Diesel Fuel in a portable can.. ever hear this?

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Brad Gyde

Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

So, being I'm younger this seemed odd to me, figured I'd ask if anyone else ever heard this..

In a manual for my diesel pickup, as I was leafing through it, I saw it said don't use galvanized cans to store fuel in as an additive in fuel will dissolve the galvanizing and in turn damage injectors..

Could/would this really happen? I mean I guess if it's in print, it must, right?

I can see where the zinc/galvanizing can leave a deposit on the injector tips, keeping them from opening/closing as they should.. But really, would the coating come off the can, just like that?

I will add it was getting later in the day yesterday when I read that, and I was beginning to wonder what I was gonna learn for the day.. Guess that was it.


Brad

 

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Mike M

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

Now you got me worried about my old JD diesel as I thought the old metal fuel & gas tanks were zinc coated too.

 

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Brad Gyde

Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

Mike M,

I guess that's kinda what made me ask this question.. I know some machinery around here at least LOOKS like the tank could have possibly been galvanized..

Like I said, being a younger guy, I never put any thought to it until I read that in the pickup manual.


Brad

 

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RLA

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

Isn't On Road & Off Road fuel different??

On Road doesn't smell nutt'en like it use too.....

 

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old

Well-known Member

Location

Camdenton Missouri

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

Not much difference in on road and off road other then the dye that is in it

 

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Bill(Wis)

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

It states as much in more than one place. The manual on my new tractor warns against using galvanized fittings on fuel storage tanks. That's not the first time I heard this. All my fuel tank fittings are black iron. Never feed a calf milk out of a galvanized pail, either.

 

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John B.

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

I've worked in the mechanic field since 1978 and this is the first time I ever heard this. I really don't know though.

 

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Ray UK

Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

I don't know the science of it but it has been known about for many years, long before bio fuels came along that galvanised fuel tanks and fuel delivery piping should not be used for diesel storage or pump/injector damage would occur.

 

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fixerupper

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

I also have heard you shouldn't use galvanized fittings on fuel lines of any sort because of flaking. Hydraulic lines too. Jim

 

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bill mart

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

both off road and over road fuels are ultra low sulfer,dyed doesnt get charged some of the tax. same fuel as old said. Bill

 

rusty6

Well-known Member

Location

East central Sask.

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

(quoted from post at 13:31:37 02/13/13) Never feed a calf milk out of a galvanized pail, either.

Click to expand...

I've never heard that before. Pail fed calves thrived on this farm for years drinking milk out of galvanized pails.

 

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Bill(Wis)

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

You're lucky.

 

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Bus Driver

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

I doubt that it would be chemical problem, but flaking could occur.

 

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bob15

Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

look on page 6:

http://www.cumminspower.com/www/literature/applicationmanuals/t-030_p115-132.pdf

The reaction between diesel and zinc is similar to LPG and galvanized pipe, which is the reason copper and brass are used for both systems (and black iron for LP as well).

bob

 

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robgIN

Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

its true, if you put diesel fuel in a galvanized can it will immediately start to have vapors come off that looks like smoke , I have seen it. We were told this in a Ford tech class once also, and it is in their literature. If you doubt it just find an old galvanized gas can and pour some diesel fuel in it.

 

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caterpillar guy

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

Well we have used steel fuel cans for over 70 years and never had a problem with pumps or injectors. I have used just about everything for fuel from steel ,galvanized,ss,plastic,never had a problem. We don't let the fuel set in them though. Just to get it to the equipment from the tank.

 

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Brian Schmidt

Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

Galvanizing contains zinc which leaches into the diesel fuel over time resulting in harmful deposits inside the fuel injectors. These are very difficult if not impossible to remove. This will be most prevalent in todays high pressure common rail type fuel systems.

Brass, copper, or plated hardware and fittings also contain zinc and therefore should not be used either. To be safe, black iron, uncoated steel, plastic, or stainless steel fittings and containers should be used to store or transport diesel fuel.

This comes from my role at a major manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines.

 

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RalphWD45

Well-known Member

• Feb 13, 2013

• #1

I have had the habit, of buying my vehicle, and machinery oils in 5 gal pails. I currently have 10 or more that, haven't been turned into feed buckets, or storage for used oil and hyd. oil. If I need more than 15 gal. of fuel, then I grab a couple of them. Most cheepskate's will use these instead of buying regulation cans. I don't like pouring fuel out of them, but have a large galvanized fuel funnel, that makes it easier. I expect that I am not the only one who uses those plastic 5 gal Hy Tran cans as fuel cans.

 

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casenut1

Well-known Member

• Feb 14, 2013

• #1

aren't pickup truck tanks zinc coated galvanized
steel? pretty sure the gas ones are.