Does diesel go off?

[john snoo]

I know petrol goes off after a while (arguably prevented with fuel additive), but does the same thing happen to diesel? I have some jerry cans and wondering how long the diesel will be usable for if stored cool and dark

 

[Disco1BFG]

Practically? = No.

In reality, yes, but so slowly it's hardly likely to matter in your lifetime. Bigger risk is Diesel Bug - a delightful little **** which lives in the water within Diesel, and can make an unholy mess...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_contamination_of_diesel_fuel

 

[rob1miles]

Agreed, diesel bug is the big problem, any moisture and once it in its an awful mess. It also pees acid so it causes corrosion too.

 

[Europa486]

I can truthfully say yes, left diesel in my Discovery for 12 years, and even though she started on the second turn with a new battery it made a holy mess of the Sedimenter/fuel filter/ lift pump/injection pump, left them all with a brown tar like substance that was the devil’s to remove,

 

[saxavordian]

Heavy use Tampons or sanitary towels not the ones with silicon gel type. The material will attract the water residue which captures the bacteria. There a lad who should confirm this if he still remembers his Heli-Refuelling pump filter days Tictok. Diesel works on the same principal of Avtur Aviation fuel Kerosene to clean this depending on age of degradation this can be put through a filter. When I was a Helicopter refueller we had pillow tanks of aviation fuel to fuel pumps to filter then test out on the out nozzles. but the filter traps the water build up and bacterial residue from the heat on the rubber tanks.

 

[TheQ]

I can truthfully say yes, left diesel in my Discovery for 12 years, and even though she started on the second turn with a new battery it made a holy mess of the Sedimenter/fuel filter/ lift pump/injection pump, left them all with a brown tar like substance that was the devil’s to remove,

yep happened on my boat. Diesel bug.
Always leave a diesel tank full or totally empty, if to be left for a long time, otherwise as the temperature rises and falls you'll get condensation in the tank then diesel bug.
For the motor boat I have a home built fuel polisher which I run regularly especially after the winter break.
Oh and you can get fuel additives to prevent diesel bug as well...

 

[john snoo]

Interesting stuff, glad I asked! Thanks, wish I could afford a diesel boat, my 2 smoke goes nicely enough though

 

[TheQ]

My boat is 45years old and needs work, it's the only way I can afford it..

 

[lynall]

Marine 16 fuel treatment is the dogs whatsits.
My boat tank has been 1/2 full for a few years now, use some, chuck in a few cans and use some more.

 

[lynall]

My boat is 45years old and needs work, it's the only way I can afford it..

All boats need work all the time, no work very quickly = financial trouble, the current new bunch of boat owners are going to find this out very quickly over the next 18/24 months!

 

[BikerB]

I boat, any boat, is an ever expanding hole in which you try to fill by throwing in money or the equivalent of standing in a shower ripping up £20 notes.
They are good fun but by no means classed as cheap!

 

[Europa486]

I boat, any boat, is an ever expanding hole in which you try to fill by throwing in money or the equivalent of standing in a shower ripping up £20 notes.
They are good fun but by no means classed as cheap!

Like Land rovers then? And women