Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Probably a stupid question... But I'll ask it anyway.

I was thinking about having a bunch of Diesel in Steel Gas-Cans (20 Liter) stored away at the cabin as there is no Diesel station anywhere near to fill up. I also have an Outboard Tank with 25 Liters mixed (oil / gas mix) for the 2 stroke 25 horse outboard motor and I read somewhere that gas does go bad due to Ethanol content and water build up or something. So I usually pour a bunch of "fuel stabilizer" (the standard cheap stuff you get at Crappy Tire) into the tank - as the boat tank may sit for months and months (over the Winter) before I get going again (same idea for Lawn Mower, Chain Saw and the likes)...

Now would I have to use fuel stabilizer for Diesel as well, or is it not needed ... or more important yet: Does Diesel even go "bad" like ethanol blended gas or is this really of no concern for Diesel?

Thanks for a quick reply

Cheers, Chris

Diesel does go bad, the biggest concern with stored diesel is bacteria growth. Not to say that you can’t, or that people don’t use diesel stored for many years, with a few additives like a biocide and a diesel storage product geared towards handling water adsorption. Marine stores are a great source of diesel treatments.

I considered Racor biocide a necessary for both the diesel and WVO in my Delica; too many years working on old fish boats and just can't handle the smell of bacteria in diesel.

BCDelica wrote:Diesel does go bad, the biggest concern with stored diesel is bacteria growth. Not to say that you can’t, or that people don’t use diesel stored for many years, with a few additives like a biocide and a diesel storage product geared towards handling water adsorption. Marine stores are a great source of diesel treatments.

I considered Racor biocide a necessary for both the diesel and WVO in my Delica; too many years working on old fish boats and just can't handle the smell of bacteria in diesel.

whats bad diesel smell like? who sells biocide locally? a neighbor gifted me 100 gallons or more of diesel, but i dont use much so im gonna store it...

after oil wrote:whats bad diesel smell like? who sells biocide locally? a neighbor gifted me 100 gallons or more of diesel, but i dont use much so im gonna store it...

Stinky, sour. Really bad fruit. Go see Colin and get him to order you a liter of Racor biocide, or a bottle of Bio-Con (SP?) from marine traders. Always heard people say use methyl hydrate, which I don't understand as it's not soluble with water at all.

In Udon Thani a gent has been running his truck for two years on a 'slurry' of water (<30%) and diesel; but the diesel and water are mixed in a little vortex device plumbed between the filter and the IP.

Racor biocide is available at most napa stores. Or they can order it in.