Oil & Fuel Safe to use diesel from a pickup transfer tank in a new tractor?

[ch1ch2]

So your barrel isn't a transfer tank?

I read the op to say it IS a transfer tank.

 

[ovrszd]

I read the op to say it IS a transfer tank.

Yep. My definition is any container used to hold and/or transfer fuel is a transfer tank. Clear down to a gallon jug. The chance of contamination remains the same..

 

[hugho]

Hi folks,

I have a couple of older tractors with indirect, mechanical injection. Just bought a new tractor with common-rail direct injection. In the past, I've used my 60-gallon transfer tank and pump in the bed of my pickup to fuel up the tractors when they are in the field. That tank has a Fill-Rite "Hydrosorb" filter on it but who knows how effective it might be. I've never had issues running my two IDI tractors off fuel from this tank. However, a new tractor with common rail injection uses much higher pressures and it much more susceptible to impurities in the fuel, such as water.

Would you guys have any concerns fueling from fuel in a pickup truck transfer tank?

Thanks in advance.

The answer is a conditional YES. The conditions are erfect filtration out of the tank. I am an ex Alaskan commercial fisherman and we onloaded really terrible fuel from time to time in remote locations on the Alaskan coast often out of 55 gal drums and huge rusty fuel tanks. rust, debris, water and bacterial "algae" were to be expected. Our engines were big expensive CATs and Komatsu 6,8 and 12 cylinder jobs that we could ill afford to have damaged . The key was filtration to remove the water and microbial matter and ALL debris. Mostly we used big Racor filters with clear glass bowls and the last filter were big CAT filters with I recall (5?) micron filtration and some guys used the 1 micron CAT filter after that. I use a similar filtration in my Cummins diesel and my VW TDI. One micron is good insurance. Some of the big tenders and trawlers went whole hog and used centrifuge filtration along with an assortment of other filters. Losing an engine in winter off a remote coast in big seas which can stir up debris from your own fuel tank could easily be fatal. So the answer is install a good water and debris filtration system and no worries. I never had a injection pump or injector failure.

 

[ovrszd]

The answer is a conditional YES. The conditions are erfect filtration out of the tank. I am an ex Alaskan commercial fisherman and we onloaded really terrible fuel from time to time in remote locations on the Alaskan coast often out of 55 gal drums and huge rusty fuel tanks. rust, debris, water and bacterial "algae" were to be expected. Our engines were big expensive CATs and Komatsu 6,8 and 12 cylinder jobs that we could ill afford to have damaged . The key was filtration to remove the water and microbial matter and ALL debris. Mostly we used big Racor filters with clear glass bowls and the last filter were big CAT filters with I recall (5?) micron filtration and some guys used the 1 micron CAT filter after that. I use a similar filtration in my Cummins diesel and my VW TDI. One micron is good insurance. Some of the big tenders and trawlers went whole hog and used centrifuge filtration along with an assortment of other filters. Losing an engine in winter off a remote coast in big seas which can stir up debris from your own fuel tank could easily be fatal. So the answer is install a good water and debris filtration system and no worries. I never had a injection pump or injector failure.

Good stuff!!! Thanks for posting!!!

 

[klancf51]

Hi folks,

I have a couple of older tractors with indirect, mechanical injection. Just bought a new tractor with common-rail direct injection. In the past, I've used my 60-gallon transfer tank and pump in the bed of my pickup to fuel up the tractors when they are in the field. That tank has a Fill-Rite "Hydrosorb" filter on it but who knows how effective it might be. I've never had issues running my two IDI tractors off fuel from this tank. However, a new tractor with common rail injection uses much higher pressures and it much more susceptible to impurities in the fuel, such as water.

Would you guys have any concerns fueling from fuel in a pickup truck transfer tank?

Thanks in advance.

Major concern: I would not fuel a new high pressure common rail direct injection diesel engine with anything but fresh ULSD purchased from, preferably a single, reputable supplier. Only use a high quality additives to improve lubricity, cetane, pour point. etc. The consequences of a mistake are too costly. Read What is a Micron? from Cummins website; the last paragraph discusses the World Wide Fuel Charter specification for fuel going into the vehicle tank. These new engines are a "game-changer" when it comes to fuel quality.

 

[ch1ch2]

Major concern: I would not fuel a new high pressure common rail direct injection diesel engine with anything but fresh ULSD purchased from, preferably a single, reputable supplier. Only use a high quality additives to improve lubricity, cetane, pour point. etc. The consequences of a mistake are too costly. Read What is a Micron? from Cummins website; the last paragraph discusses the World Wide Fuel Charter specification for fuel going into the vehicle tank. These new engines are a "game-changer" when it comes to fuel quality.

Dang!
Who knew?
From watching one of the videos, it seems like with a common rail direct injection diesel engine, there is a lot to worry about.
Guess the old used tractor market will stay high.

 

[RjCorazza]

My common rail L4060 is the only machine I have yet to install a 2u fuel filter on. I should move that up on my to-do list.
I am currently filtering from my transfer tank with a 10u water block filter, which considering the flow involved is probably about as fine filtering as practical. Anybody using a finer filter on a 10-12gpm transfer pump?

 

[klancf51]

My common rail L4060 is the only machine I have yet to install a 2u fuel filter on. I should move that up on my to-do list.
I am currently filtering from my transfer tank with a 10u water block filter, which considering the flow involved is probably about as fine filtering as practical. Anybody using a finer filter on a 10-12gpm transfer pump?

Like you say: it's also about water separation/collection/detection/filtering to achieve below 200 parts per million out of the transfer tank.

 

[Handloader109]

Geez I've been using diesel from fuel station that I bought 18 months or so ago. 50 gallon plastic transfer barrel from your description. No extra filters, on my hand pump, hf actually. I can see to the bottom thru the 25 or so gallons remaining. No water, no crud. Dirt doesn't just magically appear.

 

[klancf51]

Geez I've been using diesel from fuel station that I bought 18 months or so ago. 50 gallon plastic transfer barrel from your description. No extra filters, on my hand pump, hf actually. I can see to the bottom thru the 25 or so gallons remaining. No water, no crud. Dirt doesn't just magically appear.

True, "Dirt doesn't just magically appear." However, diesel fuel is hygroscopic and water can appear, as if by magic. Water in fuel has its own set of problems for diesel engines.