To run our old tractors, we would fill plastic gas cans while in town.

Our new tractor uses diesel. Would it be okay to empty the gas out of the gas cans (say, into the truck) and then refill them with diesel?

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), August 14, 2001

Answers

Ive done it without any problems. Just make sure the gas is all out of the can before you put in the diesel. good luck.

-- tomas (bakerzee@hotmail.com), August 14, 2001.

In winter in colder climes, an old truck driver trick to keep diesel fuel from "jelling" was to put a little gasoline in their tanks to thin their fuel. I'm sure a little gasoline residue wouldn't hurt anything. Just make SURE that you LABEL the cans properly and permanently so no one puts diesel into a gas engine tank. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 14, 2001.

I've got a VW diesel pickup trk and they even suggest it for winter operation---up to 25%.

The only other problem is with the gas station attendent. Don't let them see you putting diesel in a "GAS" can. Its actually against the law.

I recall a time a few yrs ago I was driving north from Milwaukee. I was on Hwy 41 and my gas guage wasn't working and I ran out of fuel. The good news I was within less than a mile from a gas station. I walked there with my RED gas can and commenced to fill it with diesel. The attendent shut the pump off. I asked her why. She sez "you can only put diesel in a blue container." I sez "Look lady, I just ran out of fuel. See", pointing to my car just up the road," theres the car. When I put this gallon in I'll drive here and fill it up". "I'm sorry sir" she sez in the whiney sing song voice, "thats the law. We'll be happy to sell you a blue can" I sez "I'll just bet you would." By this time I was soooo PO'd I had to get outa there or I surely would have gone to jail.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 14, 2001.

Even with labels (on similar colored tanks), ya just know that someone will mix up the fuels eventually. Best bet is a new diesel container.

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), August 14, 2001.

Huh? I thought diesel containers are yellow, kerosene containers are blue, water containers are supposed to be green, and of course gasoline containers are red. At least thats the way the containers are labeled at the store. I mean this is molded into side of the plastic cans at the factory.

As to the original question, only difference is color. Trace amounts of residue wont hurt anything. Although I will say, I once put a gas engine into a diesel car. Thought I had emptied the fuel tank, but got lot of smoke until I had run a tank of gas through it. Second tank, it didnt smoke. Couldnt have been more than a couple cups of diesel left in the lines, etc.

-- HermitJohn (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), August 15, 2001.

NO!!! its not ok. Diesel goes in a yellow container. Not a red gas can. Any good station will not even sell it to you in a red can.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 15, 2001.

Although I have my own diesel tank I have bought it in RED cans here without any problem. I would dump out the gas and let it dry down but make sure you filter that diesel when you put it in your tractor. When I lived in western NY they cut winter diesel with K-1 (kerosene).

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), August 15, 2001.

Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with the law dictating the color of container we're supposed to use. As far as I'm concerned a container is a container. If some nimrod pours gasoline into a diesel engine or vice versa, so what. It would seem to me that they should be able to tell the difference and are the ones responsible for doing so.

While I understand why the law was created, to protect people from their own stupidity, as far as I'm concerned its just another example of government run amuk, micromanaging every detail of our lives.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 15, 2001.

Now I am really confused. My old Massey Harris is painted red AND yellow so I dont know if I should use gasoline or diesel and the new John Deere is green but the local dealer swore at me when I called him out on a warranty job after filling it's tank with water.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), August 15, 2001.

I tried to find yellow fuel cans today - no luck. Anybody know of a mail order place?

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), August 15, 2001.

Yellow spray paint.

-- Marvin (brinmg@hotmail.com), August 20, 2001.