In light of the threat of 'terror attacks' and the ensuing mayhem I was thinking of keeping some spare cans (20-30 gal) of diesel fuel on hand. (I live just outside of DC)

I have heard of algae growing in it but how do you prevent that?

Any suggestions on how to properly keep fuel fresh?
Jerry cans or other recommended containers?

Am I nuts?

Alec.

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85 300TD Turbodiesel 299,376 miles

Interesting thought.

We still have one station that is lagging behind. Cost is still 1.49 while all others are 1.79 or higher. I was thinking about filling up a 55 gallon drum.

Don

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
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'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

The place I usually get diesel is now up to 1.80/gal...up 0.16. I guess I'll start braving the cold and riding my bike to work more often.

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85 300TD Turbodiesel 299,376 miles

Don't think you will have to worry about algae this time year.
Storing a few cans SAFELY is not really a problem.

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Ricali

03 C240 4matic wagon
95 300E 234,000
7 prior 240;s 5 still going
81 300sd gone
65 230sl gone
49 Studebaker Champion
90BMW convert.167,000
60 Dodge D-100

Algae will only grow if there's water in the fuel--so keeping water (including condensation) out is the main thing. You'll mostly get condensation if there's a vent to the tank--you can cover the vent with tape if the tank doesn't heat up and cool too much.

You can also add a biocide (like Bio-Bor, available at most marinas or marine stores: www.westmarine.com). That'll kill algae and keep it from growing.

Just get some Bio from boat supply and add a little and you are good to go. Look at all the boats in Marina. Alot are diesel and water all around them. Keep the water out and you are good to go. And this stuff is a B.#%$ to light, not near as bad as gas.
I keep two 2 1/2 cans in my trunk and use it every six to nine month's. Never a problem.
If I see a station and they are .25 to .35 cent higher than everyone else. I got another hundred mile to find cheaper.
Check the net there are site's that monitor diesel prices. Trucker use 200 to 400 gal. so they watch this.
Charlie

I would add biocide just to be on the safe side if you're storing longer than a month. I would add diesel fuel stablizer if you are storing longer than 2 months. It may be over kill, but better safe than sorry. You can get cans (bottles) of these at the BoatUS store in Rockville and they are not expensive. ALSO, try $1.99/gal. for diesel fuel near Bowie! Good Luck.

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

Speaking of boats, is marine diesel dyed red? My bet is that at a minimum the taxes are lower because it's not for road use. I'm more curious than anxious to try it.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

I forget what color the marine diesel is. I never think about it when I fuel up the old boat. Anyway, the diesel fuel is the same. It's only the taxes that are different!

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

They will hang a big fine on you if they catch you using marine or farm fuel on the road. Not as bad as ATF but close. No humor in lossing their money.

Charlie, you're right about the big fine. It's not worth it.

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

There's no federal tax on marine diesel, and the states charge about 0.10 to 0.25/gallon, depending on the state. Though this is lower than road-taxes, marine diesel is generally higher priced (I suspect because of low volume sales). It'll cost you more to fill your Benz at a marina than at an ordinary gas station.

I use a product called PRI-D (16 oz for 256 galls) for adding to my emergency gen set fuel tank. Its spoz to "keep" the diesel for years. Don't know how well it works but their claims are impressive. Got it from some "survivalists" site up in Montana.

BTW while I was a deckhand on a tug and we had to use fuel from a double bottom tank ( always kept full for ballast and seldom used). no one remembered how long it had been there but it was agreed, at least 12 years. Those V 16 gimmeys kept running and I wish I would have been interested enough then to ask what the filters looked like. I have heard that the constant movement kept it from "stratifying or what ever it does to make it go "bad" So maybe all you have to do is shake it up new and then and of course, keep the water OUT..

I wonder if there is a dye on the market to counter the red dye?

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

In Maryland, marine diesel is definitely cheaper by about 20-35 cents per gallon (Still not worth the risk of fines; plus it's hard to pull a car up to the dock ). The Chesapeake Bay is approx. 200 st. miles long and I would guess that you could find diesel fuel every 5-15 miles anywhere along the main part of the Bay at some marina. Thus the competition must keep the price down. I've been putting fuel in my diesel powered boat for 16 years and never once had to worry about finding diesel. Come to think of it, it's probably easier to find diesel for the boat than it is to find diesel for the SDL! But, I don't doubt your comments about Mich.. While visiting in-laws (by car) in Mich. over the years, I sometimes make side trips to marinas to see the boats. (Only boat nuts, like myself know what I'm talking about!) I remember that the slip fees at marinas up your way were really pricey as well as winter storage rates. - - - But, this year, there won't be cheap fuel anywhere, land or sea.

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

I have three 55 gallon drums of biodiesel in my garage most times. It's highly adviseable to add some biocide if you're going to store the fuel more than a month or two. Racor makes biocide for diesel fuel as well as others. As posted earlier, yes, water in fuel breeds bacteria and microbes. For the small bung vents, 1 micron particle filters that are filled with dessicant are available. These allow the drum's necessary breathing(which happens no matter how you try to seal it, with changing temperatures) and do not allow dirt or moisture into the fuel. Its sure nice to be filling up in my garage at $1.55/gal with renewable domestically grown soybean based biodiesel, and not sending my fuel dollars to the middle east...not to mention the huge reduction in air pollution and 55 cetane index

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2004 Ram 2500 Cummins HO
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