Fuel age - Effects on performance

[Songman]

As some of you know, the new owner of my RTS was here yesterday and is now heading East on I-40 taking his new toy home. As scary as it sounds, I gave him a crash course on bus driving yesterday as he had never driven before... I know! ME giving a lesson on bus driving!

Anyway, I got an e-mail from him this morning and he is in AZ and he mentioned how much stronger the bus felt after the filled up last night. The bus felt pretty good anyway so I can imagine how good it must be now.

My question is about how long fuel can stay in the tank before it goes bad. I put in 75 gallons in November. The tank was probably close to half full prior to that and there is no telling how old that was. I have heard that you want to keep your tank mostly full when not in use to cut down on condensation. What's the trade-off on performance?

Thanks.

[TomC]

When I come back from a trip, I always refuel before putting the bus back into storage (I store it indoors).  With weather changes, water can form inside the tank from condensation, which any water is not good. If you are going to not use the bus for another 2 or 3 months, you might consider using a fuel stabilizer. 
Also, with the new ultra low sulfur fuel, I don't know if the tank life is shorter now?  Anyone read or know about this?  Good Luck, TomC

[Tom Y]

Songman, I was given some fuel from an underground tank. I took a sample to a local refinery to be tested. It had a brown tint which they said was oxidation. The cetane tested good. They recommended mixing 50/50. There was no way I could afford to do that so I ran it straight with a gallon of Power Service per 500 gallons. Ran fine in a dozer. It was at least 5 yrs old. I have also gotten diesel on the road that was crap and could not run it out fast enough.  Tom Y

[Songman]

I think the trick is to just USE THE BUS! Don't let the fuel get old! 

[cody]

I can't seem to stay home long enough for the fuel to get old lol.

[jlaney]

reply
if you ever get a good doze of hum bugs in your fuel system ,you will never forget if..   i bought the old scenicruiser and drove from houston tx to tyler tx. then shut it down to do my conversion. it would not run after setting for about six months, i remove the fuel filters and looked like they were dipped into a grease bucket.  the man a the  filter place said i had humbugs in the tank.  thanks j.t

[pvcces]

We recently stripped a few tons of parts off a bus that had not been started in 15 years. It sat in an unheated barn in Puget Sound the whole time.

When I went to check out the engine, it started in about one or two turns and ran just fine. I even drove it up a steep hill to maneuver it to a new spot. There was plenty of power.

The fuel in our boat is seven years old, and we're still not having any trouble with it other than a small amount of condensation showing up in the filters when we take it out.

For what it's worth.

Tom Caffrey

[buswarrior]

After a long sit, by way of seat of the pants, the bus seems to run much better the second day than it did the first.

Exercise?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[pvcces]

Yeah, just think about the throttle cable!

Tom Caffrey

[Barn Owl]

When I first got my bus, it had 305 gal of 10 yr + diesel fuel (140 in main tank and a 165 gal aux tank). I was able to burn it without a problem.

After a long sit, by way of seat of the pants, the bus seems to run much better the second day than it did the first.

Real or not, I feel the same way.

Laryn

[ChuckMC9]

After a long sit, by way of seat of the pants, the bus seems to run much better the second day than it did the first.

Exercise?

Ya'll know who he's trying to sound like here, don't you?

It did come out great, BW.

[buswarrior]

without even trying, too!

happy coaching!
buswarrior