Need suggestions for cleaning 55 gallon plastic drums.

[newbury]

Don't think about using the 55gal plastic drums for long term diesel storage (over a winter). I tried that and ended up with algae in the diesel fuel. Diesel needs to be stored in a cold dark room instide a steel barrel. Then there is no problem with algae. Even works with contaminated algae in the fuel. The algae will die. Biocide is a must too. Since then I just use the 55gal for transfering furnace oil from the gas station to home. Washing the plastic drums? Pressure washer and Bio Diesel cleans anything.

Keep them full to prevent atmospheric moisture, treat with diesel kleen (biocide and octane boost) or similar and you should have no problem.

Where's Lbrown59? What's taking him so long?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/133068-pictures-comparing-my-new-set.html

 

[Deano]

Where's Lbrown59? What's taking him so long?

:laughing::laughing::laughing: Ditto!!

 

[EE_Bota]

Or just slosh a bit of diesel around in there pour it out into a bucket to use for burn piles or whatever and the drum should be clean AND not have any water in it.

+1 If the drums were storing oil, I sure wouldn't introduce water to the mix. I have a 30 gallon plastic drum I keep in the garage, so UV shouldn't be too bad. Now that it's been mentioned, I may wipe it down with 303 UV protectant.

I don't put diesel additives into the drum, I reserve them for the tractor itself. I do use the nice water catching filter funnels to make sure no gross debris or water gets into the tractor from the drum.

I use a hand pump, and it draws off the bottom of the drum, so if something starts going wrong, I should see it pretty early.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Keep them full to prevent atmospheric moisture, treat with diesel kleen (biocide and octane boost) or similar and you should have no problem.

Where's Lbrown59? What's taking him so long?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/133068-pictures-comparing-my-new-set.html

Where's Lbrown59? What's taking him so long?

:laughing::laughing::laughing: Ditto!!

Double ditto!!! He's usually Johnny on the spot with his fuel tanks setup like Leonz with Doctorial Dissertations on Flail Mowers for all needs for all people.

 

[sixdogs]

If you stand the barrel up right in the sun, the oil that remains will settle on the bottom and the sides will be nearly clean. Then pour in some diesel and it will dissolve the oil easier. Works for me. I'd make sure what the contents were, just to be safe. There a zillion of thoses blue soy sauce barrels rolling around.
The pump adaptor will thread right into the opening. Use a big thin lock nut to keep the plastic from stripping and add Stanadyne--or any--diesel treatment to cure the algae thing.
I have a 150 gallon metal tank on rollers in the barn with a filter AND a water filter on, and have for decades, and have bever had an injector problem in thousands of hours on a dozen tractors.

 

[ka41]

Yesterday I ended up going to HF and picking up a 12v transfer pump kit. Will try to get the rest of the plumbing today. They had it on sale for 129.99 and then I had a 25% off coupon that was good for the 4th of July only which brought the price down to $97.50. Have any of you used this particular one before?

 

[ka41]

If you read my first post you will see that I said that I was going to be storing diesel in a drum that previously stored royal purple. The drums are purple and it said royal purple on the top. Anyway I got around to inspecting the drums today and I could hear a small amount of liquid inside the drums. I opened them up an poured out what looked to be water. It was clear and had only a slight smell of like oil and water mix. One drum had about a cup and the other may have had 2 cups or less. I looked inside with a flashlight and they looked pretty clean. At this point what should I do about cleaning the inside of the drums. Should I just pour about a gallon of diesel in them and roll them around to try and clean the inside?

 

[Deano]

If you read my first post you will see that I said that I was going to be storing diesel in a drum that previously stored royal purple. The drums are purple and it said royal purple on the top. Anyway I got around to inspecting the drums today and I could hear a small amount of liquid inside the drums. I opened them up an poured out what looked to be water. It was clear and had only a slight smell of like oil and water mix. One drum had about a cup and the other may have had 2 cups or less. I looked inside with a flashlight and they looked pretty clean. At this point what should I do about cleaning the inside of the drums. Should I just pour about a gallon of diesel in them and roll them around to try and clean the inside?

Sounds like a plan!!

 

[Deano]

Yesterday I ended up going to HF and picking up a 12v transfer pump kit. Will try to get the rest of the plumbing today. They had it on sale for 129.99 and then I had a 25% off coupon that was good for the 4th of July only which brought the price down to $97.50. Have any of you used this particular one before?

Please post how you like this pump. I have not seen this before, but i haven't been looking for one. I like the looks of it and you can let us knpow how it works!!

 

[ka41]

Deano after I get everything finished and I use it a couple of times I will post how its working out.