Forum Discussion

wagonmaster2's avatar
wagonmaster2
Explorer
Jun 20, 2020

Length of time diesel fuel stays good in tank

Assuming the diesel fuel was treated with Stabil and Biocide last fall how long would it be safe to burn since the pandemic has cut short travel plans all this summer? For years have done this in November and started travel in March or April next year, but not this year.
And what do you do with a tank full of diesel that shouldn't be run through the engine? Never had this problem in 30+ years of RVing.
Class A
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jun 20, 2020
    your going to get all kinds of answers , heres mine , just let it alone. construction crews ,farmers etc let some equipt set for years m, little prime and start them up. me I,d drive the rv about twenty miles every month or so . just to keep things lubed up.
  • JoeH's avatar
    JoeH
    Explorer III
    Jun 20, 2020
    I let my diesel pickup ( f250 7.3l navistar) sit for 2 years. It fired right up and I had no issues. Fuel was not treated in anyway prior to letting it sit. This is in Florida so plenty of heat and humidity.
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2020
    Particularly if the tank is full (to minimize condensation) you should be just fine with the Biocide you added.
  • JRscooby's avatar
    JRscooby
    Explorer II
    Jun 20, 2020
    I would not worry until just before ready to use. Then I would drain some from the bottom of tank. (5% capacity or so) Check that for water. If none, pour back in tank, fire that sucker up. If you see a lot of water, might want to dump that, and drain some more.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Jun 20, 2020
    Ever watch "Gold Rush"? They let those D10's sit all winter, just in and go. Nothing added.
  • Bruce_Brown's avatar
    Bruce_Brown
    Moderator
    Jun 20, 2020
    I use my farm tractors in the Spring - once planting is done they sit until the following Spring. I've never treated a tank of fuel and I've never had an issue.

    Run it, you'll be fine.
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Jun 20, 2020
    My diesel hunting rig below only gets used in September and sits the rest of the year. And on occasion, it sat for two or three years unused without a problem.

    Bill
  • Johnny_G1's avatar
    Johnny_G1
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2020
    My MH has sat for 3 1/2 yrs now and just fired up last week, still has 70 gallons of fuel since sept 2016, didn't turn over twice and was running like a watch.

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