a method of removing water from your fuel storage tank etc

[lamanated]

A recent conversation with a petroleum engineer resulted in me trying a way he said you can wick water off the bottom of a tank. If you take a section of disposable diaper lining, and put it in a cloth or a sock, with enough room for it to expand about 3-4 times, and suspend it via a string, down so that it lays on the tank floor, the lining will absorb the water,, The sock cant be tightly be wound, as the lining cant do its job. I tested this today and it does work,, dont let the lining material escape, it turns into a gel.

 

[boomer1025]

Look up a product I believe called Tank Snake

 

[DEWFPO]

That liner can only absorb so much water, after that it's useless. It's far better to drain it off if you can.

DEWFPO

 

[kevinj]

That liner can only absorb so much water, after that it's useless. It's far better to drain it off if you can.

DEWFPO

Yep, there is a reason them tanks have a drain port.

 

[Texasmark]

Yep, there is a reason them tanks have a drain port.

+1................and some folks mount them with a slight tilt to aid in that function. Obviously the fuel needs to be dormant long enough for the molecules of fuel and water to separate.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Yep, there is a reason them tanks have a drain port.

Not all tanks have a low point drain, so a way to wick up any accumulated moisture is good.
I am sure a baby diaper would soak up way more water than the average tank contains which is usually just a cup full or so. If it is a super amount, just put a pump or siphon hose on it and pump it out till you get pure diesel coming out.

 

[npalen]

Reminds me of my Dad checking for water in the fuel of his 1947 Cessna 140 back in the 1950's. Opened the pet cock under the engine and drained a little gas out each time before startup after an extended period of inactivity.

 

[TractorGuy]

I think this method could result in the diaper swelling to a point it won't come back out without squeezing some of the water out of it and back into the tank.

I use a pump attached to a tube that will reach the bottom of my tank. My backhoe had a lot of rust in the tank bottom due to it having water sit in it long term before I got it so I am mindful of this problem. I take a 12V pump with Tygon and a long metal tube and pump off the bottom of the tank every now and then. So far I haven't got any water out but I will continue to do this on occasion to make sure it doesn't accumulate any. The actual fuel pickup tube curves upwards off the bottom so it never pulls fuel from the extreme bottom of the tank.

While this is on my mind I will do both my tractors today.