I just purchased both my first MB and batch of B20 about two weeks ago. I filled the tank and also bought about 50 more gallons, divided into 5 gallon containers.

I'm starting to worry about the containers filled with B20. Not because there is a problem or anything - they look fine, no leaks, etc. I dumpster-dove for some old 5-gallon containers that restaurants receive their virgin fry oil in (don't worry, I thoroughly cleaned and dried them). See the pic below of the containers in the back of the wagon.

Now I'm wondering - are these containers safe to store B20 (and eventually B100) in for long periods of time (1-2 months)? I assumed it'd be okay, but now I'm starting to worry... Does anyone have any experience or advice on this?

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-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

Those look like oil cubies. If they are HDPE they should be fine

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1988 Toyota Camry Wagon......CRUSHED
1988 Porsche 944.......SOLD
1984 300SD.....SOLD
1995 Honda Civic DX... Totaled 11/13/08
1991 Madza Miata 193K and counting.....Mercedes t3 Turbocharger in the works 10 pounds per RWHP FTW

If sunlight can get at them just cover them. Sunlight can age the biodiesel. I have kept biodiesel for up to a year in cubies. Over 6 months just add stabil.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Yeah, they are just those 5-gallon cube containers that restaurants receive their cooking oil in. Pretty sure it's HDPE, no.2 recyclable.

Okay, whew.. guess I got myself worked up over nothing.

What do you use to stabilize biodiesel, and prevent degradation?

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-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

find a drum and barrel place in your area.. I bought open head 55 gallon drums(steel) for like $20 each.They were used in the juice industry and were sticky. Soaking them in a lake worked.

Or get some white plastic HDPE 55 gallon drums and paint them black or store them inside

I've used the 35 lb. cubies (almost 5 gal) and the only problem I've encountered is that they are pretty thin plastic. Have had a few of them hold bio for weeks and then, one day, it's all leaked out. I don't think that the bio itself caused the leak - I think the plastic is so thin that it may crack under the stress of weight. Given that they are not always sitting on a smooth surface. When they contain new oil, they are supported by cardboard boxes which evenly distributes out the stress of weight. On another note, our local recycle center will not accept any plastic that has previously contained oil of any kind. Kind of a bummer to take dozens of these jugs to the dump.

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John Schroader
bio burnin' 83 300D, '83 300 SD, '79 240D
"I've never met a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else" Ben Franklin
"You cannot permanently help a man by doing for him what he could and should do for himself" Abraham Lincoln

Get a 55 g drum with a pump.

I try to get the cubies still in the cardboard box. This serves two purposes: (1) it strengthens the cubie, and (2) if there are any small spills the cardboard soaks them up. Plus then they stack nicer.

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'79 300SD
'82 Chevy Chevette diesel

We get the old 55 gal plastic barrels from the car washes around town. they are great and they have secure lids, Free.

Be careful hauling around the oil in the wagon. My buddy blew out his hydraulics.

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http://www.libertyagrifuels.com
1984 300D Turbo
1980 300SD Sold
1983 300TD Sold
Dagger 16 ft. Legend Canoe (for the weekends)
Marin Northside Trail Mtn. Bike

if the cubies are exposed to sunlight for an extended period of time, the plastic will get VERY brittle, to the point of crumbling in your hands. Ask me how I know . You can get set up with a 55 gal drum and a roatary HF pump for about $40 total.