fuel oil stabilizer or burn it?

[drboom]

We've shifted from primarily oil for heating to a pellet boiler with the oil as an emergency backup. That means I'm not using any fuel oil/diesel and it's sitting in the tank for a long time. I'm trying to decide if it's better to add stabilizers, if so, which ones or to spend a few weeks every year or two on oil to burn down the tank.

Burning the oil will be more expensive and, because our oil boiler requires a power vent, it's annoyingly loud to run. But, I'm unclear how reliable and which additives will sufficiently stabilize the fuel or for how long.

What say the diesel experts of garage journal?

The fuel oil tank is a standard 275 gallon indoor tank and there are no known problems with the tank, filer or oil boiler.

 

[jack stand]

You've got paid for btu's (fuel oil) in your tank.
You stated that it's for emergency backup.
Why would you not spend $25-$50 to stabilize it for an emergency weather next month or next year and on out?
Sounds like a great plan to me.

 

[zendriver]

I'd leave it sit not bother with stabilizers.

that's me. Mine sits for nearly a year.

tank inside probably not a lot of condensation

 

[Boilerhouse]

i heated with an outdoor wood boiler for years, with oil as the back up, and found that most years i would burn at least some oil, mainly the shoulder months in the fall and spring when we wanted quick early morning heat, or whenever we were away during the winter, which would typically add up to a couple weeks or more in total. So the tank got drawn down, and I would get an annual or bi-annual top up which would help keep the oil somewhat fresh. Never bothered with stabilizers.

 

[drboom]

the oil in our tank is 1.5yrs old already. Which stabilizers are most ideal for long term (presumably several more years) of storage?

 

[racecougar]

the oil in our tank is 1.5yrs old already. Which stabilizers are most ideal for long term (presumably several more years) of storage?

That's a pretty worthwhile detail to mention. Stabilizer should be added when fuel oil is fresh, not 1-1/2 years later. Burn it.

 

[Smoker]

That's a pretty worthwhile detail to mention. Stabilizer should be added when fuel oil is fresh, not 1-1/2 years later. Burn it.

Fuel oil needs stabilizer? I get why gasoline does because of the volatiles but fuel oil is pretty heavy stuff with little or no volatiles. Diesel can sit in tanks for years with no issues and fuel oil is an even heavier cut than that.

 

[racecougar]

Fuel oil needs stabilizer? I get why gasoline does because of the volatiles but fuel oil is pretty heavy stuff with little or no volatiles. Diesel can sit in tanks for years with no issues and fuel oil is an even heavier cut than that.

I think needs is dependent on the situation here. If you're going to store it for years, it sure would be worth the insurance of adding stabilizer to mitigate condensation, bio, and sludge issues, but it should be added when the fuel oil is fresh, not years later.

 

[Firebrick43]

Fuel oil needs stabilizer? I get why gasoline does because of the volatiles but fuel oil is pretty heavy stuff with little or no volatiles. Diesel can sit in tanks for years with no issues and fuel oil is an even heavier cut than that.

Not really stabilizing the fuel like gasoline. More to prevent biological growth which can be bad in tanks with condensation/water issues.

 

[rlitman]

How old is that indoor tank? What condition is it in? Are we talking about something new and clean like a Roth tank, or fiberglass, or all metal, or what?

Condensation is always worst in outdoor tanks that see temperature swings. Being indoors, if you don't have water inside, you probably don't have much to worry about. At work, we have desiccant dryer filters on the ULSD tank vent stacks, but that's mainly because I'm paranoid about water.

 

[fitter30]

Call your oil supplier.

 

[yhprum]

As mentioned you can get some nasty microbe growth too. Depending how long it sets around, could be worth adding a biocide treatment.

 

[jack stand]

If you're so inclined, close the tank valve and open up the filter. A pretty red filter with no sludge visible or residue in the cup is what you want.
At that point I'd gladly spend a couple of bucks for treatment even if it's only for "backup" and/or piece of mind. If something happens with your pellet stove, parts are 3 days out and it's a holiday weekend during an "arctic blast".... and you kick on the old boiler, you'll laugh at yourself about this conversation and maybe even call for regular service for it!
"Backup" is not backup if equipment is neglected or ignored.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My friend's elderly mother was heating her home with oil. I suggested my friend add the waste oil from his oil changes of his Heavy machinery. The old furnace never missed a beat and the house was heated, or free, for the next two years, until her death at 92.

 

[mike93lx]

Fuel oil needs stabilizer? I get why gasoline does because of the volatiles but fuel oil is pretty heavy stuff with little or no volatiles. Diesel can sit in tanks for years with no issues and fuel oil is an even heavier cut than that.

Assuming he is talking about #2 and not #6, it's the same as on road diesel

 

[Firebrick43]

My friend's elderly mother was heating her home with oil. I suggested my friend add the waste oil from his oil changes of his Heavy machinery. The old furnace never missed a beat and the house was heated, or free, for the next two years, until her death at 92.

I don’t know about 100% as I have seen issues doing so but a 50/50 mix of uncontaminated crankcase oil and heating oil works well.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I don’t know about 100% as I have seen issues doing so but a 50/50 mix of uncontaminated crankcase oil and heating oil works well.

I do not know about 100% waste oil, either.

 

[drboom]

How old is that indoor tank? What condition is it in? Are we talking about something new and clean like a Roth tank, or fiberglass, or all metal, or what?

Condensation is always worst in outdoor tanks that see temperature swings. Being indoors, if you don't have water inside, you probably don't have much to worry about. At work, we have desiccant dryer filters on the ULSD tank vent stacks, but that's mainly because I'm paranoid about water.

No idea how old - it came with the house. Best guess is about 20 yrs when the house was renovated. It's metal and indoors. It sounds like the best plan is to burn this tank and put stabilizers in when it gets refilled in the fall.
Thanks all.

 

[JOE.G]

I heat with a Pellet stove and keep fuel oil as back up, I run the furnace about twice year just to run it, I do keep the tank full. I have had no issues as of yet and I have not burned much the tank is in my basement. I do Change the filter yearly just because and the fuel always looks good. I would add a stabilizer if I knew what to add.