Length of time diesel fuel stays good in tank

[wagonmaster2]

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.

[mowermech]

Just make sure your tank is completely full to avoid condensation.
Diesel fuel does not "rot" like gasoline (new or old), so Sta-Bil or Sea Foam is not required. If there is no water in the tank, a biocide is not needed. The algae will only grow at the water/fuel interface; no water, no algae.
However, if you want to put "stuff" in your tank, go ahead. It probably won't accomplish much, but it won't hurt anything, either. It would be a good idea, IMO, to read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the "stuff" to see exactly what is in it. Many such products consist of mostly acetone, with a little light machine oil and isopropyl alcohol. In fact, there is a website that tells you how to make your own home-brew diesel fuel treatment for about $3 a gallon!

[wagonmaster2]

Thanks for all the replys Guys. Makes me feel much better now. Will try to burn up a little but will take lots of short drives to burn up 90 gal at 7.5 MPG.

[KD4UPL]

Some of the fuel in my Kohler diesel generator is well over 3 years old. I did put some biocide in it. It runs just fine.

[Ivylog]

At 10 years I’d start to worry.

[1320Fastback]

On job sites our will sit for months between phases in tanks that are freely vented. Our machines are all brand new with hundreds of sensors and whatnot and they have no problems with the fuel.

[Johnny_G1]

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.

[Trackrig]

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

[Bruce_Brown]

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.

[jdc1]

Ever watch "Gold Rush"? They let those D10's sit all winter, just in and go. Nothing added.

[JRscooby]

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.

[wolfe10]

Particularly if the tank is full (to minimize condensation) you should be just fine with the Biocide you added.

[JoeH]

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.

[midnightsadie]

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.

[wopachop]

Can you take it for a Sunday drives?