Diesel Tank Level For Storage

[herboni]

How much diesel fuel should be left in the tank when putting the coach away for storage (6+ months)?

Is the fuel tank metal or plastic? Does that make a difference?

Any additives / stabilizers that are recommended? Either for running or storage?

I have a '07 MADP with the Cummins 450hp.

Thanks.

[radams]

You're going to get a lot of opinions on this one so I'll throw mine out first. I keep the tank as full as possible. The reason for it is that with changes in temperature the tank is going to expand and contract naturally. Each time it expands it draws air into it along with any moisture it has and then when things cool down that moisture is going to condense on the inside of your tank. The tank contracts as it cools and then the next time it expands it takes another gulp of moisture laden air. The less open space you've got in the tank means the less air and moisture it can inhale. Your tank is carbon steel.

Secondly, I always put a biocide in the fuel tank before my final fill to inhibit any algae growth. Doing this I've never had a problem.

[Lug_Nut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by radams You're going to get a lot of opinions on this one so I'll throw mine out first. I keep the tank as full as possible. The reason for it is that with changes in temperature the tank is going to expand and contract naturally. Each time it expands it draws air into it along with any moisture it has and then when things cool down that moisture is going to condense on the inside of your tank. The tank contracts as it cools and then the next time it expands it takes another gulp of moisture laden air. The less open space you've got in the tank means the less air and moisture it can inhale. Your tank is carbon steel. Secondly, I always put a biocide in the fuel tank before my final fill to inhibit any algae growth. Doing this I've never had a problem.

I do the same. Good sumary.

Peter

[Norm4015]

Same here. I always park it with a full fuel tank and I add a biocide. I talked to Cummins and they told me that is what they recommend.

[JMonroe]

Do you only add a biocide when going into long term storage? We're looking at diesel motor homes and with the size of the fuel tanks it could take weeks to months to use a tank of fuel up.

How expensive is the biocide? Is this used kinda like 'Stabil' is used for gassers?

[TXiceman]

Full tank with a good dose of fuel conditioner. There is probably a section on long term storage in your chassis owners manual.

Ken

[radams]

There are diesel fuel conditioners too but biocides are different. There may be a fuel conditioner with biocides added to it but I'm not familiar with it. As I understand it the low sulphur fuels we use nowadays are more conducive to algae growth particularly when you have water in your tank, and we all have some. I buy it at the CAT dealer locally and it comes in quart containers for 15 - 20 bucks. I only use it when storing for the winter and that quart should last me 5 - 6 years. Not a big investment and believe me, you don't want to have an algae problem!

[tommildren]

Last year I had a big problem after storing my dsdp for 6 months with only a half tank. On my way to Florida from Texas it wouldn't climb even small hills well and it would buck out of a lower gear each time it tried to downshift, I was thinking big trans problem.
The mechanic at allison in orlando diagnosed algea plugging both filters. He was right, replaced the two filters and all is well.
At his recomendation I now fill the tank full for storage and use a product called pri-ocide which costs about $22 for 16oz.
It takes about 3 oz for the 100 gal. for initial use. it recomends also using it when not storing but I'm not sure thats necessary unless you are not moving it alot.
I got the Pri-Ocide from some nice people at wiseman trading & supply
www.//www.wisementrading.com