanted to use the barrel as a burn barrel in a specific location so I can burn in place rather than drive tractor or backhoe across yard pulling fallen trees down.... oh well)

So it's a plastic barrel. He thinks it's about 55 gallon in size ("full size" he said) BUT it's only got 20-30 gallons in it so they must have drawn it down when they worked their land with the bulldozer.

He said come & get it and it's mine so after this incessant rain stops I'll drive the backhoe down there and figure out how to carry it back.

He also said it had a bung on it rather than the lid being removable. That's got me hoping that it's not had as much condensation in there. Never having had to deal with old diesel (he verified it's TEN years old)....anyway, having never had to deal with old stuff I was wondering if algea might have taken hold in there by now and what issues that might present, if any.

This said.... if it is an intact, good condition barrel, NOW I'm wondering about using it up.... cleaning it out and then putting it on one of the small trailers to drive to the Co-op and use it to carry diesel from there to here. That might beat having to lug 6-7 five gallon jugs every several weeks..... crammed in the trunk of my Camry!

Should work fine.
I have two of those plastic barrels that were originally filled with apple juice.
They are 60 gal. each with a small and a large threaded plastic bung in one end.
I currently have them both full of 15+ year old diesel.
I'll either mix it 50-50 for my two tractors, or maybe burn it in my barn oil burner for heat.
Either way, I will likely croak before it is all used up.

 

[Cycledude]

Don’t you have fuel delivery service where you live ? Around here fuel gets delivered for the same price as buying it in town.

 

[LouNY]

Depending on the fuel and it being only 10 years old it could possibly have more sulfur then is currently allowed.
Even if it were older higher sulfur diesel or home heating oil a 1066 would love it, a new tier 4 with a dpf might not.
Use a good filter and enjoy, you could check for water at the bottom with some water paste.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I would be making sure the barrel was air tight and checking to see if there is any problems with algae in the diesel. Free might not be worth it for 20-30 gallons. If there is any black slime in the bottom of the barrel.....

 

[arto98607]

I would make sure to pump it through a decent filter.

I store off-road Diesel fuel in 55 gallon black plastic drums and the last time I filled all my drums the price was $1.55 a gallon.
It stays good for a very long time if treated with Biobor JF and kept out of the weather.

!2 volt drum pump with a filter in the discharge makes it easy to fill up mower or tractor.

Good setup of pump & filter will unfortunately cost lot more than one drum full of fuel at today's price.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If it were me and questionable. I would make sure, no algae, and don't suck any water off the bottom and just add it to a bulk tank prior to fresh delivery. In that case, I wouldn't even bother to filter it.

 

[ruffdog]

My neighbor's old D9 would love to drink it for...what...20 minutes.