Farm Equipment - No Galvanized Cans for Diesel?

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No Galvanized Cans for Diesel?

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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=196121
Printed Date: 03 Jun 2025 at 7:05pm
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Topic: No Galvanized Cans for Diesel?

Posted By: Oldwrench
Subject: No Galvanized Cans for Diesel?
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2023 at 7:27am

The manual for my old JD excavator has bold faced warnings not to use galvanized can for diesel fuel, but without any explanation. Most of the fuel cans I use are plastic, but I have several nice old metal ones that I also use once in a while. One I think might be galvanized, the other is obviously plain steel. The galvanized one looks perfect inside, so I don't see where diesel has corroded anything.

Will using anything galvanized with diesel create problems? What happens with galvanized and diesel?

Replies:

Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2023 at 8:34am

it is a very, very slow process, but YES it can happen...

Does diesel react with galvanized steel?

This is because when the diesel comes into contact with galvanised steel there is a chemical reaction that takes place between the diesel and the zinc that is used to galvanise the steel. The reaction causes deposits to build up at the tips of fuel injectors which can then lead to further problems.Jan 14, 2020

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Like them all, but love the "B"s.

Posted By: rw
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2023 at 4:43pm

The galvanized cans are great for keeping rust out of the fuel system. The warning against the zinc I read about had to do with zinc attaching to the fuel in storage and when burned contaminating the catalyst part of the after treatment system on models with Diesel oxidation catalyst. We started using black pipe when plumbing our new pickup truck bed tanks, transfer pumps and filters at the construction company where I work.