How to tell wniter diesel from summer diesel

Have fun getting the tank clean enough to put un-died fuel into.

I would bet it's summer blend. Most places started selling winter blend at the pumps in mid October. Depends on how the auction was set up.

BUT this isn't a big deal. Just add some kerosene to it and blend it to the common winter blend. 15 - 20% kero will drop the cloud point. Then add some Power Service and you should be fine.

If you plan on re purposing the tank to road diesel get it empty, then steam clean the interior VERY well. If it has a pump clean that VERY well also.

I will sell the tank also, after selling the fuel. I do not need it, too big and too much hassle.

I agree about the timing and that it is likely summer fuel.

As for the tank, I will most likely sell it, it is a liability to have it on my property. I want to sell the fuel separately and then the tank.

Pour a little into a test tube and swirl it around a bit, then look.

Does it have on a Parka and a Scarf? If it does, it's Winter Blend Diesel. If it has a Speedo and a Hawaiian Shirt on... ;-P

Seriously, you could probably put a sample in the freezer and see where it hits the Pour Point - turns to jelly and won't flow anymore when you tilt the test tube back and forth.

Then take the sample down to well below 0-F and see if any wax separates and crystallizes - it should be a visible layer(especially with the dye) if you give it some time to stratify, but you might need to stick it into a centrifuge to make it separate out within a few hours.

If all else fails, you blend it 50/50 or 60/40 with known Winter Blend Diesel to thin it out, and use it up before it gets really nasty cold outside. If it does give you trouble, you simply warm the fuel tank a bit (to melt the wax crystals) till it's all used up.

-->--

Good points, thanks

Unless it's very old fuel, it's undoubtedly summer--but it really won't matter unless/until it gets bitter cold. If you're not going to use it up in a relatively short time you need to add stabilizer and conditioner, anyway, and if you're removing it from the large tank to sell the tank, just set the small storage tank in the corner of the shop where it's stays warmer and you'll never know the difference, probably, anyway...

May want to project how long it will take to use X gal of this fuel just on the longevity scale...

Can you drain any of the fuel from the bottom of the tank? This should show any water in the tank. Be sure and add a filter to any place you drain the fuel.

This must have been used for heating fuel or farm fuel. If it looks ok when you drain a little, put an ad in Craig's List. I see lots of adds here in Central Oregon for similar tanks, some still have diesel in them.

Paul

Well ... the way I would try to tell the difference is to get a steel ball bearing and a glass tube just a little bigger. Fill it with known samples of winter and summer fuel and time how long the ball takes to reach the bottom -- then compare with the unknown fuel. (I would expect the ball to drop measurably more quickly in the winter fuel.) You can also try it refrigerated if you can't tell much difference at room temperature. But at least all samples should be at the same temperature for the test.

I hope that this helps -- it is based on suppositions, not knowledge -- and is at least an easy enough test.

Good Luck, DoN.

easier to just put a bit in the deep freeze. See if you have jello or liquid

karl

It has different specific gravity, so you'd need to get hold of the MSDS for the fuels and see what the SGs are. Likely a blend anyway as most people just pump whatever the fuel tanker has into their storage tank mixing it.

This is my plan for tomorrow

If you plan to sell it to someone to use as Home Heating Oil (AKA #2 Distillate), it doesn't really matter if it's Winter Blend or not as long as their oil tank is in the Basement and not buried outside.

It's partially warmed and probably above 50F down there from the furnace or boiler. Sometimes it's used as a Bonus Room or Den and fully heated.

-->--