I have had my current diesle fuel in for going on two years. We put additive in it last winter and am now down to about a half a tank. Would it be best to pump it all out and use fresh next year or should I top it off and add more additive for winter storage?
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same boat
first year i had the boat, it came with 3/4 of a tank. Used maybe a third. Stored over winter with additive. 2nd year used about a third, stored over winter w/ additive, maybe 1/4 of a tank left when i started this season. run about 1/2 the season, bought 7 dollars worth of desiel, i,m storing this year with about 3/4 full again. never had any problems yet, maybe just lucky
first year i had the boat, it came with 3/4 of a tank. Used maybe a third. Stored over winter with additive. 2nd year used about a third, stored over winter w/ additive, maybe 1/4 of a tank left when i started this season. run about 1/2 the season, bought 7 dollars worth of desiel, i,m storing this year with about 3/4 full again. never had any problems yet, maybe just lucky
In Chicago...
...where you can experience condensation, it would be good to fill the tank, also add an additive (stabilizer). You should be all set. When you commission it in the spring, you can add a bit of cetane booster, if you wish. But I think you will be all set. When I bought my boat, it sat for two summers with a full tank of fuel. I ran some of it the first year, but adding fresh fuel to it kept it OK.
...where you can experience condensation, it would be good to fill the tank, also add an additive (stabilizer). You should be all set. When you commission it in the spring, you can add a bit of cetane booster, if you wish. But I think you will be all set. When I bought my boat, it sat for two summers with a full tank of fuel. I ran some of it the first year, but adding fresh fuel to it kept it OK.
The life span of diesel fuel....
Diesel unlike gasoline has a much longer shelf life. I'm not a chemist so I can't tell you why. What is detrimental is the water that is in your tank from condensation. Use a good stabilizer and a great filter/water seperator. I recently pumped off 17 gal from an old Hunter. The owner told me he hadn't used the boat in 9 years. I poured it in my Jetta TDI and drove it out. There was a noticable loss of power but everything else ran great. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
Diesel unlike gasoline has a much longer shelf life. I'm not a chemist so I can't tell you why. What is detrimental is the water that is in your tank from condensation. Use a good stabilizer and a great filter/water seperator. I recently pumped off 17 gal from an old Hunter. The owner told me he hadn't used the boat in 9 years. I poured it in my Jetta TDI and drove it out. There was a noticable loss of power but everything else ran great. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
Too much additive
can hurt your engine. I would just store the boat without additives. Don't top it off and fill it in the spring. Then add a little new biocide. If your fuel is really old, drain the tank and refill with new fuel. You can burn the old diesel. I would not put it in my TDI Passat! Heck you don't know what additives are in there.
can hurt your engine. I would just store the boat without additives. Don't top it off and fill it in the spring. Then add a little new biocide. If your fuel is really old, drain the tank and refill with new fuel. You can burn the old diesel. I would not put it in my TDI Passat! Heck you don't know what additives are in there.
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