Bulk Gasoline Tank - Possible Contamination

[KY Gun Geek]

Was given a tank on a stand - Had some diesel in it, and wanted to convert to gasoline. Found the thread below and did a clean out by putting in about 20 gal of diesel in 5 gal increments (empty-add 5-swish around-repeat). Had 50 gal delivered fresh from supplier. Let it all settle for about a week. When I opened the valve and let fuel flow into filter (with a clear cover) the fuel was stained - about the color of iced tea.

Ran a little in a zero-turn mower, and it seemed to work fine, but I don't like the look Looks like tea, and when I put some fresh clean fuel in the tank, you can see in the fuel filter of the motor that it separates out. Having problems with picture upload or I would show you.

Should I ditch the tank? More clean outs? The diesel was dyed - is this some left over?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/215038-cleaning-fuel-storage-tank.html

 

[oosik]

Well - I would use up the gas in your smaller engines - Z-turn, etc. I would not use it in any car, truck etc. You now know - 1) there is something still in the tank that discolors the gas and 2) it causes the "tanked fuel" & other fresh fuel to separate.

Since it has only cost 20 gallons of diesel and 50 gallons of gas so far - I think I would ditch the tank when its empty.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Probably what your seeing in the filter is residual dye from previous fuels and the separation is probably water from condensation in the tank. I would install a large fuel filter in the discharge hose. If you buy a filter and base at a farm store the comes with a tap to drain the water at the bottom of the filter. The only way to avoid condensation is to store the tank at a constant temperature and keep it right full. Either situation just isn't going to happen so learn to deal with the water (ie filter the fuel).

 

[KY Gun Geek]

I think these pics worked:

Should show the fuel filter on the zero turn and the filter on the tank - water traping thing with a clear sight bowl. There is a little sediment, I mean just a little dusting on the bottom of the bowl.

You can see more sediment on the mower filter.

Seems like it should not get through the filters...

Is the tank junk?

 

[RandyT]

That is water in the bottom filter mixed with dirt/rust. Shouldn't of made it through the tank filter since most of the tank filters are 10 micron, and the filter on the mower is around 60-75 micron. No water in the tank filter, makes me wonder if it didn't come out of the hose.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Get a water absorption 10 micron filter for your tank and that will help get rid of the rusty water condition. The water may be getting thru the present filter you are using and settling in the mower tank. Looks like it is time to change the mower filter. As long as the filters are catching the water, I would keep using the fuel.

DO you have your stand tank tilted so the hose end is at least 2-3 inches higher than the other end. This gives the water a place to settle out and not come out in your fuel. Hopefully your stand tank has a drain on the low end that can be opened occasionally to drain off any settlements. If not, at each time you empty the contents, tilt the tank toward the hose, let it set for an hour or so and drain out the fuel till no more water comes out. I would remove the filter if possible (reinstall the clear housing)so it doesn't contaminate it. Your photo doesn't show a valve installed prior to the filter but I would assume that you have one.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Get a water absorption 10 micron filter for your tank and that will help get rid of the rusty water condition. The water may be getting thru the present filter you are using and settling in the mower tank. Looks like it is time to change the mower filter. As long as the filters are catching the water, I would keep using the fuel.

DO you have your stand tank tilted so the hose end is at least 2-3 inches higher than the other end. This gives the water a place to settle out and not come out in your fuel. Hopefully your stand tank has a drain on the low end that can be opened occasionally to drain off any settlements. If not, at each time you empty the contents, tilt the tank toward the hose, let it set for an hour or so and drain out the fuel till no more water comes out. I would remove the filter if possible (reinstall the clear housing)so it doesn't contaminate it. Your photo doesn't show a valve installed prior to the filter but I would assume that you have one.

I agree with this. I'm wondering if the discoloration is from rust or colored fuel dye that has settled out.

 

[KY Gun Geek]

Just to close the loop on this -

Discolored stuff in mower filter
There was water in the hose from the tank - the dispensing handle was positioned such that water ran around the tank and into the nozzle. Water then was put into mower tank, and ended up in filter. Clean up was a new filter, a quick split of the mower carb to remove water from bowl, some Heet for the mower tank and a bunch of fresh gas.

Discolored gas -
I did several things and the discoloration went away - rinsed out the tank with gasoline and got out as much of the rust and gack out of the bottom as I could. There is a drain, but it is rusted shut. It all has to come out the valve end. I THINK the discoloration was because the tank was used for diesel, and allowed to sit for a while. The rust discolored it, then the gas diluted it and off we went. A couple rinses and it cleared.

The tank was then and is now set with the outlet higher than the rear. This keeps the crap and water away from the outlet. When the tank gets close to empty I remove the filter and tilt the tank and let more crap drop out. I then refil the tank, and wait a day or so and no cloudiness. I'll probably do this few more times then just use it.

I also get some nasty gas to start the bun piles with (I prefer diesel)