how long is diesel good?

[r porter]

what is the shelf life of fuel?

in 1972 i bought 25000 gallons of fuel for the company. it cost 13.5 cents per gal. and was stored underground. [ for nuclear emergency] we would pour a gallon or 2 of additive in every year but that is all. when that building was closed in 91 they pumped out the fuel and took it to other sites that had generators. some were little 30k gennys and some 750k and up. they were expected to carry the building load in a minute or so. if there was a 15 second power failure the generator would run for an hour, just in case there were power surges.

the next building i worked at had 2 20000 gal fuel tanks and the fuel had been put in in 1954. when uncle Sam made us dig up the tanks in the nineties that 23000 gal of fuel that was left was pumped out and was distributed to other sites, while a small 1000 gal tank was installed for the building. a little additive is all it takes for diesel to last many years.

an aside;
Columbus Ohio had an underground electrical substation go down in about 92. they brought in a portable turbine generator on a semi. i think it was 750k but it could have been bigger. a standard oil tanker truck was parked beside it and a hose ran to the turbine. the gauges on that tanker were clicking off gallons faster than you could count and it was a mite loud. about like jet sitting there.

 

[bcp]

No matter how long it stays in the can, mine has always been good until I put it in the tractor tank. After a while, it disappears and I have to put more in. It disappears when I'm using the tractor, but not when the tractor is turned off.

Bruce

 

[newbury]

what is the shelf life of fuel?

Unless someone comes up with a good referenced study all you will get on this site is hearsay and personal experiences.
In another thread posted very recently one poster wrote it was only good for a year.
I've personally had diesel that was treated at the proper dosage with Power Service set in a relatively unused E350 for 10 years and it still fires up. By relatively unused I mean less than 10 miles once a year driving it to inspection.

No matter how long it stays in the can, mine has always been good until I put it in the tractor tank. After a while, it disappears and I have to put more in. I disappears when I'm using the tractor, but not when the tractor is turned off.

Bruce

Bruce - Do you really disappear when your using the tractor?? Or did you mean to write the fuel disappears ?

 

[priberc]

what is the shelf life of fuel?

in 1972 i bought 25000 gallons of fuel for the company. it cost 13.5 cents per gal. and was stored underground. [ for nuclear emergency] we would pour a gallon or 2 of additive in every year but that is all. when that building was closed in 91 they pumped out the fuel and took it to other sites that had generators. some were little 30k gennys and some 750k and up. they were expected to carry the building load in a minute or so. if there was a 15 second power failure the generator would run for an hour, just in case there were power surges.

the next building i worked at had 2 20000 gal fuel tanks and the fuel had been put in in 1954. when uncle Sam made us dig up the tanks in the nineties that 23000 gal of fuel that was left was pumped out and was distributed to other sites, while a small 1000 gal tank was installed for the building. a little additive is all it takes for diesel to last many years.

an aside;
Columbus Ohio had an underground electrical substation go down in about 92. they brought in a portable turbine generator on a semi. i think it was 750k but it could have been bigger. a standard oil tanker truck was parked beside it and a hose ran to the turbine. the gauges on that tanker were clicking off gallons faster than you could count and it was a mite loud. about like jet sitt

It the fuel is to be used in a mechanical engine. If a constant temperature is kept and oxygen and light is limited diesel is good for decades. New common rail engines with piezo injectors may have a problem with really old fuel though.....the old engines no problem algae and all ,if it will flow through the filters and make smoke the engine will run

 

[bcp]

...


Bruce - Do you really disappear when your using the tractor?? Or did you mean to write the fuel disappears ?

I'm using a laptop, on my lap, and often hit a key but not hard enough to make it work. I lost the "t" on that response. Fixed it.

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

Your underground tanks probably maintained a constant temperature which is a lot better for fuel storage vs a tank that fluctuates temperature and produces condensation.

 

[RalphVa]

I had 60 gallons in the underbelly tank of the Isuzu since Nov 2012 and was starting to worry about it a couple years ago. So, I started taking out 2 gallons at a time until I reached 20 and then put 20 back from fresh containers to refuel the tractor. Stuff was fine.

Think low sulfur diesel will last a very long time. Had some stored pre low sulfur days in our 1983 Benz's tank for 4 years from 1990 to 1994. It turned brown. Used it up with the help of some Chevron Techron. Stuff made the 240D ping at constant speed without the Techron.