Texasmark
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2012
- Messages
- 3,646
- Location
- N. Texas
- Tractor
- Ford: '88 3910 Series II, '65 3000; '07 6530C Branson with FEL, 2020 LS MT225S. All Diesels
Well let's keep it going. Good topic.
I started with 5 gallon plastic cans. Then when I retired from the town job and took up farming on a larger scale, I got 55 gallon drums starting with one I bought new full of Rotella T for my OTR rock bucket which I ran for awhile to fulfill a childhood dream.....playing in the sand with REAL trucks......the Cummins 800 cu in 400 HP big cam used 11 gallons (of oil) per oil change. I made a strap out of chain and hooks that fit under the top ring on the barrel and used the FEL to take it out of the P/U when filled.
Then I leased more land, upped the operation, more drums, clean, painted inside, fuel containers. Total now 3. Kept them sealed both full and empty. Had an old Chev p/u bed trailer I wasn't using so rather than fight the lift and all I just strapped the 3 cans in the trailer permanently. I installed a 12v pump from TSC (cheapest they had and works great) and used old batteries that I pulled out of equipment to power it. Doesn't take much battery to run a pump so old ones work great, just charge 'em up ever so often.
I keep it parked under a 15x15 "car port" that keeps it out of the sun and weather.
The barrels get Power Services diesel "snake oil" and besides keeping the fuel fresh and no contaminants, these same chemicals keep my tractor's fuel systems squeaky clean. In over 25 years of running diesels, and at some times having as many as 7 tractors, I have never had a pump or injector failure/repair unless it was with a used tractor purchase and that damage was done before my "watch".
I use 2" PVC fittings on the pump to barrel mount which work great. I use the 2" inline repair coupling (one side is a male thread, the other is a female cap nut with an 0ring seal. Stub one to the tank (the male) and the other to the pump. Works great and the added height puts the bottom of the pump suction tube about 3" off the bottom of the tank. However that really isn't necessary as I use clean farm diesel from a reliable source, keep chemicals in the fuel, the tanks sealed and I just don't have issues. I periodically take a flash light and check the status.....crystal clear red dyed fuel is all I see.
I checked on the haz. mat. plackard requirements and the non tagged limit was 1000# of fuel oil. running the numbers, 3ea 50 gallon (5 gallons per tank for expansion) puts you right under the limit. Perfect.
So if what you have doesn't work for you, this works fine for me, not much invested, and you may get some ideas to incorporate into your operation. I didn't have anything else to do this morning so I thought I'd "jaw" a bit. Hope this gives you some ideas if looking.
I started with 5 gallon plastic cans. Then when I retired from the town job and took up farming on a larger scale, I got 55 gallon drums starting with one I bought new full of Rotella T for my OTR rock bucket which I ran for awhile to fulfill a childhood dream.....playing in the sand with REAL trucks......the Cummins 800 cu in 400 HP big cam used 11 gallons (of oil) per oil change. I made a strap out of chain and hooks that fit under the top ring on the barrel and used the FEL to take it out of the P/U when filled.
Then I leased more land, upped the operation, more drums, clean, painted inside, fuel containers. Total now 3. Kept them sealed both full and empty. Had an old Chev p/u bed trailer I wasn't using so rather than fight the lift and all I just strapped the 3 cans in the trailer permanently. I installed a 12v pump from TSC (cheapest they had and works great) and used old batteries that I pulled out of equipment to power it. Doesn't take much battery to run a pump so old ones work great, just charge 'em up ever so often.
I keep it parked under a 15x15 "car port" that keeps it out of the sun and weather.
The barrels get Power Services diesel "snake oil" and besides keeping the fuel fresh and no contaminants, these same chemicals keep my tractor's fuel systems squeaky clean. In over 25 years of running diesels, and at some times having as many as 7 tractors, I have never had a pump or injector failure/repair unless it was with a used tractor purchase and that damage was done before my "watch".
I use 2" PVC fittings on the pump to barrel mount which work great. I use the 2" inline repair coupling (one side is a male thread, the other is a female cap nut with an 0ring seal. Stub one to the tank (the male) and the other to the pump. Works great and the added height puts the bottom of the pump suction tube about 3" off the bottom of the tank. However that really isn't necessary as I use clean farm diesel from a reliable source, keep chemicals in the fuel, the tanks sealed and I just don't have issues. I periodically take a flash light and check the status.....crystal clear red dyed fuel is all I see.
I checked on the haz. mat. plackard requirements and the non tagged limit was 1000# of fuel oil. running the numbers, 3ea 50 gallon (5 gallons per tank for expansion) puts you right under the limit. Perfect.
So if what you have doesn't work for you, this works fine for me, not much invested, and you may get some ideas to incorporate into your operation. I didn't have anything else to do this morning so I thought I'd "jaw" a bit. Hope this gives you some ideas if looking.