According to studies, diesel fuel #2 becomes polluted and degrades within 28 days of being stored. Diesel fuel can only be stored for 6 to 12 months on average, while under ideal conditions it can last up to a year. In general, to extend the life of stored diesel fuel quality, it should be:
The term “diesel” is used in NFPA 110 “1.5 to 2 years of storage life.” According to the Standard, “Tanks should be sized so that gasoline is utilized within the storage life of the tank, or provisions should be provided to replace stale fuel with fresh fuel.” A-5-9, NFPA 110
How Long Can diesel fuel be stored?
In temperatures of 85 degrees, diesel fuel can last for 6 to 12 months. The fuel will then start to react with the oxygen in the tank. Diesel may become sticky as a result of this interaction. If diesel turns sticky, it can block fuel filters, causing engine problems. The sticky fuel will not burn properly, resulting in a film of soot and carbon on the engine’s inside. One possibility is to apply oxidation-resisting stability treatments.
Degradation of diesel fuel can also be caused by other sources. Fungus can grow in the presence of water in the fuel. Fungi can produce organic chemicals that break down diesel molecules. The gumming process can be accelerated by high temperatures. When metals like zinc and copper come into contact with diesel fuel, they can trigger a chemical reaction. Certain chemicals have been shown to hasten the aging process.
Can diesel be stored for years?
So, under these circumstances, how long does diesel fuel last? “Diesel fuel can be stored for 6 to 1 year without substantial fuel degradation if kept clean, cold, and dry,” according to Exxon. Diesel fuel can be stored for more than a year under specific conditions, according to Chevron:
- Second, acceptable fuel quality and stability were obtained by using additives such as biocides, stabilizers, and additive packages that promote lubricity, improve the Cetane number, and offer detergents to keep fuel systems clean.
- Finally, the fuel was tested on a regular basis, maintained, and polished as needed using portable filters.
As a result, the answer to the question “how long does diesel fuel last” is “it depends.” However, with good fuel stability achieved by correct storage and the use of diesel fuel treatments such as Diesel STA-BIL, you can combat fuel degradation for a long time while keeping expenses low and under control.
Is 10 year old diesel fuel still good?
It’s an age-old question for diesel truck drivers and anyone else who drives a diesel-powered vehicle. ‘Does diesel fuel have a shelf life?’ In actuality, there is no such thing as an expiration date for diesel, but the longer you store it, the worse it performs.
In reality, keeping diesel without properly treating it can cause a slew of problems, not just for the fuel but also for any vehicle into which you chose to put it later. We’ll go over exactly what happens to untreated diesel fuel when it’s stored for a long period, as well as how you may avoid these bad consequences by simply treating the diesel before it’s stored.
Diesel fuel’s performance deteriorates when it sits in storage for extended periods of time. When the fuel reaches the final stages of the process, we call it “diesel fuel gone bad.” It may be too late to save your stored diesel fuel if you notice these things occurring to it. However, there are a few things you can do to extend its life, which we’ll go into later.
- As a result of being exposed to environmental variables, chain reactions occur: Light, water, and heat are the most prevalent environmental variables that have a negative impact on diesel fuel. If the diesel fuel is stored in a location where any of these things might affect it, the molecules in the fuel will produce chain reactions that will cause the fuel to slowly but steadily change from an oil to a varnish.
- The gasoline darkens, and the gums get swollen: As a result of the chain reactions that occur between environmental variables and the molecules of diesel fuel, the fuel thickens and darkens, turning into more of a gum or sludge.
This process alters the molecular structure of diesel fuel, and because most modern diesel fuels do not contain the same amount of sulfur as older diesel fuels, bacteria begin to thrive in the fuel, forming biomass. This can result in acids that completely degrade the fuel over time.
- The sludgy fuel won’t burn properly, resulting in black smoke: This thicker, darker dieselfuel won’t run as smoothly as a diesel fuel that hasn’t been influenced by external factors, resulting in black smoke and engine sputtering, which is never good for your car.
- Internal vehicle damage due to lubricity: Because this diesel fuel no longer has the lubricity it once did, the acidic nature and thickness of the fuel will begin to negatively affect the fuel pump, diesel injectors, and engine, and you may not be able to start your engine if the problem is severe enough.
You may be wondering if there is any solution that will allow you to keep diesel fuel without it becoming a sludgy mess now that you know what it means when you hear it has gone bad.
The solution is significantly more straightforward than you might have assumed. You can ensure that your stored diesel fuel is safe at all times by using a diesel fuel stabilizer. Although there are numerous brands and formulations to pick from, we recommend Opti-Lube, which is the world’s #1 rated additive that more than doubles the shelf life of diesel fuel.
Despite the fact that diesel fuel does not have a specific expiration date, the performance of stored fuel might be harmed over time if improper storage and additives are not used. If you intend on storing fuel or not driving your truck over the winter, it’s important to use a reliable additive like Opti-Lube and take precautions before it’s too late.
We at Gem State Diesel understand the damage that gummed-up diesel fuel can cause to a vehicle, which is why we’ve decided to offer this knowledge and show you how we maintain our fuel working at its best no matter what. After all, it’s always better to be cautious than sorry, especially when dealing with something as precious and impressive as a diesel engine.
How do you store fuel for years?
You’ll want to keep dozens of gallons of highly combustible fuel cool, fresh, and depressurized while storing it. A petrol tank left out in the sun might be deadly.
Keep your fuel tanks in a well-ventilated area, such as a garage or shed. Keep your tanks out of direct sunlight and away from any other heat sources, such as space heaters and your vehicle’s exhaust pipes.
Inspect your storage tanks for pressurization on a regular basis. Remove the cap and allow the fumes to escape if the tank looks to be filling up with gas fumes. This will maintain a safe amount of pressure in your gasoline storage tank.
Be wary of static electricity once more. Store your gas tanks or cans away from carpeted surfaces or anything else that could cause static electricity. Static electricity can be avoided by storing your tanks on a wooden shelf or table, or in a flammable liquids storage cabinet.
What is the longest lasting fuel?
Getting ready for an emergency might be difficult. It’s difficult to maintain emergency supplies fresh and useful when you don’t know when calamity may strike. It’s critical to know which fuels have the greatest shelf life when you prepare and begin to store fuel. It is preferable to use fuels with an unlimited shelf life whenever possible.
What are the fuels with the longest shelf lives? Propane, alcohol, wood, and charcoal are all suitable emergency storage fuels that can be kept indefinitely.
Which fuel has the longest shelf life and will fulfill my demands is the more appropriate question. Consider the following example:
During a power outage, you can use the following fuels to provide emergency alternate heating for your home:
Alternative fuel sources for emergency cooking without electricity include:
Fuel shelf life is just one of the elements to consider when deciding which fuel is ideal for your emergency preparedness. A fundamental aspect should be the ability to safely store the gasoline. To learn the best techniques for storing emergency fuels, go to How to Store Fuels Safely for Emergencies.
If all other parameters are equal, it makes sense to store the fuels that have the longest shelf life and are the most stable in storage. In this piece, we’ll look at the useable life of common fuels that are kept on hand for emergency situations.
What happens to diesel fuel when it gets old?
Gum and sediment form when diesel becomes stale and aged. This reaction occurs as a result of the fuel and oxygen reacting together. This debris clogs the filters, which might cause the engine to stall. Sediment and gum also don’t burn properly, resulting in carbon deposits on the injectors.
How can you tell if diesel fuel is bad?
The fuel injection system is an important part of any diesel engine. The fuel is pressurized and injected into compressed air in the combustion chamber via this system. Feeding fuel to the injectors, regulating the fuel supply, modifying the injection time, and atomizing the fuel are all operations of a fuel injection system.
The proper amount of fuel, at the right time, in the right condition for combustion, must be delivered.
Fuel injectors help enhance fuel efficiency, reduce the need for fuel system maintenance, and keep emissions cleaner. A diesel fuel injector has an average lifespan of 100,000 kilometers. The nozzle and the injector body are the two primary elements of a standard fuel injector. If either of these components becomes clogged or destroyed, the vehicle’s overall performance is jeopardized.
- Uneven idling or difficulty starting the car. The engine cranks, but it won’t start unless you crank it hard enough. On idle, the engine uses a variety of rev levels.
- Misfire. A full diagnostic of a vehicle that is misfiring on ignition entails determining which component of the combustion process is missing. This is caused by either a lack of fuel injection or a lack of combustion chamber heat in a diesel engine. One of the cylinders’ fuel charge fails to ignite, or the fuel supply to the ignition system is insufficient.
- There’s a strong odor of gasoline. The scent of diesel within the cabin indicates that there is a leak. This could be caused by a malfunctioning injector that allows fuel to leak out while it isn’t in use.
- Emissions are filthy. Filters that are clogged and deposits on injectors create an uneven or partial fuel burn, resulting in a polluted environment around the exhaust and the discharge of white smoke from the exhaust pipe.
- Fuel consumption has increased, while miles per gallon has decreased. Faulty injectors waste more fuel and have a direct impact on the performance and efficiency of your vehicle.
Clean fuel injectors are essential for your diesel engine to run at its best. Any of the following signs could suggest an issue with your fuel injectors, which should not be overlooked. Injectors that are unclean, clogged, or leaky are examples of this. If you’ve driven your car for more than 100,000 miles without replacing the fuel injectors, it’s time to have them looked at by a specialist.
Can diesel be stored in plastic containers?
Despite the short storage time and the possibility of polyethylene plastic material degradation, there are a number of advantages to storing diesel fuel in a plastic oil drum.
When diesel fuel comes into touch with certain metal alloys, such as zinc or copper, it degrades quickly. While metal barrels can be used to store diesel, you must ensure that the metal does not react with the fuel. You won’t have to worry about this with a plastic drum.
Rust is a problem with many metal barrels and storage containers. Rusting can also influence the quality of diesel and cause it to degrade in storage. Because plastic drums do not rust, there is no need to be concerned about this.
There are a number of other reasons why plastic drums are a popular choice for storing diesel fuel in addition to these advantages over metal containers:
Industrially, plastic drums can be stored and transported (using forklifts etc.)
Can diesel fuel freeze?
When temperatures drop, the bonds between diesel fuel molecules become more rigid, causing them to connect more tightly. The procedure is repeated until thin sheets of diesel are linked together, resulting in a waxy material in the fuel. A little cloudy appearance within the fluid may be the first sign. **
Enough of these wax pieces accumulate in fuel filters over time, clogging them and preventing fuel flow. If the process continues, the fuel may entirely gel, forming a waxy goo that is semi-solid. The fuel supply to the engine has been cut off, and the vehicle is unable to run!
In frigid conditions, the term “gelled” is used to describe unusable equipment. The wax creation process is aided by frozen water molecules in diesel fuel, which provide a template for the wax to develop on. Biodiesel blends tend to hold more water in suspension than other fuels, exacerbating the problem.