If one wants to lay their diesel up for several months or more of storage, what should be done? I am not aware of the existence of anything like "StaBil", or any other fuel stabilizers for diesels.
When I store my gas engine cars/motorcycles, I use StaBil, & top the tank up; remove the battery, squirt some thin oil down the spark plug holes, put the car on jackstands, wax it, put a dessicant and a rodent repeller inside (I had mice eat up the interior of a 72' Volvo P1800 several years ago), however I know that diesel develops algae over time, and I want to minimize the problems I experience when I bring my diesel out of storage.
Hopefully, the stored car will fire right up after it's long snooze.
Any hints or advice?
Thanx in advance...

I believe if you will read the product label, Sta-Bil is for diesel fuel also. For six months or less, I'd at least fill up the fuel tank and put in the fuel stabilizer. Considering where you are, I would check the coolant mixture with one of those "float" testers to verify effectiveness, and I'd consider removing the battery for inside storage.

The full tank helps minimize condensation of water vapor from air inside the tank during cold weather.

Fuel stabilizer is hardly needed for diesel fuel across a period of six months. More important is something to prevent it from precipitating a bunch of wax crystals into the bottom of the tank when it gets really cold. You might have better luck with something like Power Service additive which is supposed to lower the temperature at which the fuel begins to gell.

Ken300D

I should read the label on the Sta-Bil bottle.
I live in the Pacific Northwest; a climate simmilar to Seattle. (I am about 1 1/2 hours drive north of Seattle) The cool, moist climate presents special problems for storage, such as moisture and mold. It very rarely freezes, though.

Aw, that's nothing special then for the engine. How long are you putting it in storage? Outside?

Sounds to me like you'll be OK with just filling the tank full.

If you can get to the battery with a charger every three months or so I wouldn't even make the effort to remove the battery. Just top off the charge. (Those are some BIG batteries to lift....)

Ken300D

I've stored diesel cars, trucks and tractors for months at a time with no special treatment whatever. As long as you don't go try to start in less than 8 degrees F weather without additive or number two diesel you will be fine. The special attention should be paid after you take it out of storage. At that time, bring the engine to operating temperature and change the oil and filter.

Good luck,

If you are planning to change the oil, it would be better to change it before storage so the old acidic oil is not eating at the engine during storage.

I store my 300Sd and 300SDL every winter for about 6 months. What do I do? I put them the garage and shut off the engine. That's it. However the engine should be started about once a month and the AC run on defrost mode to keep the AC pump seals from drying out and leaking.

P E H

The diesel might be stored in an unheated garage, if I can displace another car. Otherwise, it will be outside, under a car cover & likely up on jackstands. I will put it away with fresh oil & Sta-Bil, wherever it stays. If it will fire up after a year with just a trickle charge periodically to maintain the battery, I will be pleased.

I would be concerned with algae growing in the fuel tank during storage and suggest using Diesel Doctor made by Biobar, unless StaBil specifically says it will prevent algae growth in diesel fuel. I had algae develop in my 300D's fuel tank after I moved to Boston for about a year (a car there was impracticable) and left my 300D at my mother's house with a full, fresh tank of diesel. She started it once a week and I drove it some during Christmas. Then I moved to Houston. I picked up my car up and drove it to Houston on the same tank of fuel. During the trip to Houston from San Antonio (200 miles) performance was OK, but shortly after arriving I began to have performance problems and the engine ran hotter than before. I've always done maintenance when needed, including changing both fuel filters, and never had problems with algae. I solved the problem, eventually, and found that the W123's fuel tank's fuel pick-up is slightly above the bottom of the fuel tank providing an area where water accumulates forming the breeding ground for algae growth.

My two cents worth.
Good luck with storing your M-B!
Tom

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Stabil is not needed in Diesel fuel. I've used Diesel fuel that was more than 10 years old and it ran as good as new fuel. Actually it might have been #2 fuel oil but I still couldn't tell any difference in performance.

Gasoline is different. Certain molecules evaporate out of it and that changes the chemical composition. You can tell old, bad gasoline by the smelling it, it has a srtange odor. I had some 16 year old gasoilne. I mixed it 1/2 an 1/2 with new gasoline and the engine started and ran fine.

P E H