We have a Brand X crawler that I am thinking about hauling in for scrap. I checked the diesel tank and I figured there had to be more than 100 gallons left in there.

The question is can I use this old diesel?

I'll have to look up when the last time it was used, but I think it could been as far back as Oct 2001, or as soon as Oct 2003.


At $200 a ton it looks like there could be a few $$ in there.

If you put the old fuel into a separate storage tank and then treat it with a biocide and fuel conditioner it should be OK. Run it trough a filter as it goes into the machine fuel tank also.

X2 We Use A Product Called Biobor And Seems To Do The Job Just Fine.

Used about 60 gal of 9 year old #2 in my D47U and did not notice any difference. Used Power Service BioKleen (sp) and the PS fuel supplement but had to drain off about a quart of water that had accumulated.
That is not the whole story as I diluted it half and half in the tractor. Absolutely no problems.

I planned on dropping the electric transfer pump from a trap wagon into the tractor's tank, and pumping the fuel into a trap wagon. The transfer pump has a spin on filter, then when I pump the diesel into the tractor it would be filtered again.

I guess I will have to try and find some fuel conditioner, however I have never seen or heard of biocide for diesel fuel out here. Is this available at napa?

One weird thing I noticed when I opened the fuel cap was there was a slight air pressure forcing the cap off as I unscrewed it , followed by seemed like a large volume of air. Aside from the venting issue that I never recalled the tractor having problems with fuel delivery. It seemed odd that it would build up pressure after sitting for a length of time.

Diesel biocide is normally available in most parts of the colder climate zones. I would imagine most truck stops would carry it. It's routinely added to bulk tanks (diesel) here in Ohio and KY to reduce the algea buildup in wintertime diesel storage tanlks.

I beleive a small ammount would treat the quantity of fuel you stated was left remaining in the donor tank.

Good Luck

Alan

I believe that the only thing that could have built up pressure in the tank is the temperature change in the atmosphere.

At over $4.10 a gallon , I WOULD mix with fresh fuel and use- or at least use for heating oil.

I have access to a "CFR" (combined fuels research) engine and a Herzog Distillation apparatus. 2 years ago I came across 200 gallons in various tanks of old (red) diesel/heating fuel. I filtered all the fuel twice, then mixed it together. I had it tested and it tested out with a low Cetane as the volitiles were long gone. I added various PowerClean additives at the higher rate listed on the containers, then mixed in a higher than listed on the bottle amount of Marvel Mystery oil to increase lubricity. I had it tested again and it come out close enough to be used as Summer Diesel. To play it safe I mixed it 50/50 with off/road Diesel and had it tested again. The fuel mixture tested out fine within SAE standards. The Herzog Distillation test showed a higher than normal amount of residue in the Base Stock test but with good filters on the engine it shouldn't be a problem. I ran this in a Mercedes diesel which started and ran fine.
FYI, at a price over $3.60 a gallon for Ag/OffRoad, if I could get more for this summer, I would not hestate to use it again if I could get it!
Same goes for old Gasoline to run in a low compression Farm tractor!