Oil & Fuel Fuel stabilizer

[duffer]

Hey guys...I have a 275 gal fuel storage tank in my 2nd garage where I store the tractor. I've put fuel stabilizer in it to keep it consistent over a period of time.

My question is...how long is that fuel stabilizer good for? I still have over 100 gal that is 3 months old, and don't think I'll use much this winter as we don't get snow. I might go thru 10 more gal before Feb, but that's probably it.

Should I add more stabilizer now, or 2 months from now, or what?

Thanx for your input!

 

[RjCorazza]

I assume you are talking about diesel. If the diesel can be kept water and moisture free, it will last many years in storage. If it becomes water contaminated, algae can grow in the tank and cause significant problems.
I only store 40g at a time, and it's used up over the winter. I filter with a water blocking filter, and add Power Service for lubricity and anti gel in the winter months. Folks that store larger amounts of fuel that may sit for longer periods of time sometimes add an algaecide treatment to prevent algae problems. I do not.

 

[jaxs]

I concur with what ^^he ^^ said. I might add that 100 gallons stored in a 275 gallon tank is more apt to gether water than 100 gallons stored in a smaller tank. Air space in tanks "breath in and out"as tank repeatedly cool's and warm's.

 

[Cougsfan]

I concur with what Jax added. Keeping a full tank, regardless of it's size is even more important if you live in a humid area and/or have drastic temperature changes where you store it. Plugging the vent (if you can) on a partially filled tank will help. If you are storing gasoline, non-ethanol gas stores much longer and trouble free than does e-10. In my experience, putting a little 2 stroke oil in (not much, like a 200 to 1 ratio) helps preserve gasoline (and diesel too) as good as any fuel stabilizer does.

 

[mrmikey]

Not to hijack the original posters thread. I had occasion to start a gas powered 2008 Ford F-150 Thursday that had been parked 28 months. Obviously the battery was as dead as a nit but put the booster pack on it and half a dozen cranks later it started right up and ran great, no stabilizer at all.
Saying that, I use stabilizer religiously in all my fuel....sorta makes you wonder tho.
As for the original question, what RjC said as well as a smaller more full tank.............Mike

 

[Texasmark]

Fuel tanks usually have a drain plug which is used for bleeding off any accumulated water. In keeping your tanks full, the guys answering this post nailed it and I missed the main point. I said that it shouldn't matter as the top is going to be exposed regardless of the level of the contents and the area of the sides, from low levels to high levels are a small part of the area of the container.......what just smacked me up the side of the head was what was said by them: The volume of air that flushes through the tank with temp changes! A full tank has a small volume and a small volume for any given dew point-humitidy, contains less water to stay in your tank. I keep my fuel in sealed 55 gallon barrels and have no water-algae problems, also using PS additives and a water absorbing filter at the pump outlet. Agree on long term storage capabilities of diesel oil.

 

[nyone]

What type of fuel? What type of stabilizer did you use? Never really heard of a fuel stabilizer for diesel.

 

[TnAndy]

What type of fuel? What type of stabilizer did you use? Never really heard of a fuel stabilizer for diesel.

Best stuff on the market. -D for diesel, -G for gasoline.

 

[joeu235]

My dad had a partially filled diesel tank he used for an irrigation pump. He hadn't run the pump in 5 years and decided to use the diesel to fill up tractors. All he did was replace the water / particulate filter on the tank and started using the fuel. No problems.

I also bought a tractor that hadn't run in 10 years. I jumped the tractor, it fired right up, and I drove it on the trailer. At home I replaced the fuel filter and used the diesel until the tank was almost empty.

I would put the stuff in my F250 but I don't think stored diesel is an issue for a tractor.

 

[johncanfield]

I use Biobor JF, an algaecide.