Fuel additive recommendations

[Teeshot1939]

Planning to store motor home for 6 winter months in heated storage in New England BUT will NOT be able to start the ISL-9 450hp diesel engine for 6 months. Can you recommended a brand for stabilizer, or algaecide or biocide or anything else you think I should add to 150 gallons of diesel fuel? Thanks..

[JaxDad]

wolfe10 wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

wolfe10 wrote:
If filling in summer or fall (before winter grade diesel is at the pumps, add an ANTI-GEL as well. PS brand is carried at most Walmarts.

Absolutely no need for that, fuel gels in cold weather as paraffins and asphaltines get too cold to stay in suspension but clears up again as temps rise.

Fuel that’s gelled in February will be just fine in April when the engine is restarted next time.

True, but that precludes being able to drive it in the winter for an emergency.

I would not want to save $10 and have it keep me from using the coach during freezing weather.

Perhaps read it as insurnce.

And...... the OP said.

Teeshot1939 wrote:
Planning to store motor home for 6 winter months in heated storage in New England BUT will NOT be able to start the ISL-9 450hp diesel engine for 6 months.

Or not.......

[Bruce_Brown]

Ours only has a 100 gallon tank but all we do is make sure it's full when we park it in the Fall. We've been using this method successfully since 2003.

I do the same with my farm tractors, and they sit a lot longer than 6 months. They're outside all winter too.

[wolfe10]

JaxDad wrote:

wolfe10 wrote:
If filling in summer or fall (before winter grade diesel is at the pumps, add an ANTI-GEL as well. PS brand is carried at most Walmarts.

Absolutely no need for that, fuel gels in cold weather as paraffins and asphaltines get too cold to stay in suspension but clears up again as temps rise.

Fuel that’s gelled in February will be just fine in April when the engine is restarted next time.

True, but that precludes being able to drive it in the winter for an emergency.

I would not want to save $10 and have it keep me from using the coach during freezing weather.

Perhaps read it as insurnce.

[neil57]

Diesel with any bio-diesel content will not store well, try to avoid it before storing. It will turn to a brown sludge that will plug filters and may take out injectors. I have had this happen.

[JaxDad]

wolfe10 wrote:
If filling in summer or fall (before winter grade diesel is at the pumps, add an ANTI-GEL as well. PS brand is carried at most Walmarts.

Absolutely no need for that, fuel gels in cold weather as paraffins and asphaltines get too cold to stay in suspension but clears up again as temps rise.

Fuel that’s gelled in February will be just fine in April when the engine is restarted next time.

[KD4UPL]

I wouldn't worry about 6 month old diesel. Most farmers run equipment on diesel older than that.
My home generator has some diesel in it that is at least 4 or 5 years old. (I did add a treatment to it when I got it but that was just 2 years ago.)

[jdc1]

You can store diesel for 5 years and it'll fire right up.

[wolfe10]

Add a BIOCIDE such as Biobar JF, fill the diesel tank FULL and drive far enough to get the OIL (not just coolant) up to operating temperature-- say 25 highway miles) just before parking. Easy to find at marine stores, as boats have the same diesel storage issues.

Same for running generator for at least a half hour under at least half load right before storing.

If filling in summer or fall (before winter grade diesel is at the pumps, add an ANTI-GEL as well. PS brand is carried at most Walmarts.

[midnightsadie]

spend more time taking care of the batteries. 6months just my .02cts the fuel will be fine.