Diesel storage ?

[SteveInMD]

I installed a tank in the early spring. I have a diesel truck, car, and tractor. This has been my experience…I go through my 275 gallon tank in about 4 or 5 months. I've had no problems storing fuel and I like the convenience of a pump over 5 gallon cans. I spill much less fuel. I just checked for water in the tank from condensation by opening the bottom drain plug. After 4 months I had no more than about 2 drops of water at the bottom of the tank. I think it's worth checking between fill-ups, but so far condensation is not a problem. I did install the pump with the pickup pipe as close to the bottom as possible to make sure any water and debris is pumped out quickly (the fuel goes through a filter after the pump). I keep the fill cap and pump locked. When I put the vent, fill pipe, etc. on the tank I used a varnish type thread compound. This makes it much, much harder for someone to disassemble things and steal fuel. I also shut the power off to the pump from inside the garage. I painted the tank white to keep the heat off of it which should make the fuel last longer. I also use a Power Service to treat the fuel.

 

[dicker]

Yes, I agree, convenience is a factor. The original poster was talking about "100 to 125 gallons a year".

That amounts to 10 to 12 trips a year with 2 five gallon cans.



Richard

 

[kensfarm]

"I go through my 275 gallon tank in about 4 or 5 months. "

Steve.. something seems wrong.. my 275 gallon tank last me for 9 months..(Jan-Sept) and I use the tractor every day for the farm. I'm at 1850.. how many hours are you putting on your 33?

 

[SteveInMD]

I wish I had time to run my tractor that much! I have a diesel car, pickup truck, and tractor that I fill from my tank.

 

[arthr31]

At that rate, I should fuel up from my home heating oil tank. Yeah, I know, if I get caught, blah blah blah, but please, c'mon it's all the same. plus what's this on-road tax getting me anyway, the roads around where I live are NOT GOOD and if you visit an inner-city in the US, you'd swear it'd been shell shocked. E.G. NYC.

Hey, anyone else receiving this "banner" upon posting to this forum?
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Cheers, 0art

 

[kensfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I wish I had time to run my tractor that much! I have a diesel car, pickup truck, and tractor that I fill from my tank. )</font>

Now I see.. didn't think that 33 was burning that much diesal by itself.

When I bought my tractor in 2000.. main tasks were mowing, bushhogging, garden work, firewood, & road maintenance. Back then I had all the farmland rented out. When I changed renters.. I kept the hayfields and crop land immediatly around the farmhouse & barn for my use.. and rented the rest of the cropland out. Started raising Holstein steers from bottle calves.. making some hay.. growing some field corn for feed.. enough veggies for 10 families. Of course that takes all my free time.. weekends, holidays, vacation days, sick days.. I'm usually starting the tractor before 6 am to load feed.. in the evening I'll work til dark.

 

[LBrown59]

<font color="brown"> How much does it cost to "save a little $"? You have to consider the cost of the storage equipment and the risk of storage and this may offset the savings. </font>

<font color="blue"> True - most likely the added expense will have to be amortized over a number of years to see any real savings - however there's also the convience factor to consider, which may not be a small thing.
For me, not having to run out for fuel is a big attraction - I've been very busy with projects this summer and have put around 250 hours on my tractor so far this year - that's about 32 trips to the station with a 5 gallon can - or 16 if I use two. It's real nice to be able just to pull up to the garage and fuel up. </font>
================
looks like it's either pay for the storage Equip. or pay for the fuel it takes for those 32 trips to the station.

 

[SteveInMD]

My motive is simply convenience as well. I found it very awkward to fill my tractor from a can, and I often spilled fuel. I haven't spilled a drop since I put the tank in.

As far as risk goes... My home heating oil tank is gravity fed to my furnace. I think this is a pretty common setup. The chances of a leak in that system are far greater than my diesel tank, where you have to pump the fuel to get it out. I keep the tank carefully painted and check it for water between fills. No water so far. I think it’s a pretty safe setup.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hey, anyone else receiving this "banner" upon posting to this forum )</font>

No.. you must be being naughty! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif yes.. I'm getting the "PC' rules as well. Makes entering a message take up 2 full screens worth of scrolling down....

Soundguy

 

[YanmarFever]

We have 2 300 gal. diesel tanks stored inside a barn.
We have never had any fuel problems at all, water theft ect..
I have the local supplier deliver it, we havent been to a gas station in 13 yrs. Now thats a lot of TIME saved not waiting in line & driving there. Ill bet stock in locking gas caps is flying high. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ernies imports