Michael: There seems to be some mis-conseption as to why anyone would ever add anything to diesel fuel. Most oil companies add their own additives at the time of manufacture. One item they can not add is something to stop jelling. Methyl Hydrate will just evaporate from any substance. Take for example your windshield washer fluid when it freezes, just because you haven't been using it much and once the jug you bought it in is opened the methyl hydrate starts to evaporate. Precisely why oil companies cant add it to fuel at the refinery. There are a few do's and dont's with diesel fuel. NEVER fuel a diesel with jerri cans. ALWAYS fuel your diesel from a stationary storage tank. If you must fuel your diesel from a tank on the back of a pickup, do it at the end of the day after pickup has been sitting for 3-4 hours, thus allowing all water and dirt to settle. NEVER take the pickup to the machine, ALWAYS drive the machine to the pickup. Be careful to place fuel fill caps back in place. If that accident does occur deisels should have a water drain in bottom of tank. It is a good idea to open that water drain daily, before machine has been moved. Weekly is probably more practical unless you have reason to believe other wise. Methyl Hydrate need only be added at the rate of 1/2 cup per 100 gallons, anymore than that is pure waste. If the machine sits for 3-4 days the methyl hydrate will evaporate from tank. If everyone followed these rules, to the letter, there is no reason why diesel injection pumps and injectors built in the past 50 years will not give trouble free service for 10,000 hours. One item most people might not realize is that storage tanks for finished product at refineries, have about 3-4 feet of water in the bottom of them. This serves two purposes, settling place for dirt, and time for refinery personell to correct a problem should a leak occur. They operate these tanks by never using out of the same tank they are filling. Fuel is always pumped off at a level somewhat above the water line.
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