long term storage of wmo

[loxahatcheeman]

I'm wondering how long I can store WMO or if it degrades over time? Does anyone have any experience with this? I would store it in a sealed steel drum to prevent condensation.

I know gasoline starts to go bad in as little as a month without a fuel stabilizer. (I store gasoline for my generator and always give it a double dose of fuel stabilizer)

I also recently learned that diesel also needs to have a stabilizer to prevent algae from growing.

 

[patracy]

I've had stuff sitting around for years that I've burnt. If anything I've noticed, it helps the crud settle out into the bottom of the container.

 

[timothy11]

i got 275 gallon tote just sitting and settling. Wont hurt wmo

 

[cbvet]

I'm currently using some I got 3-4 years ago. Runs fine. I don't think it will go bad.

I usually thin my WMO with gasoline, as it's cheaper than diesel. I suppose the gasoline portion of my mix might "go bad", but I sure can't tell it.

I use old 2-cycle mix that's been around a long time too. I filter well & have no problems in my Deuces. My M813 doesn't like a mix of more than 30 percent WMO. Idles very rough. I don't know why.

 

[wdbtchr]

Gasoline has higher volitols that will evaporate over time unless well sealed, I use old army cans with new seals and have kept it good over a year without problems. The biggest problem with gasoline that contains alcohol which will absorb moisture from the air and separate out in the bottom taking your stabilizer with it.

I have stored WMO in unsealed totes for years with no problem. In fact I let it settle for a couple of years to get sludge and moisture to settle out so I can drain it off the bottom. Filtered down to 10 microns I run it 100% in my multifuels. and about 15 to 25% in the Cummins in my forklift.

 

[randini]

Dont you need algicyde? (stuff to kill algie?)

 

[wdbtchr]

I haven't seen any algae in my WMO, I suspect the heavy metal traces and slight acidity keep it from growing. The only algae problem I had was in the tank of my forklift in the diesel that had been sitting around 4 years and had about a gallon of water in it.

 

[loxahatcheeman]

I hope I don't sound like a retard, but... Wow! A gallon of water in the tank? Is that all from condensation over time?

 

[eddiec]

For storage, go to your local farm co-op and ask for an empty roundup tote. We give ours away. They are sealable, and have a drain on the bottom, plus, if ur lucky, they will have a pump for the tote that doesnt work that u can have. Yep i have a few myself. They hold 250 gallons each, and are stackable when full.

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

I read on here that the oil acidity increases with age and can do harm to nickel coatings on filter mounts.

Not sure if that matters.

I let oil sit for months, and I plan on letting it sit a lot longer.

 

[gungearz]

I got a few 55 gallon plastic drums topped off with a mixture of trans, motor, and gear oil in my garage for a few years. Sitting in corner on concrete. No condensation yet.

 

[Kalashnikov]

I've gotten like 10 year old gas and WMO and I've had no issues mixing them. Probably used at least 500 gallons of old WMO over the past couple years.

 

[6x6guy]

I received 3) 50 gallon containers from a friend, that was marked 18 years ago - home heating
grade 1 - from his place of employment that was in outside storage shed -and used on a government project that was terminated- his company was advised a special removal company would charge big bucks to remove the containers and the contents, so he called me- I was interested and picked up the drums.
I had done some research and obtain information about some studies about 10 year old fuel
stored in containers - as long as the containers are placed in the shade and sealed to keep out moisture, a slight degradation of the potency was noted.
I added the fuel to a couple of trucks, and noticed approximately 15 to 20 percent potency decline of the fuel after a while- still ran good with out any adjustments, 18 year old
home heating oil - you couldn't ask for anything better- well it was free.

When the sh-t hits the fan- unlimited fuel supply in the basements of abandoned older homes burning home heating fuel.

 

[wdbtchr]

I hope I don't sound like a retard, but... Wow! A gallon of water in the tank? Is that all from condensation over time?

The guys at the yard I picked it up at said it had been sitting there around 4 years untouched. The tank was only about 1/2 full when I got it and the water was full of black algae. I didn't find any leaks in the top of the tank so I have to assume it was condensate.

 

[PsycoBob]

Once it's been filtered & dewatered, I'd imagine WMO will last about forever in a sealed container. I use a 3micron filter before loading anything into the truck's tank, anyway.

Unfiltered oil I'd not trust to leave sitting around. Sure, it's nice to let gravity settle water & some of the junk out, but I'd rather clean sludge from my centrifuge than the inside of a closed-head drum... or an open one.