55 gallon plastic barrel cleaning for fuel

[scootr]

Got a 55 gal blue plastic barrel for fuel transport and storage. First step is to clean the inside. The remnents of a label says it was originally filled with a floor cleaner. My nose confirms it smells like soap. I put 5-10 gal water in it. Slosh rinse and repeat. Many times, maybe 12 times. There is still a wee bit of suds but nothing like the first 8 times ... so now what do I do?

 

[Willman]

Been there done that, rinse until no more suds, turn upside down, let air dry

 

[scootr]

Buddy said tie a T shirt on a stick and swirl it around in the barrel. Then fill with fuel... Can't wait to have a little reserve

 

[Cycledude]

I have also been considering using a blue plastic 55 gallon barrel for diesel fuel, how do you plan to get the fuel out of the barrel and into your equipment ? I would most likely have a local fuel business come out and fill the barrel.

 

[justman777]

I have also been considering using a blue plastic 55 gallon barrel for diesel fuel, how do you plan to get the fuel out of the barrel and into your equipment ? I would most likely have a local fuel business come out and fill the barrel.

Rotary hand pump works incredibly well. Cheap, works without electricity, and moves a lot of fuel, oil, etc. pretty quickly. Just need a hose on the end.

 

[Wolfy]

I doubt a very small amount of suds will hurt anything. I prefer the clear barrels, but agree the rotary pump is the way to go. Electric pumps are expensive, and limiting. I can empty my 30 gallon barrel in a couple minutes tops. Would also not suggest a lever pump as the leverage can strip out plastic threads.

 

[scootr]

I already have a heavy duty 12v pump with 1 inch hose and long 12v clip on power leads. I fitted the tractor with exterior 12v terminals for the pump. I agree the rotary pump is the logical choice but I'll use this pump which I originally bought to avoid lifting 5gal cans for now. I bought a barrel lift & tilt strap as a means to load and unload the barrel into the truck using the forklift. Drum Tilt Ring H-5733 - Uline
One reason I'm interested in a tilt is that with the barrel laid on its side the fuel could be drained into the tractor when raised up with the forklift. There are lots of carts etc available to lay a full barrel on its side. Any one of these could be oufitted for the forks
Not sure I'll do that, but for now I have a way to unload it, move it around, and pump fuel into the tractor... the 5gal can routine was getting old.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Following this. Been wanting to do this for a while. I was thinking about using a 30 gallon barrel I had, but maybe I will go with a 55 gal. I was planning on making a pallet that the barrel attaches to to lift on and off the trailer for runs to the gas station. I agree about the price on the electric pumps, maybe I will look into a hand crank pump.

 

[scootr]

Following this. Been wanting to do this for a while. I was thinking about using a 30 gallon barrel I had, but maybe I will go with a 55 gal. I was planning on making a pallet that the barrel attaches to to lift on and off the trailer for runs to the gas station. I agree about the price on the electric pumps, maybe I will look into a hand crank pump.

My original plan was to make a pallet with stabilization supports and fork it on/off of the pickup. But for $110 (link above) I don't have to build anything. Once it is in the truck I can strap it in the front corner. Or I may put it in the van where I have crossbar supports
I also picked up a barrel dolly so I can move it around on the concrete if it ends up being stored inside. 55 gallons should last me 6 mos or more. Don't know if I need to do somethign to prevent mold.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I used to have a hand crank pump on a 30 gal plastic barrel. It worked ok for a few years. I put it in the FEL bucket and drove the tractor 2 miles down to a gas station to fill. Eventually the cranking action of the pump caused the plastic threads in the barrel to fail. I was going to replace it with a 55 gal but by then, the increase in road traffic, made it unsafe to take the tractor down to the gas station.

I looked into getting local fuel delivery but all the local suppliers have a 150 gal minimum. Rather than spend the money, time and effort on a method of loading & unloading a barrel from my truck, instead, I spent the $$ on this 110V fuel transfer pump which I installed on my 1000 gal furnace fuel oil tank.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200510835_200510835?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Fuel%20Transfer%20%2B%20Lubrication%20%3E%20Fuel%20Pumps%20%2B%20Nozzles%20%3E%20AC%20Powered%20Fuel%20Pumps&utm_campaign=Roughneck&utm_content=24925&gclid=CjwKCAiAh9qdBhAOEiwAvxIok64Z2B4bLlPT7B47t3H5SsKgo6jClFnXiAl-KqqS8NEOGskIaavTIxoCEIoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That was 10 years ago and I now have two, 60 HP tractors which use a lot of fuel. Considering all the time & labor saved in handling fuel barrels, the $200 (at the time) pump investment was well worth the price.

 

[K5lwq]

If you want the suds to go away quicker just poor a half of gallon of liquid fabric softener in there with water and slosh it around. Suds will disappear.

 

[Avenger]

Edit: I actually wrote this yesterday, but someone distracted me and I just saw that I never did hit the Post Reply button!

When I think about cleaning out large containers, I go back to my home brewing lessons. Use a Clean In Place ball or CIP ball (link)

I'm trying to think of a way to use this with a garden hose, upside down. You could make a little stand for the barrel where the opening is at the bottom. The ball goes up into the barrel and spins water at the rapid rate in all directions. Since its upside down, the water and soaps should simply flow out the other hole. Leave it run for a bit.

Or if that is too much, probably keep filling it up and dumping it until you're good!

 

[Avenger]

I did see this video a while back and I put together an amazon list of all the parts I'd need to make it. I considered upping the volume to a 55 gallon drum, but never got to this project. Maybe now I will.

 

[caver]

I thought about a plastic barrel as the previous owner had left a couple on my place years ago but ended up getting a local metal barrel that had oil in it. One of those local guys that gets barrels from local industries and sells then on MP. I bought a new GPI EZ-8 pump plus installed a filter on the outlet.

 

[nyone]

If your going to use any type of barrel make sure the top is protected from rain. Those barrel tops like to collect water.

I use a 275gal heating oil tank. Local heating oil companies have a 100gal minimum. I burn heating oil in my machines with no issues.

 

[scootr]

If you want the suds to go away quicker just poor a half of gallon of liquid fabric softener in there with water and slosh it around. Suds will disappear.

I hit upon this same idea. The hose I used had a ball valve on the end with a very small handle. It fit through the 2" hole. Partially opened it sprays a fan of water fiercely. put this in the barrel and inverted it. Then moved the barrel around while standing on the hose to keep it from coming out. It whipped around in the barrel pretty good. So between the hose moving and the barrel moving I'm pretty sure it's clean enough now. Thank you

 

[Robin Veerman]

… I burn heating oil in my machines with no issues.

Tell me that you’re adding diesel conditioner/lubricant/cetane boost!!! NONE of that is in heating oil and possibly sulphur levels are another concern. Not the best idea in my humble opinion…

 

[nyone]

Tell me that you’re adding diesel conditioner/lubricant/cetane boost!!! NONE of that is in heating oil and possibly sulphur levels are another concern. Not the best idea in my humble opinion…

Sure am. Keep the stuff right under the hand pump. I have all older high pressure injected equipment.

 

[duffer]

I bought this pump 2-3 years ago. Use it for gas, diesel, or water. (I only use it for gas. Have a 275 gal tote for diesel with different pump)
Works great. Pumps 8-10 gal/minute.

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[Oaktree]

Tell me that you’re adding diesel conditioner/lubricant/cetane boost!!! NONE of that is in heating oil and possibly sulphur levels are another concern. Not the best idea in my humble opinion…

I dunno, I have a neighbor who's been using heating oil in his loader for years with no problems. I don't know if he adds anything to it, maybe some Power Service.