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Diesel Shelf Life

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Kansas Ed

10-31-2005 14:56:51

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I was talking to a guy the other day and he claimed that algae would begin to grow in diesel that is over 60 days old. He said you needed to add an additive to stop the algae or you needed to filter it. I'd like to hear some discussion on this. Thanks! Ed

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Bus Driver

11-01-2005 16:58:13

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

I have stored Diesel fuel for 10 years and no problem when I used it. I do have a 5 micron filter in the hose from the storage tank.

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Doyle Alley

11-01-2005 10:17:11

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

I had a bad case of algae in my JD 950's tank shortly after I bought it. It clogged the fuel filter so badly that I couldn't even start the engine. I think that the algae problem is much more of a problem in warm/wet climates like here in Florida. The boat owners here have to use bioguard religiously or they will get contaminated fuel in their offshore boats. In fact, the only place I could find Bioguard (or other brands of anti-algae additives) is the marine supply store.

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BobMo

11-01-2005 07:33:38

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

I'd have to disagree with the guy you were talking to or my farm tanks would be in trouble all the time. I don't however put anything in the tractors that is unfiltered but I don't have a problem with the filters either. I suppose you could have conditions that would promote the growth of algae but reasonable care will probably prevent it...

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Jerry/MT

10-31-2005 18:03:45

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

i used to work for a large aircraft manufacturer and we had a problem with some Southern operators having sludge in the fuel tanks which was clogging up the fuel filters prematurely and causing a maintenance burden. Research indicated that the algae and certain bacteria grew at the water-fuel interface( the water got into the tanks, which are vented, from high humidity and then condensed as the aircraft climbed to altitude) in the tanks and than regular draining of water could prevent this as could some fuel additive that would kill off the the critters. Never heard anymore about it being a problem after that. If tanks are kept near full, then condesation is less of a problem and the folks who manufacture the fuel may have placed additives in it to disperse water and kill bacteria and algae.

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JK-NY

10-31-2005 17:16:27

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

The algae grows in water, not the fuel itself. you only have this problem if you have water in your fuel . I think it will grow more in warm weather than in cold.

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Gary Schafer

11-01-2005 17:26:31

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to JK-NY, 10-31-2005 17:16:27

Actually the algae grows at the water / diesel level in the tank. It feeds off the diesel fuel. Water in the tank is caused mostly from condensation. It is generally worse in climates where it is hot and humid in the day and cools at night. The expansion and contraction draws the moister into the tank where it condenses.

Keeping the tank full helps reduce the problem. Boats have a problem with algae constantly. You may not know it is in there until your filters clog up at the most inopportune time. Adding a biocide kills the algae growth and the dead algae turns to a black slime that gets sucked into the fuel line. Usually the suction line is above the bottom of the tank for that reason. But if the tank gets agitated, as in rough water bouncing the boat around, the dead algae comes off the bottom.
If it gets bad enough the tanks need to be cleaned, usually by cycling the fuel through a pump and filter to clean it. In Florida there are several companies that offer those services. They call it "fuel polishing".

Regards
Gary

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kyhayman

10-31-2005 16:54:31

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

When I was in the Guard (late 80's early 90's) we pumped out 100,000 gallons of fuel that had been in storage since the 50's. It was purchased by a trucking company and they used it OTR. Never had heard of algae in fuel at that point and it wasnt treated with anything.

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fixerupper

10-31-2005 16:50:04

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

Back in about 1990 I bought a John Deere R in North Dakota that the neighbors claimed hadn't been run for about 13-15 years. Without even removing the fuel cap to see what was in there we pulled it to see of it was stuck or free and it started right up unexpectedly! After we got it shut off I smelled the fuel and it didn't seem to be all that bad. The tractor had sat in a closed shed all that time and I suppose the cool (cold) dry climate had something to do with it too.Jim

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Bob M

10-31-2005 15:37:33

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

Ed - Maybe under "ideal" conditions of moisture and temperature algae will grow in 60 days. My experience however here in cold, wet upstate NY has been otherwise. A couple examples:

For about 20 years we had a sailboat with a small diesel auxiliary engine. The boat sat idle 10 months a year with untreated fuel in the tank. Never had any problems with algae growth in the fuel.

Several years ago I purchased a Kenworth 10 wheeler flatbed. It had been sitting idle and outdoors for 3+ years with 60 gallons (1/2 tank) of fuel when I got it. I sampled the fuel and changed the fuel filters before starting it the first time. Found not a trace of algae or other stuff in the fuel. So I simply ran the truck on the old fuel until it was gone. It started up and ran fine.

OTOH it cannot hurt to treat stored diesel fuel with a good diesel fuel stabilizer. For the price of a jug of stabilizer it's cheap insurance!

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barnrat

10-31-2005 15:37:00

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Re: Diesel Shelf Life in reply to Kansas Ed, 10-31-2005 14:56:51

I've heard that about biodiesel, but never petrol diesel. If it does grow algae then it must be non harmful. I do know that the longer diesel sits in a tank the more likely water will contaminate it.

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