Diesel question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bear · #1 02-26-2002, 06:14 PM

Can someone tell me if diesel has a shelf life?The thing is I still have some diesel left over from last years fuel blockade, and I need to know if I can still use it.It's been stored in a polythene jerry can.Your advice would be gratefully appreciated.
Bear

Kyle Blackmore · #2 02-26-2002, 07:32 PM

Hi Bear,I think if you dilute the old fuel with new,about 50/50 should be OK.Do you have a lot of it ?Maybe add extra fuel additive or diesel fuel stabilizer.I keep fuel stabilizer in my lawnmower,weed-eater and chain saw and they always start up right away after long storage,ditto for the Mustang

Good luck!

goldenbear · #3 02-26-2002, 08:15 PM

Personally, I wouldn't consider it. How much fuel are we talking about? Is a few $$ of fuel worth the risk of potential damage to a fine engine? That said, I love the frugality of vintage MB diesel owners.

DZLPWR · #4 02-26-2002, 09:47 PM

Do you have an airport nearby that services small business jets or sells Jet A? They should be about to dump it into their waste fuel. Generally it goes into an old 55 gal drum and is suppose to be picked up. When it's full the guys dump a quart of motor oil into the jet A for fuel system lube, then they run it through a pump/filter and fill up their personal vechicels.
Anyway between aircraft maintenance fuel drains and laws that require daily fuel sample inspections from all the fuel trucks, there's a ton of waste fuel at airports.

oldsouth · #5 02-27-2002, 11:06 AM

Bear - It should'nt hurt a thing. A lot of trucking companies mix old engine oil with their fuel. I would mix it at about 10% to be safe. If at the bottom of the can it is very dark fuel, just throw that out.

Let me edit what I said- I would mix the fuel in with the fuel you regularly buy at 10% not mix oil with it. I said the oil thing only to let you know that some trucking companies do that.

#6 02-27-2002, 12:42 PM

Bear, pour the fuel through a paint strainer into another container to see if you have any algae in the fuel. If you do take it to your waste oil recycle center. If there is no algae it is perfectly OK to run. There is no need to put oil in it or anything else, but it won't hurt either. I would recommned that if you put anything in it you use your normal fuel treatment.

Bear · #7 02-27-2002, 05:20 PM

Frugal who me? No me mam comes from the great county of Yorkshire in England and she's always told me waste not want not.Thanks for the advice guys I'll try mixing it 50/50 this weekend and I'll strain it first.
Bear

Ducati · #8 02-28-2002, 02:26 AM

The only concern would be algae. Diesel does not degrade like regular gasoline, but as it is oilier it is prone to algae if moisture gets to it.
Algae has been discussed on this forum in the past, and might make a worthwhile read if you were inclined to use this forum's archive search. You, in England get as much rain as we do in British Columbia, so I am wary of algae.
What colour is the old diesel fuel? Is it still nice and amber, or has it darkened?
I have used two year old fuel in a Caterpillar D9 tractor, and if the diesel is not showing signs of algae, go ahead and use it.

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