Diesel Fuel, how long will it keep?

asimpkinsjr

asimpkinsjr

New Member
Dec 6, 2006
45
Niantic, CT
Boat Info
Boatless :(
Engines
Boatless :(
The upcoming boat has been laid up for 2 yrs, and while I know that the fuel tanks have been treated Im of the general opinion that Ill need to have the tanks suctioned out.

Whats the longest diesel fuel can be left aboard even assuming the fuel is being treated regularly, etc.
 
Asimpkinsjr, good question and I would like to apply the question to gasoline also, how long will it keep?

Oh there is a great hot dog stand by you on the way to niantic, coming from Old lyme. I need to get up there moore often. Do you know the Grand Banks trawler" After You"
 
Diesel will keep a long time...much longer than gasoline. However, the condition of the tanks and how much water condenses in the fuel makes a huge difference in whether or not you have problems.

I bought a Case backhoe once upon a time that had been sitting in a field for 5 years. I put a fresh battery in it, drained the fuel/water separators, turned the key and it started up like it was parked there the day before. It had about 10 gallons in a 15 gallon tank, so I shocked the tank with biocide, added a fuel treatment to disperse water and ran the fuel out. In this case I ran the tank dry before fueling then changed the filters and the backhoe never failed to start or run all day when I wanted it to.

On a boat you don't know, I'd do the same thing........drain the Racors and top them off, treat the tanks with a biocide, add a fuel conditioner that disperses water, buty a case of Racors and several of whatever filter the engines have on them and go boating. Don't have the tanks cleaned unless they prove to need it. You likely can do it yourself with a couple of Racor changes.

And, refresh my memory.....what boat did you buy and what engines are in it?
 
Dancin Dave said:
Asimpkinsjr, good question and I would like to apply the question to gasoline also, how long will it keep?

Oh there is a great hot dog stand by you on the way to niantic, coming from Old lyme. I need to get up there moore often. Do you know the Grand Banks trawler" After You"
Click to expand...

Dave, are you talking about the hotdog stand in front of the lyme tavern? if so thats 2 miles from my house down near Rocky Neck Beach. Where is the GB located...Im constantly in and out of marinas between Saybrook and as far as the Niantic/Waterford line.....neighbor was actually recommending I move the new boat to Bayreuthers (sp) in New London...but something about having my boat in NL spooks me.

Back to fuel...the diesel in the new boats has been there for 2 yrs, its been treated I confirmed with the yard...but I guess Im wondering at what point the fuel is no good even assuming I keep changing filters as I run it out. Its a Perkins Diesel.
 
fwebster said:
Diesel will keep a long time...much longer than gasoline. However, the condition of the tanks and how much water condenses in the fuel makes a huge difference in whether or not you have problems.

I bought a Case backhoe once upon a time that had been sitting in a field for 5 years. I put a fresh battery in it, drained the fuel/water separators, turned the key and it started up like it was parked there the day before. It had about 10 gallons in a 15 gallon tank, so I shocked the tank with biocide, added a fuel treatment to disperse water and ran the fuel out. In this case I ran the tank dry before fueling then changed the filters and the backhoe never failed to start or run all day when I wanted it to.

On a boat you don't know, I'd do the same thing........drain the Racors and top them off, treat the tanks with a biocide, add a fuel conditioner that disperses water, buty a case of Racors and several of whatever filter the engines have on them and go boating. Don't have the tanks cleaned unless they prove to need it. You likely can do it yourself with a couple of Racor changes.

And, refresh my memory.....what boat did you buy and what engines are in it?
Click to expand...

Well I bought a 46 foot motorsailor, a Dufour...the engine is the Perkins 4236...u have probably come across the same engine in tractors, 85 hp.

The group here is so knowledgeable, and has been so friendly that Ive continued to participate...good groups of people are hard to find.
 
Perkins engines are not very discriminating and will run on about anything that will burn. Just be sure the boat has both primary and secondary filtration and keep several extras of each onboard.

Oh, and Perkins are great engines, if you are willling to overlook the oil leaks!
 
I'll second Franks opinion. The oldest fuel I've ever removed from a boat at the owners request was 9 years old. I carried 15 Gal up the dock and poured it into my Dodge and drove back to the shop. The fuel was down on power but had no other ill effects.
And the older Perkins will almost run on paint.
 
fwebster said:
Perkins engines are not very discriminating and will run on about anything that will burn. Just be sure the boat has both primary and secondary filtration and keep several extras of each onboard.

Oh, and Perkins are great engines, if you are willling to overlook the oil leaks!
Click to expand...

This one I believe may have been rebuilt, she only has 1900 hours on the perkins...the lead mechanic at the marina was trying to convince me to repower but I cant see it with only 1900 hours...seems like a complete waste of money, and the 85 horser is enough to get 12 knots.
 
never monday said:
I'll second Franks opinion. The oldest fuel I've ever removed from a boat at the owners request was 9 years old. I carried 15 Gal up the dock and poured it into my Dodge and drove back to the shop. The fuel was down on power but had no other ill effects.
And the older Perkins will almost run on paint.
Click to expand...

Never, was looking at the website in your profile...is that you 340 getting repowered, and how far have you gotten on it?
 
It is my 340. I have a restoration thread in sport cruisers. Unfortunately I've been so busy this spring she's just floating and nothing is getting done. :smt100 :smt013

Is your Perkins an M85 or a 4-154?

Pat
 
Diesel longevity is directionally proportional to the quality of maintenance they get and the loading you put on them. Load in a sail boat is limited by the gear ratio and prop, but the average sail boater typically does not spend much maintenance money. Hopefully, your boat is the exception.

Assuming the maintenance has been done and the engine hasn't been abused or run hot, repowering a Perkins with 1900 hours is laughable, unless you just want more engine or new paint.

My first backhoe was a ragged old Massey Ferguson. The engine had 5700 hours on it when I bought it and I did an inframe overhaul....new pistons, rings and sleeves, and had the valves ground. I put another 3500 hours on the Massey before someone asked the magic question.....you know.... " What will you take for that old backhoe?"

But, you know, that big old bloboat would really haul the mail if you repowered her with a 240 hp 4 cyl Yanmar.............
 
fwebster said:
Diesel longevity is directionally proportional to the quality of maintenance they get and the loading you put on them. Load in a sail boat is limited by the gear ratio and prop, but the average sail boater typically does not spend much maintenance money. Hopefully, your boat is the exception.

Assuming the maintenance has been done and the engine hasn't been abused or run hot, repowering a Perkins with 1900 hours is laughable, unless you just want more engine or new paint.

My first backhoe was a ragged old Massey Ferguson. The engine had 5700 hours on it when I bought it and I did an inframe overhaul....new pistons, rings and sleeves, and had the valves ground. I put another 3500 hours on the Massey before someone asked the magic question.....you know.... " What will you take for that old backhoe?"

But, you know, that big old bloboat would really haul the mail if you repowered her with a 240 hp 4 cyl Yanmar.............
Click to expand...

Well the maintenance was impeccable, the fellow Im buying from is a former tool and die maker...oldtimer designed much of the tooling of some of the largest companies on the East Coast....Yanmars...funny thats exactly what the lead mechanic and the marina who like me is a former bubblehead (submariner) was trying to get me to go with.....dont know however if the thrustbearing is up to 240HP.....He actually spent 7 yrs restoring an upgrading adding everything from a vetus bow thruster to ripping and replacing the entire teak deck....the marina folks joke that he laid up the teak using a set of calipers...they said they had to remind him that he could use a tape measure for that.
 
never monday said:
It is my 340. I have a restoration thread in sport cruisers. Unfortunately I've been so busy this spring she's just floating and nothing is getting done. :smt100 :smt013

Is your Perkins an M85 or a 4-154?

Pat
Click to expand...

its a Diesel PERKINS 4236 83 HP at 2400 RPM
 
never monday said:
you can't kill a 4-236.
Parts are plentiful and reasonable. I see no reason to repower with what info I have.
Click to expand...

Who would you recommend as the best source for Perkins parts?...btw you guys where right on mark....the ole girl started up immediately despite having been sitting on the hard for 3 yrs
 
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