Shelf life of diesel fuel in barrels

Why does fuel deteriorate over time?

Oil is an organic waste of natural origin, albeit a very ancient one. If there is food, there will be an eater. Each waste in nature has its own decomposers. Penicillium fungi eat wax, releasing water and carbon dioxide and reducing the shelf life of diesel fuel. Bacteria of the Benzoli family oxidize aromatic hydrocarbons - benzene, xylene, toluene. And so on. Fuel can be contaminated with both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms, so the lack of air access does not solve the problem. To avoid biodamage, additives are added to the fuel - biocides, fungicides.

Fuel, as you know, burns. And not always with an open flame. In air, fuel oxidizes, even if bacteria do not help it. Nothing bad will happen in a few months, but long-term storage of petroleum products is carried out without access to air. Antioxidant additives are also used.

Contact with some metals and alloys - copper, zinc, etc. is also harmful. Additives - metal deactivators - are designed to combat this problem. By the way, GOST does not allow the introduction of metal-containing additives into diesel fuel, except for antistatic ones.

Dirt and oil residues deposited on the tank reduce the shelf life of diesel fuel and gasoline in tanks. Storage temperature also has an effect: in heat, the process of fuel decomposition accelerates.

Commercial gasoline and diesel fuel do not leave the distillation column in finished form, but are obtained as a result of mixing many substances in the required proportion. Over time, fractions may separate and additives may disintegrate. The composition and production method affect how long diesel fuel and gasoline can be stored. Fuel without additives in the State Reserve warehouses remained good for 5...10 years. For products that meet modern requirements (sulfur concentration, etc.), this is not possible.

So, the shelf life of petroleum products is influenced by many factors:

temperature;
tightness, material, cleanliness of the container;
fuel composition.

Oil lies underground for a million years and gradually matures and changes its characteristics. Petroleum products are not as durable. Even under ideal conditions, the consumer properties of gasoline and diesel fuel deteriorate over time.

How long does fuel last?

Approximately a year. It all depends on the factors listed above. When answering the question of how long diesel fuel can be stored in a plastic canister, you should also take into account the material of the container. Polymers are different, and this is a very significant point. If the canister is specifically designed for this purpose, it will last for decades. If there is any left over from buying antifreeze, oil, etc. – it is possible that the container will crack one day. Then it matters little in what condition the fuel leaked out.

Car owners who operate their vehicles irregularly may be interested in how long gasoline is stored in the car’s tank. If you park your car for the winter and leave during the warm season, no need to worry. High-quality gasoline (for example, from) will easily survive the period from autumn to spring.

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How long can diesel fuel produced by alternative methods be stored? Emulsified diesel fuel (cloudy, contains - oh, horror! - 20% water and an emulsifier) and biodiesel (from vegetable oils) are usable for only 3 months.

Shelf life established for diesel fuel - what GOST says

First of all, one important point should be noted. Diesel fuel produced in accordance with GOST requirements does not contain additives. Therefore, this diesel fuel has a fairly long shelf life. Without loss of quality, it can be stored for 5 years. However, let us immediately warn you that this is not a mass product. Diesel fuel without additives is produced in our country in order to replenish the reserves of the State Reserve. Accordingly, this diesel fuel is not available for retail sale.

Diesel fuel intended for mass consumers contains certain additives. They not only improve the quality of the product, but also help improve the efficiency of the engine's processing of diesel fuel. Since each manufacturer adds its own set of such additives. Accordingly, it is they who set a specific expiration date for their products.

In this case, everything is logical. After all, only the manufacturer knows 100 percent the composition of his product, and some components are often a trade secret.

Accordingly, we can only operate with averaged figures. Generally speaking, the shelf life of diesel fuel supplied to retail outlets is currently 1 year from the date of issue. However, diesel fuel also needs to be properly stored. Otherwise, the quality of the fuel will decrease significantly, and this will happen quite quickly. The importance of observing certain storage conditions for diesel fuel is constantly emphasized by the manufacturers themselves. For example, temperature conditions are of particular importance in this case. Diesel oil does not tolerate both heat and cold. The most optimal storage mode for this type of fuel is up to +20 °C. In this case, its quality will not really deteriorate throughout the year. At temperatures above +30 °C, diesel fuel can only be stored for six months. Therefore, if you want diesel fuel to last long enough, pay special attention to this moment.

Practice has shown that even at a temperature of +25 °C, a suspension gradually forms in the fuel, since some components of diesel fuel will still react with oxygen. This process manifests itself as a fairly clear sign - the diesel fuel gradually becomes more and more cloudy. It is not recommended to pour it into the gas tank of a car, since a certain amount of solid sediment particles will still reach the cylinders. In this case, even the filtration system will not protect the engine. The consequences of such a hit can be very serious. Solid particles after combustion produce too much soot. As a result, it is quite possible to encounter a problem such as engine coking.

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In real life, there are many situations when diesel fuel is not used for one or two months and is stored for quite a long time. It is not only the fuel of private owners that is subject to long storage periods. In various farms, fuel intended for heating, emergency diesel generators, and for the needs of construction sites does not change for a long time.

Diesel fuel storage requirements

Solarium tanks must be as reliable as possible, as well as:

Don't leak.
Withstand long-term transportation.
Completely exclude contact of diesel fuel with any foreign substances.

GOST regulates the storage of fuel; the provisions provide for the creation of certain conditions. The tanks must contain:

Sufficient air circulation. The container is equipped with special valves. The devices prevent moisture from getting inside while providing air access.

Thanks to appropriate storage tanks, diesel fuel can remain in them for a long time. Diesel fuel will also be much more convenient to transport

Convenient control system. It is worth considering the design features of drainage pipes. If there is no silica gel valve, you will have to periodically check the container for the formation of condensation accumulations.

Containers for diesel fuel can be metal or made of polyethylene. Plastic options are lighter and more reliable during transportation. They have the appearance of a durable shell, the thickness of which is 8 mm. Their use is possible at temperatures ranging from –40 to 50 degrees Celsius.

The shelf life of diesel fuel in a plastic canister at a temperature of 20C reaches a year, and when pouring into a car tank, it is advisable to use filters, because there is a possibility of dust getting in from the air. For most people, this is quite enough, although in some cases you have to stick to more complex actions.

The requirements for storing diesel fuel are simple and understandable to everyone:

Storage tank. It is advisable to purchase a special container for diesel fuel, but if this is not possible, then an ordinary metal barrel will do. The main thing is that it does not contain copper, zinc and brass, because they react with fuel, forming all sorts of undesirable impurities.
Tightness. Ideally, even when pumping, it is advisable not to allow oxygen access to the fuel. To fill the tank, you will have to use a supply system to avoid contact of the stored mass with oxygen and dust.
Purity. Every 5-7 years, each tank should be opened and cleaned to perfect condition, and then resealed. This allows you to remove fractions that have accumulated on the walls and bottom.

Many of our clients want to purchase volumes for a period of use of more than a year, so creating such conditions will be a very important step that will keep the fuel in operational condition for a sufficiently long period of time.

The main conditions for saving diesel fuel include:

Ensuring a sufficiently low temperature (as the ambient temperature rises, the processes of fuel decomposition accelerate).
No contact with other chemicals (when reacting with copper or zinc, diesel fuel intensively breaks down into unstable fractions).
The tightness of the container (when interacting with the surrounding air, the flammable mixture oxidizes). A poorly closed lid or a crack in the container will cause a sharp deterioration in the quality of diesel fuel.
Protection from direct sunlight.
Uncontaminated containers. Tanks for storing diesel fuel should be cleaned at least once a year.

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Metal and plastic are materials used in the production of containers for storing diesel fuel. The best option for fuel tanks is containers made of virgin polyethylene, which has increased strength and durability. They are suitable for use in containing liquids with temperatures up to 60 degrees, which coincides with the storage conditions for fuel.

Such containers come in various modifications: vertical, horizontal, rectangular, flat. This allows you to choose the best option that is convenient for storage. In addition, modern polymer material does not accumulate static electricity, which ensures safety when storing flammable liquids.

Advantages of plastic containers compared to metal tanks:

Non-corrosive.
Reduced accumulation of condensate on the walls of the tank. Water is a breeding ground for fungi (its getting into fuel is extremely undesirable).
Low own weight, facilitating storage and transportation.

All containers for storing diesel fuel are equipped with silica gel valves of a special design. They provide ventilation, but do not allow moisture to get inside the container.

Fuel storage conditions

The permissible shelf life of diesel fuel depends on various factors. The container or storage volume is not of key importance. It may lose some of its properties in tanks, barrels, and cans. The main thing in this process is compliance with the storage conditions dictated by the manufacturer:

tightness - the container should not allow oxygen to enter the fuel, which oxidizes the composition;
lack of contact with parts made of zinc and copper (as well as with brass - an alloy of copper and zinc) - these metals form compounds with fuel components that are subject to decay;
moisture protection - water not only deteriorates the characteristics of the fuel, but also triggers the proliferation of fungal colonies and algae, which must be filtered;
protection from high temperatures (30 ºС or more), which accelerate decomposition processes;
protection from dust and dirt when opening hatches.

Various additives, the lifetime of which is short, degrade the quality of diesel fuel. Decomposing upon contact with oxygen, they form suspensions that clog the fuel filter. Particles that pass through it, after combustion, turn into soot, which is deposited in the form of coke on the nozzles and released into the environment.

Real shelf life of diesel fuel (diesel fuel)

The guaranteed shelf life of diesel fuel manufactured in accordance with GOST 305-82 is 5 years. However, such fuel is produced without additives and is used for the needs of the State Reserve. According to other regulatory documents, the establishment of storage periods for diesel fuel (in cans, barrels, tanks) is left to its manufacturers. Thus, it guarantees the quality of its diesel fuel for 1 year under normal storage conditions.

Most other diesel fuel manufacturers are also responsible for its quality for 1 year when stored at temperatures up to 20 ºC, and for 6-12 months at temperatures around 30 ºC.

Under normal storage conditions, various additives and additives are an important reason for the deterioration of diesel fuel quality. Thus, additives to reduce the filterability limit temperature actually reduce the shelf life of fuel. Conversely, there are additives that stop its degradation. These include:

metal deactivators that block the effects of copper and zinc;
fungicides that stop the growth of fungi and algae;
antioxidants that slow down oxidative processes.

No matter how the storage conditions are observed, the fuel will deteriorate day by day. Moisture and air slowly but steadily penetrate into any container, so over time the cetane number changes, the results of oxidation processes become noticeable, suspensions and fungi appear. In critical storage systems, devices are installed that constantly pump fuel through filters, as a result of which it is cleaned.

Storing diesel fuel for more than a year is not economically profitable - such fuel can adversely affect the engine, increasing the cost of planned or emergency repairs.

What determines the shelf life of fuel?

The shelf life of fuel, namely diesel fuel, is approximately twelve months. This is how long it is possible to maintain the initial performance properties of the petroleum product. It is worth considering that in order to maintain such a period, the important factors of storing diesel fuel indoors or outdoors cannot be neglected. After a year, it is recommended to dispose of diesel fuel.

The period may be significantly reduced for a number of reasons, including:

Reaction with copper or zinc. Interaction with these chemical elements can potentially lead to the breakdown of the diesel fuel composition into particles with low stability.
Adding additives to the composition. Such types of diesel engines as Euro-5 and Euro-4 contain special additives that increase lubricating properties. They are needed to replenish low sulfur levels. Impurities decompose quickly enough, so keeping Euro-class diesel fuel untouched cannot last as long as storing standard fuel.
Interaction with elevated temperatures. If the microclimate of the location of the container with diesel fuel is characterized by sufficiently high thermal parameters, this can lead to rapid processes of diesel decomposition.

Try to store diesel fuel in a cool place, this will help avoid possible spoilage of the substances

Reduced filterability temperature. For this reason, winter diesel fuel has a significantly shorter storage period than summer diesel fuel.
Contamination of containers. Solarium can only be kept in clean tanks. To prevent it from losing its original characteristics, it is recommended to regularly clean the containers.

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