Diesel in outboard gasoline tank

[hd002e]

Is it OK to store diesel fuel in one of those red outboard gasoline tanks used for dinghies? Is there some chemical oroprty of diesel that could damage/eat through the gasoline fittings etc?


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[Rhapsody-NS27]

don't think there's any issues... I've used a 3 gal red day tank for a while when my main aluminum tank failed. Hooked up for engine testing in the garage right now. You'll be fine.

[donradcliffe]

+1 Think of what diesel jerry jugs are made of.

[FSMike]

The only likely problem is if a friend needs some gas in a hurry and borrows your tank. Gas is usually stored in red containers, diesel in yellow, water in blue, etc. Make sure and label the tank "diesel".

[valhalla360]

No technical issue just poor practice. Sooner or later diesel winds up in a gas engine.

[TomLewis]

I replaced my aluminum tank with a six gallon red tank, no issues plus it is mounted under the quarter birth where the original was. It could probably use a bigger vent, but runs good.

[lesterbutch]

Diesel is far less aggressive than gas, so it certainly won't hurt your tank! I would,however, mark the tank clearly so you won't make a mistake.

[rwidman]

The portable plastic jugs are the same material, just a different color. I couldn't find a yellow one gallon jug so I used a red one but wrote "Diesel" on it.

[Robin3]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

+1 Think of what diesel jerry jugs are made of.

Except 'they' would have you believe it must only be yellow ones for diesel, red for gas, blue for water.
Nobody heard of marker pens or labels or the simple sniff test?

[01kiwijohn]

It'll be fine, they're the same material.
Just be VERY careful to not put the wrong fuel in the wrong engine. I see this problem about two times per year. Mostly diesel in the outboard engine, so not that big a deal to clean it out and refuel. It'll likely sputter a little smoke, then settle out after a few seconds. Good to go.

[bruce v]

Up here on the mountain, we keep gas, pre-mix and diesel all in the same red plastic jugs. A good felt marker does a very good job of telling what is what (if it starts to wear thin, just remark it).

[reed1v]

If the plastic is suitable for gas, its ok with diesel. Most plastics will disintegrate when exposed to gasoline(we found out the hard way). Just get a fat sharpie and label the container. BTW: diesel does rot a lot of rubber and flexible synthetic materials so be careful not to spill it all over the place.

[foufou]

While red gas tanks may survive not all plastics are created equal. A few months back when cleaning my diesel tank I ran out out of the yellow tanks I stored diesel in orange Home Depot buckets. Within a few months they developed cracks! Beware. The one white bucket seems fine

[deblen]

I have read warnings in this forum that the squeeze bulb in the o/b hose may dissolve with diesel fuel.
I read these warnings after I had installed an o/b type squeeze bulb in my diesel engine fuel line,in order to easily fill my inline filters after a filter change/bleed. It has been there 4 yrs now with no problem,but perhaps some bulbs are made of different material.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by deblen

I have read warnings in this forum that the squeeze bulb in the o/b hose may dissolve with diesel fuel.
I read these warnings after I had installed an o/b type squeeze bulb in my diesel engine fuel line,in order to easily fill my inline filters after a filter change/bleed. It has been there 4 yrs now with no problem,but perhaps some bulbs are made of different material.

Yeah, doesn't happen. Good on you.

However, read this, scroll down:

The Hall of FAIL Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com