Old diesel fuel

[FLYTYR]

This my first attempt at posting and I suspect it went to the wrong thread/topic. But here it goes my second try...bear with me.
I carry 6 gallons of diesel for the unexpected 'you are out of fuel' calamity. Came in very handy on an 8000 mile trip out west. Fortunately I have not run out of fuel since but that fuel is really old...maybe 6 years old, in a fuel can on the bed of my F-250, exposed to the elements.
Can I use it in the truck? I suspect water absorption may be a problem. Can water be mitigated with an additive to the can? Clearly disposal is also a prime option.
Advice very welcomed.

[jimcol]

Can't answer your question on aged diesel. Like you I carry five gallons of diesel in the event of running out of fuel. On long trips, if I haven't needed the extra fuel in a couple of weeks I empty the emergency fuel into the truck tank, finish filling the truck, then fill the emergency can. In other words the emergency can is always full when traveling and always fresh. Once home I empty the can into the truck and store it empty until the next trip.

[Cobra13]

For $25 bucks I would dispose of it

[mlh]

For no more than it cost why take a chance?
Lynwood

[77cruiser]

Use it for fire starter.

[Chalkie]

Diesel makes great fire starter liquid BUT that would be a lot to use up that way. The real problem would be finding someplace in your area that will take it off your hands. Places that will take used motor oil might take it, think O'Reillys, Autozone, etc. or perhaps your local town or county has a place for hazmat disposal.

[dieselguy]

I think it'd be pretty foolish to use 6 yr old fuel in my truck. Like others I just use it from time to time and refill with fresh. Actually if you have some weeds you need killed just mix the diesel fuel with your weed killer instead of water. It makes it extra potent.

[Slow Hand]

If I was going to carry fuel just in case I would put it in the tank when I got home. Fill it up again for the next trip. I would no way use this fuel. diesel nay have a fungus growing in it. They have a additive for that but no way would I use it in my truck.

[scottz]

I hope you understand how much the repairs will cost if you contaminate your diesel system. High pressure pump, injectors, etc; many thousands.

[Skw774]

Dump it. Not worth the risk

[Dave W]

Just don't put it in your truck. The cost of rehabbing a Ford fuel system is in the neighborhood of 10.000 dollars and up. Find someone with an elderly tractor that doesn't have any kind of emissions controls and he might be happy to get 20 or so bucks worth of free fuel. Even my 1985 little 3 cylinder ISEKI yard tractor would love that old stuff.


If you have a need to carry emergency fuel dump it in the tank occasionally dump and obtain fresh. Diesel fuel normally wont go bad like gasoline but could accumulate moisture or organic contaminants

[1retired06]

Agree 100% Get rid of it; I carry two five gallon jugs of emergency diesel, but routinely rotate by dumping into the truck and refilling the jugs.

[MARK A]

You don't say what year your F250 is, but if it's a 6.7 I wouldn't use it. The chance of algae growth in 6 yrs is very high. Algae will destroy the fuel system on a 6.7.
Mark

[beeje]

Find an old farmer with an old diesel tractor and give it to him he'll appreciate it

[SterlingSilver]

I always travel with fuel cans. Mostly in case I need fuel and can't manuver into a station I can brigade it. I always cycle my fuel. Really old fuel can be treated with an additive and introduced into clean fuel in small amounts. Eventually it gets used up. If it has any crud in it it has to be filtered.

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by FLYTYR

............Can I use it in the truck? I suspect water absorption may be a problem. Can water be mitigated with an additive to the can? Clearly disposal is also a prime option.........

Same topic comes up all the time on boater forums.. The diesel in my sailboat takes 5 years and my powerboat takes 3 years to consume so I use a Diesel Stabilizer with a biocide to kill organisms and dispersant to bring any water in the diesel into suspension. My F250 and my sailboat sat for 3 years while I lived overseas and when I returned they both started right up on the old diesel without any issue.

But to answer your question.......yes. If the diesel tank was sealed like my spare diesel fuel tank is then there should not be any risk of water condensation and algae growth. However, suggest adding diesel stabilizer and inspecting the diesel for any algae contamination and water, which will separate from the diesel at the bottom of the spare tank to be sure, if you are concerned.

[Dave10]

I carry 12 gallons and rotate it every 6 months. I don't know how long diesel can be stored and it probably depends if it is blended with bio-diesel. However 6 month rotation has worked well for me. Also I mix Stanadyne fuel additive in my main and storage tanks. Lubrication of the fuel pump and injectors assure long levity.

[JimKrieger]

Diesel does not get old like gasoline, but it does eventually grow vegetation. Hospitals pay to have their backup generator tanks' diesel contents cleaned by filtering once each year. It's way cheaper than finding a place to dispose of the old diesel and then paying to fill with new.

[TAKPAK]

As some have said, give it to a farmer or trucker or someone who has an older diesel with the mechanical style pump. Those are very forgiving. Fuel is too expensive to just "dump" it or waste it. Farmers and antique power equipment owners are always looking for free fuel. These new high pressure computerized systems in the new trucks are not forgiving at all, so keep the fuel fresh. Add a stabilizer too. I like Seafoam myself.

[Whitewolf]

So, here's a question. Is there anything that FLYTYR can dump into that 6 gallon can to 'freshen it up' enough to add to the 20+ gallons of fresh when he fills up his tank?