Fuel longevity??

Hi Greg S

I think diesel last a very long time (years?). However petrol does go off. I think it is something to do with losing the volitiles out of the petrol (especially when you vent them to release the pressure. I recently used petrol that was ~3 months old (maybe a bit longer) and it gave me ~20l/100km instead of the expected 14-15!! Could not belive the rate that the fuel needle went down. I will not do that again.

I will be interested in seeing other's opinions.

Regards

Tim

Had some petrol in a 60lt drum for 10 years once Greg.

Worked without noticing any issue when poured into a car tank that had about the same amount left.

Also I keep about 150lt of petrol in various jerries and rotate thru probably every 6 months depending on current fuel prices.

Keep accurate fuel use records as well and while I would not detect small bad effects , I have certainly never had a single fuel issue.

Robin Miller

I have heard reports of diesel growing a 'fungus' from a number of sources.

My father was a marine diesel mechanic for a rescue organisation in the UK, they had a policy of not keeping large amounts of diesel. They wanted small amounts so it turned over regularly.

Also a good friend of mine who is a pretty good diesel spanner man suggested I don't keep diesel in Jerries for extended periods for the same reason.

Niether Dad or my mate suggested it was something to get too worried about but that I should put oeft over diesel from jerry cans into the car soon after returning from a trip.

Duncs

If the petrol is doubtful and I have used this method without any ill affects in SWMBO car was to mix equal quantities in the fuel tank with premium unleaded.

My Triton is duel fuel i.e LPG/petrol. I mostly run on LPG with a full tank of petrol in reserve. Petrol is only used for starting, so a tankfull lasts forever, unless I go on a trip, and very occasionally have to switch to petrol. Broken Hill to Cobar is a good Example, as when towing my van, I do not have much LPG on board by the time I get to Wilcannia, (70 lt tank), where there is no LPG and soon after have to switch to petrol. I then use about 3/4 of my petrol for the run into Cobar. (Always seem to use a lot of LPG/Petrol on that stretch towing the van, same going the other way.) Maybe there is something in the quality detrioration of the petrol stored for a long time. Around town I hardly ever go to petrol. They say to keep the tank full to avoid condensation. Any thoughts from others on that?
Cheers ans beers from Fred.

Petrol and diesel are made up of carbon chains, diesel ones are long and petrol ones short. The more "surface area" you have the more power in a faster burn you get. The short chains are more volitile and evaporate fast. If you leave the fuel sitting short chains will not stay around. But the long ones dont go anywhere.

I once left petrol sitting for a year or two and I think it could have quite easily gone into my diesel. Also down from diesel is other stuff like ship fuel called heavy oil, its more like vegemite!

They say to keep fungus out of stored diesel just add kero as it kills off any fungus and the diluted diesel will still work fine.

I bottle of kero to a vehicle tank full.

Never personally done it but have nver stored fuel for too long either. Picked a tank of bad fuel once down south and after many tinkerings just drained the tank and refilled and presto the problem was gone so I don't know what was wrong with the fuel.

Fuel is like beer !! Its meant to be used!! why do you want to put it in storeage!! LOL

Do a Google a search and get the real facts !