What would you do to prepare to horde & store a few years worth of diesel?

SPYDERLK · Aug 4, 2015

Industrial Toys said:
Keep it full, maybe make some provision aside from venting to allow for expansion. Keep it out of the sun.

As for the other post about Diesels. Some people have their vetts or chargers. I happen to like a Diesel, have a Duramax and have never really pulled anything with it. Not everything has to make sense.

Yes! Condensation will do in a steel tank. If fuel is kept in the dark [any opaque tank] algae is not an issue, but condensation will eventually do in a corrodable tank. An opaque non corrodable tank with water drain would keep your diesel for a lifetime.

ovrszd · Aug 4, 2015

If 500 gallons of Diesel will last a person quite a while, I'm not sure how much grand savings you are going to experience??

So, let's define quite a while. Let's say 6 months?? Okay,,,,, let's go totally wild and say a year???? Are you going to save enough by hedging the current price to the point of justifying all the preparation?? I don't get that mentality.

I use 150-200 gallons a month. Even if I go back to the days of $4 Diesel and think it's gonna get there again, I can't justify the expense, hassle and risk of trying to store enough to do me any good.

Now, if I could efficiently store enough diesel to run me into 2020, then maybe.

With that said, I'm very picky about diesel fuel. I'm not sure I could trust my own storage facility to provide that security for the next 5 years. :confused3:

Entertaining discussion though, as long as we look at it as just that.

ovrszd · Aug 4, 2015

SPYDERLK said:
Yes! Condensation will do in a steel tank. If fuel is kept in the dark [any opaque tank] algae is not an issue, but condensation will eventually do in a corrodable tank. An opaque non corrodable tank with water drain would keep your diesel for a lifetime.

Hmmmmmm,,,,, I wonder how algae gets in a dark steel storage tank then?? Then I'm compelled to add, I've never saw a storage tank that wasn't dark. Intentionally I'm guessing.

I've saw 3 algae problems with different local farmers. None of them had anything other than dark tanks.

GPintheMitten · Aug 4, 2015

All diesel tanks in sailboats were opaque AND below decks. I always used biocide but some folks did not and they got algae ... or something nasty growing in the tank that clogged the filters.

SPYDERLK · Aug 4, 2015

ovrszd said:
Hmmmmmm,,,,, I wonder how algae gets in a dark steel storage tank then?? Then I'm compelled to add, I've never saw a storage tank that wasn't dark. Intentionally I'm guessing.

I've saw 3 algae problems with different local farmers. None of them had anything other than dark tanks.

Hmmm. I think absolute darkness does it. Above ground tanks may let some light in thru a breather or filler cap. Sunlight is a very bright source.

jeff9366 · Aug 4, 2015

Fallon said:
Kind of hard to access that diesel in an emergency situation though.

True, but you will be buying energy companies LOW, if not absolutely at the unpredictable bottom, and will likely reap a good rate of return over five years, plus receive dividends while you wait. When you want to buy diesel in the future you will have cash to do so.

Most of the rest of the stock market seems overvalued to me, but energy stock prices have come down with the (short term) excess of energy supplies over demand. Energy is probably a RELATIVELY safe sector of the stock market.

greggn · Aug 4, 2015

Keep it out of the sun. I will second that, Sun=Heat=Condensation

MinnesotaEric · Aug 4, 2015

Hoarding?

No, no, not my thing.

Instead I plan to annex my neighbors.

Capitulate if I come. :thumbsup:

I promise to rule as a benevolent despot!

cat fever · Aug 4, 2015

I think your idea is great, I plan to do the same thing.
As you stated earlier; you plan to buy the winter grade diesel. Make sure it is, meaning wait until the end of December or middle of January to fill the tank. It is not just "Pour Point Depressant" that makes winter diesel not gel. The components that are blended into "winter" diesel are different. More Jet A is added, meaning #2 winter grade diesel is closer to #1 diesel than summer or transition fuel.
Good plan and good luck.