Vehicle sitting over Colo Winter

[lbaldwin]

I am currently winterizing my motor home with a cummings engine.

I plan on filling the diesel fuel tank just before I park it.

As i came back to Colo thru the corn states, i may have (probably) have some or more than some percentage of 'bio' in my diesel fuel.

What would you recommend adding to the fuel, if it is primarily going to sit over the winter? both for gelling / algae / bio growth and so on.

Yes, I have read some of the discussions on running and not driving, etc and will probably run it up to temp a couple of times.

Avg low temp in local area is maybe 5 to 10 degrees F, but can have cold spells down to maybe -10 to -20 below for a day or two.

Cummins 500 engine on 2003 Monaco.

Thanks for your input.

[Cat320]

Use a biocide for the algae, it can be found at marine stores. You can't "run it up to temp" at an idle, you'll have to drive it on the highway to do that. Can't help you with the bio in the fuel.

[MnTom]

You should fill the fuel tank just before parking it. I had a truck in my garage a few years ago (1994 Dodge Ram/Cummins) that sat there for TWO YEARS without treating anything. Here in Minnesota we have had some bio in the fuel for a long time. The truck started and ran just fine and I even sold it to a friend of mine and he has had no fuel related issues with it three years running.

[Ray,IN]

Bio-diesel, in the percentages found in most diesel fuel, is not a problem during storage. Keeping the tank "topped-off" is important to prevent or reduce condensation within the tank, as diesel fuel has a natural affinity to attract moisture/water.

According to Cummins: do not start the engine unless you can drive the vehicle for 30 minutes or more. Merely idling the engine is more harmful than not running for 6 months. It will never reach full operating temperature at low idle, instead it will form acids in the motor oil, and wash oil from cylinder walls due to incomplete combustion.