Fuel Storage, tipping tank

[Maurice]

I have a 250 gal elevated fuel tank. I just recently emptied it and moved it to a new location.

Which end should be higher?

In its previous location, the front was lower. The front being where the filter and hose is connected. It's just a gravity flow setup. In the new location, the natural lay of the land has the front lower here also. A 2x4 levels the tank and a 4x4 tips the tank to the rear nicely.

I never had a problem with water, but I do have a water collecting filter(goldenrod made filter?) and I drain a little fuel out of the filter bowl every couple of months. Never had water yet.

On the under-side of the back-end is a plug. My guess is to drain water, maybe not. It would cause quite a mess if you tried remove the plug to drain it any other time than when the tank was empty. I do have to tip the tank to the rear to completely empty it using the plug. That's because of the inch and a half lip where the filter connects.

Does any one see a problem letting the water collect in the front? With it tipping to the front, that would at least lessen the amount of water that will collect.

Thanks in advance,

 

[Egon]

You could tip it to the rear and put a valve on the rear bung to drain water.

Me, I'd go towards tipping it to the front.

Egon

 

[Maurice]

Thanks for the reply,

As you can tell, I'm favoring tipping to the front also. I'd be afraid if I added a valve of some sort that it would spray and not run out, when the tank is full. I guess that depends on the value type though.

 

[shade2u2]

The end with the hose connection should be higher so that any water that collects in the tank will concentrate at the oposite lower end and therefore keeping it away from the hose and your tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
At least that has always been the way it's been done around here. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Glenn9643]

The drain outlet on the end of my tank is 3/4". I added a ball valve and put a plug into that to ensure that it wouldn't leak if the valve was accidentally opened. I have that end of the tank lower than the point where my fuel outlet is to collect condensation. I too use a spin-on filter at the hose.

 

[stevenf]

I just had my Exon Distributor for Offroad Diesel deliver a new tank it cost $600. for a 300 gal tank on a 5 foot stand they got the tank from Imperial supposedly the most used because it is heavier wall and better construction. As part of the the deal they installed it by the book with all the fittings, filter, hose and nozzle. They also filled it for $1.69 per gallon. I could have installed it myself and saved $50.00 but Imperial tank is 75 miles from here and I figured by the time I got there and back and fiddled with the install for a couple of hours it was money well spent especially driving a F350 with a gas V10 in it. I went out and measured it and it slopes 2" toward the back of the tank away from the filler hose. I had asked them and they said it was indeed to keep any water at the end away from the hose although it never occured to me that I should have requested a valve at the lower end bung to get the water out I'll wait until I empty it and install one because long term due to condensation and already being present in the fuel I'm sure it will need to be drained it would be better to put one in from the start and not do like I did because that 300 gallons is already in there and I still don't even own a tractor yet, Kubota M9000 ordered but won't be ready until next week at the earliest. It seems to me just from a logical standpoint that it would be better to have it slanted toward the hose and that way you'd always be getting the water out when you refueled but I guess the tractor filter would then be in need all the time. Although if you think about it go fill up the bathtub and pull the plug and put some food coloring in the water in the end away from the drain and watch what happens, I think this would be the same case in a fuel tank so if you don't install the drain valve and go to it first briefly and drain a couple of ounces I think you'll draw any water and sediments into the hose anyway. I don't know could be wrong but it does make good sense. I know I'm installing a drain valve as soon as this puppy is empty.
Steve

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It seems to me just from a logical standpoint that it would be better to have it slanted toward the hose and that way you'd always be getting the water out when you refueled )</font>

That's the way it seems to me, too, although apparently that ain't the way the "experts" do it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Junkman]

If you keep the tank full during the warm humid months, you won't have any condensation problems. Retired expert.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Maurice]

The plug in the bung hole looks to me like a 3/8" plug. I haven't looked yet, but that seems a little small to find a valve of some sort for it.

Maybe I can find an adapter/expander that will allow me to add a more common sized valve. HOWEVER, does anyone know if they make locking valves, you know the kind I would put a pad lock in?

I live at the end of a dead end and gone during the day. I would like some kind of deterrent. The valve on the hose is lockable. I would like to replace it while am at it, it leaks the ever so slightest and collect every spec of dust in the county /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Maurice]

If there is a way to add the valve, I would probably go ahead and tip the tank to the rear. That way I can be sure to keep most of the water out of the tank. But as I mentioned in an another post, I would really like a lockable value.

I know I have had people just help themselves in the past. There have been times when I have not locked the tank and found the valve open. I always close it because of all the kids that the family brings out. I would hate to have one of them just squeeze the nozzle handle out of curiosity and have... whatever happen /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

So I make sure to close it. Keeping track of extra keys is a pain but necessary IMO. Especially with the price of fuel these days. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif