Diesel Storage Tank: Keep Fuel Fresh, Dry and Safe From Thieves

Diesel that has sat all winter, water in the tank or a tank drained overnight by thieves can stop work on the farm or site. The fix: use fuel within months, keep water out, lock up and choose a tank that suits how you work.

PartsForMachines has 32 fuel and AdBlue storage tanks and dispensers from DyMac, Sealey, Draper, SIP and Tecalemit in its fuel storage tank range. They run from a 75-litre AdBlue dispenser to a bunded steel diesel tank of over 9,700 litres.

How Long Can Diesel Sit in a Storage Tank Before It Goes Off?

Plan to use stored diesel within a few months. Modern diesel can contain biodiesel (FAME), which is less stable than regular diesel and takes up water more readily.

So check fuel delivered in autumn before using it in spring. Topping up before the tank empties always leaves some old fuel in it, so choose a size you will use within a few months. A small tank such as the 200-litre portable diesel tank D200T is emptied sooner, so less old fuel lingers.

Water in the Diesel Tank: How Does It Get In, and Does It Cause Diesel Bug?

Through condensation and worn fittings, and yes: diesel bug needs water to grow. A part-empty tank collects more condensation, and worn caps, seals and vents let water in.

The water sinks to the bottom, where bacteria and fungi grow at the boundary with the fuel. Their slimy sludge can block filters, and their acids corrode metal. Keep caps tight and draw off water promptly. The 430-litre portable diesel tank 06951 keeps its pump, nozzle and filling point inside an enclosure with a clasp-locked lid, so the filler isn't left exposed.

How Do I Stop Diesel Being Stolen From My Tank?

Make the fuel hard to reach and any loss quick to spot. Padlock the filler, lock the gates to the tank area and site the tank where it can be seen from the house or yard. Add motion-activated lighting, an alarm or CCTV if you can, and check fuel levels regularly.

On a site left empty overnight, take a portable tank back to a locked yard. The 400-litre diesel dispensing tank PMD-400L has a filling cap with a padlock, a lockable lid and strap recesses for transport.

Bunded Steel Tank or Portable Diesel Tank: Which Type and Size Do I Need?

Choose a bunded tank for a fixed fuel store and a portable tank for taking fuel to machines. A bund is an outer case or wall that holds the tank and catches leaks. In England, for example, a business oil container over 200 litres usually needs secondary containment holding at least 110% of it, and farm fuel for agricultural use has separate rules. Check the rules where you are.

Bunded options here include double-wall steel FuelHub tanks of up to 9,709 litres and the 450-litre bunded transportable tank ACC-450L, which DyMac rates (UN 31A/Y) to be lifted and moved when full. Size on the safe fill level: 428 litres on the ACC-450L.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• diesel or AdBlue: never share a tank; the PMDF-350/50L keeps them in separate compartments
• how much you use in a few months, against the safe fill level
• bunded or not, and the storage rules for your site
• static or mobile: tie-down grooves, forklift channels or pockets, lifting eyes
• pump and security: 12V or 24V, flow rate (20 L/min on the D200T, 50 L/min on the 06951), hose length and a lockable lid or cap

Not sure which tank suits your site? Contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the fuel, monthly use and whether it must move, or browse the fuel storage tank range.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does contaminated diesel look like?

Run a sample from the bottom of the tank into a clear jar. Clean diesel looks clear and bright. Haze, bits, slime or a layer of water mean the fuel needs sorting before it goes near an engine.

Could diesel stored for months damage my engine?

It can if it has picked up water or diesel bug, which can block filters and corrode metal parts. Draw a sample from the bottom first, and keep spare filters handy if older fuel has to be used.

How do I check a diesel tank for water?

Water sinks, so check the bottom. Coat the end of a dipstick with water-finding paste and lower it to the floor of the tank, weekly or before each delivery, then draw off any water you find straight away.

Can a biocide get rid of diesel bug?

A biocide can kill the growth, but it is only part of the fix. The water the bug lives in and the sludge it leaves still have to come out, and filters may need changing more often for a while.

How much diesel can I carry on a pickup or trailer?

In Great Britain, for example, diesel carried for your own work can fall under a dangerous-goods exemption: up to 450 litres per container and 1,000 litres per load. Sealey says its D100T, D200T and D400T qualify. Check the rules where you operate.

Do I need to build a bund around a bunded tank?

Not usually: its outer tank already catches anything that leaks from the inner one. The ACC-450L is 110% bunded, and DyMac says its double-wall FuelHub tanks need no separate bund. Check the siting rules where you are.

Can I store AdBlue in a diesel tank?

No. Keep AdBlue in its own clean, sealed container, never one that has held diesel, because diesel contaminates it and AdBlue attacks some metals. The 200-litre AdBlue tank ADB200T is HDPE and made for AdBlue only.

How long does AdBlue keep in storage?

It depends on temperature. Kept sealed, cool and out of direct sunlight, AdBlue typically lasts six months to a year or more; stored above about 25°C, it breaks down faster.

Will the tank's pump run off my vehicle battery?

Usually. Most portable tanks here have a 12V pump with a 4m cable and clamps, and the Sealey pumps draw 15A. The SIP tanks run from a 12V battery (not supplied), and FuelHub tanks take 12V or 24V pumps.