Diesel storage and sludge

[patrickr321]

Hi all

I don't have a high use for red diesel, so I tend to buy it in 4 x 20L containers at a time from the fuel depot. When filling the tractor, I have 2 problems:

a) the fuel filler hole is buried behind the front loader, so I have to use a DIY funnel and hose to get down to it
b) this funnel filter gets blocked up with sludge that appears when I've had the containers in storage for a while.

I'm thinking: the sludge is probably building up from condensation? Maybe this is because sometimes I'm using a container half full?

So my main question: any advice on a) avoiding the sludge build up or b) removing the sludge from the fuel if it has built up?

The previous owners used a c. 800l single bunded oil tank, perched on a high bank with a fuel line off it which must have worked well for higher volumes of fuel - but I'm aware that, with my usage, there would probably still be a lot of condensation build up in the tank over time - and therefore sludge / bug? Would this issue disappear with a double bonded tank? - if I was to go that route?

Thanks!

 

[Kevm]

The bioethanol content of modern fuels hold water and encourages bacteria growth, but I would think that bacteria would need to be there in the first place, so are you using clean drums or the same old drums every time.
Use new, just had hydraulic oil or whatever emptied out drums and use a fuel stabiliser or bug/biocide additive.
The fact that your funnel filter is getting clogged is a good thing as it's easy to deal with there, you just need to find/make a good funnel setup so it's easy to fill.
I use one of these if I suspect the fuel at all. https://www.mrfunnel.com/Mr._Funnel/Home.html
Don't think a bunded tank would make much difference to bacteria growth.

 

[pycoed]

Use a biocide in the drums. I have a similar setup & was plagued with the diesel bug (black slime) blocking filters & starving the engine. Even collapsed the gauze filter in the lift pump glass! I took the tractor tank off & power washed it & now use a shot of the bug killer in each drum when I buy it & no trouble since.

 

[Dry Rot]

Yes, the dreaded diesel bug which hit me during hay making. Lovely stuff ready to bale and the tractor bogged down. As said above, it is a bacterium that grows in modern biodiesel in the presence of water. So if you want to find the experts, go on the boating forums.

I learnt that DIY 'diesel scrubbing' is the solution, so clean or scrub your diesel to remove bug that is already present. No need to remove or sterilise the fuel tank or containers. I bought the kit off Ebay for under £30. (a) pump to remove the diesel from the fuel tank -- about £12. (b) filter and housing -- about £25. I put the diesel from my 20L containers and fuel tank through this set up (several times) until it was quite clear. No more problems.

 

[Exfarmer]

Hi all

I don't have a high use for red diesel, so I tend to buy it in 4 x 20L containers at a time from the fuel depot. When filling the tractor, I have 2 problems:

a) the fuel filler hole is buried behind the front loader, so I have to use a DIY funnel and hose to get down to it
b) this funnel filter gets blocked up with sludge that appears when I've had the containers in storage for a while.

I'm thinking: the sludge is probably building up from condensation? Maybe this is because sometimes I'm using a container half full?

So my main question: any advice on a) avoiding the sludge build up or b) removing the sludge from the fuel if it has built up?

The previous owners used a c. 800l single bunded oil tank, perched on a high bank with a fuel line off it which must have worked well for higher volumes of fuel - but I'm aware that, with my usage, there would probably still be a lot of condensation build up in the tank over time - and therefore sludge / bug? Would this issue disappear with a double bonded tank? - if I was to go that route?

Thanks!

I would guess you are keeping summer fuel over winter. This produces a wax which will only redissolve when the fuel gets quite warm. You will be best not purchasing any fuel to store longer than October and hopefully fuel supplied after this time will be winter spec, otherwise you will need to use an additive or add 10% parraffin to the diesel, do not overdo this as it will wreck the fuel pump

 

[nxy]

These days we generally use diesel quickly but even so everything goes through a filter as it leaves the tank. The equipment is so cheap and at the rate you use diesel a filter will last years. Get a pump and filter with housing and the job becomes a lot less tiresome as well.

 

[milkloss]

Get some marine16 to treat the diesel in the cans and tractor. Shine a light in the empty cans to see how clean they are before you refill them.