[juliem]

Hello.
Just replacing some fence posts which originally was done back in 2011 professionally with tractor.
It's stock fencing.Not a big job as just extracting posts which have rotted and banging new posts  in.The posts are already tanelised left over from original job.The posts which have gone are unsurprisingly from wettest parts of field.My father use to soak the ends in old engine oil....is this no longer environmentally acceptable?Any other suggestions about extending life of fence posts.....or am I just wasting my time.
I've a few gate posts made of old railway sleepers...they must be 60 years old...so what is it about railway sleepers that they seem to last for over...quality of wood I expect.
Land is pasture..grazed by sheep.
Had BT to inspect 1985 pole (they can't climb it unless it's tested every 10years) The pole passed its test..the BT chap reckoned it was as good as new...and it was placed half in a ditch.He did seem to think it might have come from a forest in Russia.
Anyway any tips for extending life of fence posts would be appreciated before they are knocked in .

[sandspider]

Proper, old school coal tar creosote? Not great environmentally, but it works!

(Not sure how well it would be absorbed into posts that are already tanalised though...)

[juliem]

If only I could get hold of some...(bit like getting Pasture weedkiller)
This afternoon did pack some of the replacement posts with MOT gravel which we normally fill holes in our lane with.We compact it when post is knocked in with sledgehammer.Stock fencing and barbed wire already tensioned.Not too sure if this MOT helps stop the fence post rotting though.