• Welcome to The Farming Forum!

    As part of this update, we have made a change to the login and registration process. If you are experiences any problems, please email [email protected] with the details so we can resolve any issues.

Cleaning Diesel?

Are biocides only good for prevention or can I clean up old diesel & use it safely? Does filtering get rid of everything?
We've problems getting fuel delivery to the back of beyond just now. We've got an old plastic tank that has sludgy white diesel in. Wondering if I can clean it up well enough to use or whether that would just risk adding a knackered engine to my difficulties! ?
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I had ‘diesel bug’ in my sprayer’s diesel tank, which is only filled about twice a year. I drained the tank, flushed it as best I could, changed the filter and refilled with fresh diesel. The new filter blocked again after a couple of days.
I put some ‘Anti-bug’ (biocide) in the tank, filled it and left it for 48 hours and it’s been as right as rain since. The biocide certainly looks to have done a job in this case.

Whether it would treat a barrel of ‘sludgy white diesel’ would likely depend on why it was sludgy. Personally, I don’t think I’d want to risk putting it in an engine to find out.

Less risky taking some drums to the garage (or a friendly neighbour) I’d have thought, even if it meant paying through the nose for derv to tide you over.
 

GeorgeK

Member
Location
Leicestershire
If the whole lot is sludgy or no longer clear I wouldn't risk it. Usually the sludge, water and dirt sinks to the bottom and the decent bit can be decanted off the top, no fuel treatment needed. Then it goes in the digger because it's an old mechanical injection Cummins so runs on anything that will flow through the fuel pipes
 
I
If the whole lot is sludgy or no longer clear I wouldn't risk it. Usually the sludge, water and dirt sinks to the bottom and the decent bit can be decanted off the top, no fuel treatment needed. Then it goes in the digger because it's an old mechanical injection Cummins so runs on anything that will flow through the fuel pipes
It's clear with "frogspawn" . It was floating but I'd disturbed it dipping the tank to see how much's left in it. From what everyone's saying sounds like I should use it in the MF35 & try to source some new stuff for other uses?!
 

GeorgeK

Member
Location
Leicestershire
It's clear with "frogspawn" . It was floating but I'd disturbed it dipping the tank to see how much's left in it. From what everyone's saying sounds like I should use it in the MF35 & try to source some new stuff for other uses?!
Yes, filter off the frog spawn and into the MF, don't let the tractor sit for too long with that stuff in the tank though, regular use will stop sludge forming. A new tractor would break down just driving past the tank from what you're describing!
 

Nick.

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Kenilworth
You can get these magic funnels that remove water etc.., don't know if they'd be any good though.,, probably block after half a gallon.
I ran a few hundred litres of Water contaminated diesel through one once.
It did the trick. But the fuel only went in the old nail. I wouldn’t risk it in anything modern.
It was a through the fine and filter away afterwards job. No cleaning it out.
 
Tags
derv

How is your SFI 24 application progressing?

  • havn't been invited to apply

    Votes: 27 35.5%
  • have been invited to apply

    Votes: 13 17.1%
  • applied but not yet accepted

    Votes: 28 36.8%
  • agreement up and running

    Votes: 8 10.5%

Webinar: Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer 2024 -26th Sept

  • 2,372
  • 49
On Thursday 26th September, we’re holding a webinar for farmers to go through the guidance, actions and detail for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer. This was planned for end of May, but had to be delayed due to the general election. We apologise about that.

Farming and Countryside Programme Director, Janet Hughes will be joined by policy leads working on SFI, and colleagues from the Rural Payment Agency and Catchment Sensitive Farming.

This webinar will be...
Back
Top