Has anyone ever figured out how many gallons are in a typical 300 gallon storage tank based on poking a yardstick in the tank? My tank is approximately 36 inches in diameter by approximately 60 inches long.
I presently have 13 inches of fuel in the tank. Without doing mathematical calculations that I'm incapable of doing, I would guess I have between 60 and 75 gallons left in the tank.
Anyone care to agree or disagree?
I would disagree with your beginning capacity. According to this on line calculator using 60" for length and 18" as a constant radius your tank holds 264 gallon.
barrel Volume and Gallons Calculator
When your distributor fills the tank he normally leaves some room for expansion at the top.
Older tank designs usually slope toward the back so any dirt will accumulate there plus the outlet of the tank to the hose is normally a couple inches up from the bottom, so in either or both cases you will not get all the fuel out unless you physically lift the back of the tank frame.
I use a stick to determine the level in the tank, but to get the exact gallons available at the nozzle from that is calculable but not useful in real life.
I find it simpler and much more useful to keep a clipboard in the barn where I note the gallons delivered at fill up and then each time I draw down the tank indicate the date, which tractor, what purpose the tractor was primarily used for since the last tractor fill up, and the hour meter reading on the tractor.
Normally I run the tractors until the fuel gauges indicates a warning to fill up. Knowing the capacity of the tractor fuel tanks and how many times I have filled each then gives me a simple warning of when it is time to stick the tank for a level. That way I am sure the distributor will have room in the tank to put at least the minimum amount in without rendering a sir charge for not enough gallons.
Depending on the planned use/harvest I may have to make a hurry up phone call, but I usually remember to check it at least a week in advance of when I would run out.
