Diesel Fuel

I'm no "expert" but doing a search it seems 6 to 12 months most are saying is fine. So you must have tried some old diesel in your Prado to know your vehicle runs better with fresh diesel where did you get the old fuel from and how old was it ? You may want to research premium diesel I did you might find your paying for nothing but if it gives you piece of mind all good.

I would be more inclined to fit a good quality aftermarket filter with water trap especially on a modern diesel.

Batts, Premium Diesel contains an anti foaming agent, "normal" Diesel does not. It also contains a different detergent additive, so you are getting something for the extra cost.

Macca.

McLaren, for your extra money, you get an anti foaming agent....it won't make the 4wd run or perform better. Not unless it comes with a higher cetane rating, but I'd doubt it.

Here you go BP ultimate independently tested in the real world.

Lindsay Transport fuel test

Thanks for that link Eagle, I will happily continue to use it when available.
It is interesting that the drivers claim there is a noticeable difference, I also find that.
I believe my Prado runs quieter on BP Ultimate than Vortex and a Lot quieter than on the cheapie brands.

The different detergent additive will make your engine run better, and clean & protect the fuel system, independent tests have shown this.

Both BP Ultimate & Caltex Vortex come from the same source refinery, in some terminals, they even come from the same tank. As stated before the difference between "Premium Diesel" and "Standard Diesel" is the additive, this applies to all the major oil companies.

Macca.

Macca, where I live the only fuel company that uses there own wharf unloading facilities are Puma. Not sure how the others manage the tankers and fuel, but as you said they do mix and match, then add their own little bits of joy to the common fuel.

One thing is BP nominate a cetane rating where others only give a minimum well below BP.

Hi Eagle, there are two different Cetane numbers that are quoted, one is a Cetane Index, and the other is a Cetane Number. They are different, one is higher than the other, and BP quote the higher number. In actual fact, the Cetane rating of Diesel in Australia is the same no matter which brand you buy. I was the Terminal Operations Manager at one of the Major Distribution Terminals that was a joint venture between Mobil & BP, and I can assure you that the Diesel came out of the same tanks at the Terminal for each company. Even the additives were the same, and while BP quoted a higher Cetane, it was exactly the same as Mobil.

Macca.

It's a shame the diesel these days makes my old patrol run a lot nosier than it should not providing the adequate lube which I need to add. I've also tried different brands over the yrs and never had any fuel gains with any of them. The old diesels may be down on power but are very good on fuel when compared to the fussy high tech time bombs around these days.

Algae only grows at the Fuel/Water interface, keep the water out and you won't have a problem. Easier said than done, most storage tanks have a "cone down" floor with a water trap at the bottom so that water can be drawn off from the lowest point in the tank.

Macca.

thanks Bob thats very helpful

Nick b location is Victoria just wonted to no I have about 5 jerry cans in the shed sitting there for about 8 months i have a hj 60 so I think it should be ok to use it up

John, just use it and if you are concerned and have another jerry can, just put a ladies stocking in the funnel and transfer the contents of each jerry into the empty jerry, then into your tank, If there is any algae you will see it in the stocking.

The diesel you have will still give you bang for buck in your engine.

John , as eagle said ~ just use it as you need it .
I have used fuel like that b4 with no problems . I have used fuel out of an old truck that sat for years and put it in our tractors no problems at all.. (same same hj60)
But the late model vehicle NO way not worth the risk .
late model vehicles don't like moisture & crappy fuel from what i have been told .
happy travels .

That's not degradation or algae, Ivan. That's waxing due to low temperatures. Once the fuel warms up, it is a good as it ever was. Cold climate "winter mix" avoids or reduces the problem and is what goes into the bowsers on a seasonal basis, as you have suggested.

“Waxing” is often associated with alpine areas, or more colder climates, but I’ve had fuel problems on the Barkly Tablelands, and also in the Channel Country.

During the ‘80’s, we had a number of trips to the Tablelands, building turkeys nests on 3 stations owned by the company I worked for. One year, maybe ‘84 or ‘85, was particularly cold, and early mornings often didn’t go to plan. Our offsider would work the elevating scraper till midnight, and I’d kick on around 4am, but often the machine would need fuel after a couple of hours, and the rotary pump wouldn’t work, because of the wax. And the Cook wasn’t happy when I’d get into bed, with my cold hands..........

This scraper was often reluctant to start in the mornings too, after a night off. The fuel tank was right at the rear of the machine, so there was a long fuel line up to the engine that always blocked up with wax.

One time, some years later, eldest daughter & I were west of the Diamantina, not too far off the Winton-Boulia road, doing some grading. She would follow me along in the Landcruiser, with fuel, swags etc. We camped in a good spot, few Gidgea trees & plenty of firewood, and all went well till daylight.Grader would turn over, but not start! After a few attempts, I resorted to a bucket of water on the fire, and once it was hot, poured it over the injectors, fuel lines and injector pump. Even this didn’t work at the time and we had to wait for the sun to warm everything, about 9.30am. So much for the early start!

Bob

.
Agreed Ron, storage technique is most important.

Any unsealed container will aspirate with changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure. Each time they 'breathe in' water vapour enters the container then condenses. The condensed water does not exit when the container 'breathes out'. thus the water progressively builds up in the stored diesel.

Underground tanks are least affected by temperature although still subject to atmospheric pressure changes. Such tanks are usually vented to allow pumped removal of the diesel. The less the stored content in a tank, the greater the air space and thus the greater is the aspirating process and by being cooler underground facilitates condensation. Additionally, diesel removal induces moist air into the tank. Service stations that maintain low tank storage levels for operational economic reasons are at greatest risk.

As you say, jerrycans and drums require good seals to eliminate aspiration and keeping vehicle tanks full is good.

This situation is a significant problem in petrochemical tank farms. Tanks cannot be simply sealed because atmospheric pressure changes can collapse tanks. Some were equiped with 'floating roofs' to minimise vapour space and others were sealed and maintained at controlled pressure using product vapour or dry inert gas such as nitrogen.

Doug, are you still on the radio waves in Orange.

G'day 9900Eagle, no mate, had a dispute with with them over Posters I made on my PC and added them to my Facebook, the Vice Pres' woman didn't like that, said I had to send them to her so they go on the station FBook, , reackon one cant add anything on the personal FB about the station so I told them I quit , I'm looking at another station maybe next year.....anyhow life goes on, have a happy New Year

I have an old hj60 just done 600.000k'S ALSO STILL GOING GOOD