Is it possible to have too much stabilizer in diesel fuel? Suppose a half a tank of fuel sat around for 4 or 5 seasons and every year the marina put stabilizer in the fuel during the winterizing proceedure. Would three or four cans of stabilizer in 20 gals. of fuel affect the performance? Would it smoke? Or is this a non-issue? Is the fuel still good after this long?
- Status
Yes, it can damage the engine. Your engine want fuel not crap. I poured to much in last year. I asked the yard mechcanic and the stabilizer manufacture if it could cause a problem. The answer was YES! I pumped out all 18 gallons and took it home to heat my house. I plan to do the same thing every year now. Leave my tank as empty as possible and then pump in out in the spring. New fresh fuel, the motor got to love that. How would you like drinking some dirty year old fuel?
well not too fast!
Leaving the tank nearly empty will cause a worse problem. When air is warm in day and cool at night it expands and contracts in tank through vent. When the cool air comes in, it brings in lots of moisture. If the tank is nearly full, little of this occurs, but if nearly empty much does. This procedure will insure that you have much nice wet water murking up your new clean fuel in the spring. More problems with this than anything else with diesels.
Leaving the tank nearly empty will cause a worse problem. When air is warm in day and cool at night it expands and contracts in tank through vent. When the cool air comes in, it brings in lots of moisture. If the tank is nearly full, little of this occurs, but if nearly empty much does. This procedure will insure that you have much nice wet water murking up your new clean fuel in the spring. More problems with this than anything else with diesels.
keep your tank full
I don’t agree pumping your diesel tank almost empty. The best thing is to keep your tank as full as possible all the time to prevent moister build-up. There is almost no need for stabilizer if you prevent moister to build up. Moister in your tank is the main source of sludge and “diesel-algae”. Basically if you are able to prevent moister you don’t need stabilizer.
I don’t agree pumping your diesel tank almost empty. The best thing is to keep your tank as full as possible all the time to prevent moister build-up. There is almost no need for stabilizer if you prevent moister to build up. Moister in your tank is the main source of sludge and “diesel-algae”. Basically if you are able to prevent moister you don’t need stabilizer.
Filler up.
The last thing I do before haul out is to add fuel stablize and top off the tank..Seems to work well.. altought I did need to get my tank fuel polished this year. Just add what is needed for 25 Gals.
The last thing I do before haul out is to add fuel stablize and top off the tank..Seems to work well.. altought I did need to get my tank fuel polished this year. Just add what is needed for 25 Gals.
Contrarian Response to Fill or Not
I talked to a fellow who polishes diesel fuel for a living. He said keeping the tanks full is NOT the best advice. Keep as little as possible, an additive and replentish with fresh fuel as often as possible. Don't take more than you need. Of course, this is SoCal, and he IS in the business, so you could think he's giving bad advice for more business if that's your bias. FWIW, I keep a full tank with additive. Rick D.
I talked to a fellow who polishes diesel fuel for a living. He said keeping the tanks full is NOT the best advice. Keep as little as possible, an additive and replentish with fresh fuel as often as possible. Don't take more than you need. Of course, this is SoCal, and he IS in the business, so you could think he's giving bad advice for more business if that's your bias. FWIW, I keep a full tank with additive. Rick D.
Now this is a first.
Rick: Now this is a first. Leave it empty? My father told me, my grand-father told me and my great-grand-father told me to keep the tank full (because of condensation). I would like you to ask him WHY !!!! I also try to keep mine full.
Rick: Now this is a first. Leave it empty? My father told me, my grand-father told me and my great-grand-father told me to keep the tank full (because of condensation). I would like you to ask him WHY !!!! I also try to keep mine full.
If boats were airplanes, we wouldn't be having
this discussion. Keeping plane tanks full is the law.
this discussion. Keeping plane tanks full is the law.
Airplanes do NOT keep their tanks full
Most airplanes carry only the amount of fuel needed to make destination, plus mandated reserves in case of a problem that forces diversion to an alternate airport. They rarely fill their tanks as this cuts down on payload, and reduces MPG by carrying unnecessary weight. They do, however, have sumps with drains at the lowest part of each tank which are drained of any accumulated water during preflight inspection, every day. The main cause of water in fuel, and tired, old fuel, is lack of use. Run those motors, burn that fuel! And replace it with fresh new stuff as often as possible. I keep my tanks nearly full.
Most airplanes carry only the amount of fuel needed to make destination, plus mandated reserves in case of a problem that forces diversion to an alternate airport. They rarely fill their tanks as this cuts down on payload, and reduces MPG by carrying unnecessary weight. They do, however, have sumps with drains at the lowest part of each tank which are drained of any accumulated water during preflight inspection, every day. The main cause of water in fuel, and tired, old fuel, is lack of use. Run those motors, burn that fuel! And replace it with fresh new stuff as often as possible. I keep my tanks nearly full.
John, I was too 'general' about airplanes
You're right. I was thinking of the little guys that we would own, not the commercial sizes. Maybe my buddies were BSing me to get me to chip in for fuel.
A 747 center tank is empty even to fly trans Atlantic.
You're right. I was thinking of the little guys that we would own, not the commercial sizes. Maybe my buddies were BSing me to get me to chip in for fuel.
A 747 center tank is empty even to fly trans Atlantic.- Status