Getting set up for 55 gal diesel drums

[LBrown59]

One issue, Dargo, is minimum delivery amount. My supplier won't bring less than 150 gallons. That's about a year's supply for me, which works out OK. But, for a guy who doesn't run his equipment that hard, having more than a year's supply might turn out to be a problem (condensation and fungus in the tank, for example). I bought a 300 gallon bulk tank and a stand for gravity feed. I like it just fine, but I can see how it could easily be more efficient to have barrels that you fill at the supplier rather than having bulk delivery. You lucked into a sweet deal on your used tank. Paying normal price for a new tank, I have a long way to go to justify its expense --- though I am not too worried about it since I love the convenience. On the other hand, a 55 gallon drum with a good pump and hose set up would be just as convenient.

Mine's 100 gallons but only applies to special deliveries.
They will top off my 30 gallon drum whenever they are already in my area delivering to others. There is no minimum quantity required for a top off.

 

[heymack]

1*Tuthill transfer pump (FR152).
I was just looking at their pumps on Harbor Freight.
$210 $300 $330.
Where did you find one for less than a hundred?

Northern Tool: Tuthill Fill-Rite Hand Fuel Pump — 2in. NPT, Model# FR152NT | Barrel + Hand Pumps | Northern Tool + Equipment

2*I Was just wondering why you had to haul it.
All 3 suppliers here will stop by and top off my little old 30 gallon drum whenever they're delivering in the area.
You might check this out with the suppliers in your area but keep in mind that topping off is not to be confused with Min. Delivery.

The terminal is just a few miles from my house so no worries and I can do it on my own schedule.

 

[heymack]

It just seems like like it takes more time and effort and trouble to haul 55 gallon barrels to get filled, crank the fuel into 5 gallon cans, and then still have to hold the 5 gallon cans up to fill the tractor. I get my tank filled about 3 times a year and I really enjoy just flipping the switch and using a regular fuel nozzle to fill my tank. No more watching the sweat dripping down my nose as I hold the 5 gallon cans up in the air waiting for them to empty into the tractor's tank.

Why in the world would you go from a 55 gallon drum to a 5 gallon can to fill the tractor's tank?

 

[AlanB]

LBRown, I may buy just a little for my wifes landscaping business, but I think I get treated well because of my other job. (the quantities are not so small)

I just put a waterblock filter with clear bowl on the pump last night and a new hose and a 90 elbow so the hose hangs straight down.

Cannot seem to post pictures at home because of some Green Marquee Pop-up thing, but will see if I can sort it and show how my set up is.

I too would wonder about why would I want to put it in a 5 from the 55, Some part of that I just do not follow.

I want to keep to the 55's because they are easier to manage, and I have better turnover then if I had a large tank. And with my limited and small equipment, it is more then adequate.

 

[Highbeam]

Why in the world would you go from a 55 gallon drum to a 5 gallon can to fill the tractor's tank?

I fill 5 gallon cans from my 55 gallon barrel because.....

I operate the tractor at another property and the 7 gallon tank is not enough to do a job so I need to fuel up remotely which means I need cans.

I add fuel additive to the cans so that I get proper mixture.

Finally, how do you know when it gets full? With my hose stuffed into the tractor's tank and me cranking away on the barrel's pump the only way I will know when the tractor tank is full is by either checking a million times or by waiting for overflow. I always top off my tank at the end of the day.

At my last house, the fuel barrel was stored at a place not accessible by tthe tractor so I had to transfer to cans.

Depsite transferring to 5 gallon cans I still find the convenience of a bulk tank extremely pleasant.

Now if I had an electrical pump and an auto shutoff nozzle then maybe I would fill straight to the tractor when I'm at home. 80 turns of the rotary crank fills the 5 gallon can, no sweat.

 

[jsborn]

LBRown,
I just put a waterblock filter with clear bowl on the pump last night and a new hose and a 90 elbow so the hose hangs straight down.

Cannot seem to post pictures at home because of some Green Marquee Pop-up thing, but will see if I can sort it and show how my set up is.

.

I would like to see and hear more about your set up especially the water block unit you referred to and any other filters you or other might recommend for a gravity system. if you can't post the pic please send them E-mail.

 

[DieselPower]

If I'm not mistaken they sell water block filters at TSC. There in the oil/maintenance department with the fuel pumps.

 

[AlanB]

That is where I bought mine.

$35 for the water block, $25 for the plain.

Northern Industrial Tools Diesel Fuel Transfer Pump — 12 Volt, 10 GPM | Air-Operated + Electric Pumps | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[heymack]

I fill 5 gallon cans from my 55 gallon barrel because.....

I operate the tractor at another property and the 7 gallon tank is not enough to do a job so I need to fuel up remotely which means I need cans.

I add fuel additive to the cans so that I get proper mixture.

Finally, how do you know when it gets full? With my hose stuffed into the tractor's tank and me cranking away on the barrel's pump the only way I will know when the tractor tank is full is by either checking a million times or by waiting for overflow. I always top off my tank at the end of the day.

At my last house, the fuel barrel was stored at a place not accessible by tthe tractor so I had to transfer to cans.

Depsite transferring to 5 gallon cans I still find the convenience of a bulk tank extremely pleasant.

Now if I had an electrical pump and an auto shutoff nozzle then maybe I would fill straight to the tractor when I'm at home. 80 turns of the rotary crank fills the 5 gallon can, no sweat.

I can see certain situations where pumping some diesel into a 5-gallon container is beneficial, but Dargo made it sound like he doesn't have to pump into a 5-gallon can because he has a 275-gallon tank and those who use a 55-gallon drum set-up have to. Personally, I can mix my additive just as easily in my 55-gallon drum as I could in a 5-gallon can. When filling the tractor's tank out of the 55-gallon drum, I either have a friend, wife or kid watch. Alternatively, I just listen to the sound the fluid makes when entering the tank. As it gets near the top, there is a distinct "full" sound that is not nearly as hollow sounding as when the tank is empty. Finally, my 55-gallon drum is mobile as it sits on a wheeled platform/dolly so I can pull it right up alongside the tractor.

Here's a picture of the Goldenrod water block filter:

 

[jsborn]

I can mix my additive just as easily in my 55-gallon drum as I could in a 5-gallon can.

what additives do you mix and why or is that another thread?

 

[heymack]

I can mix my additive just as easily in my 55-gallon drum as I could in a 5-gallon can.

what additives do you mix and why or is that another thread?

I mix in Power Service for the added lubricity and the peace of mind that comes along with it. My neighbor's diesel mechanic and the guys at the New Holland dealership all recommended it after all the suppliers went to ULSD.

 

[AlanB]

I mix in some fuel additive as well, think I have hydrotex right now, but any good quality one would suit me.

Do I NEED it? should not, but the cost is worth the extra piece of mind too me.

I either A. add it too the empty drum before I have the distributor pick it up and refill it, or I B. just add it to the drum and shake some if I recieved a full drum that was not a refill.

 

[Dargo]

...Dargo made it sound like he doesn't have to pump into a 5-gallon can because he has a 275-gallon tank and those who use a 55-gallon drum set-up have to.

Nope. What I said was, and I quote, "It just seems like it takes more time and effort and trouble to haul 55 gallon barrels to get filled, crank the fuel into 5 gallon cans, and then still have to hold the 5 gallon cans up to fill the tractor."

That was in response to earlier statements from posters who mentioned cranking a hand crank in a 55 gallon container into a 5 gallon container to fill their tractor. What I stated was/is my opinion that doing so appears to be more hassle and trouble than it's worth. I see no reason so spend the money, time and effort for such a setup. I also stated that I failed to see any reason to use a 55 gallon container at all if it needed to be hauled around to be filled.

However, in my next post I stated that I was relating such a practice to my particular usage needs. A 55 gallon container wouldn't even fill my tractor up twice. As a matter of fact, a 55 gallon container wouldn't even fill up my tractors once if my mowers needed filled as well. Again, if you read my post, I was only looking at how I use fuel. For me, it would be a complete waste of time, money, effort and resources. For others, it may be helpful with their particular needs. My setup is small beans compared to most of my neighbors who generally have tanks that are over 1000 gallons. They may think my setup is a waste of time and money; which it would be for them. It's a similar situation with my modest setup compared to a 55 gallon container.

Before I put in my little 275 gallon tank, I used 5 high quality steel jerry cans. I say "high quality steel" because the darn plastic ones I had always seemed to leak from the spout when I used them. Since I keep my equipment pretty well spotless, that was a no go for me. Anyway, with one tractor in particular, it's a real pain in the rump to fill with 5 gallon cans since the filler cap is in the center of the hood. Needless to say, my setup with a regular automatic shutoff nozzle works much better for me than the 5 gallon gas cans but, in my situation, I don't think I'd be gaining much if anything if I used a 55 gallon container. Still, I never said that anyone would have to use 5 gallon cans along with a 55 gallon container and a hand crank.

 

[Osconda]

GaryBDavis,

I guess I live less than 10 miles from you. I've been using a 55gal drum on a stand I built. I welded some legs along the long side and a rod opposite the legs to lift it in place. Too bad I don't have a pic for you.

When it's empty, I take it down with my tractor and load it in my truck. When full I unload it the same way and just put it back on the stand.

I assume you're probably using Texcon Oil in Pflugerville. That's where I go. I've got an extra hand crank pump I bought from Harbor Freight you can have. It leaks a little but not bad.

You can call me at the number I'm private messaging you with.

 

[LBrown59]

Mine's 100 gallons but only applies to special deliveries.
They will top off my 30 gallon drum whenever they are already in my area delivering to others. There is no minimum quantity required for a top off.

More>
I saw one of the suppliers go by the house yesterday.
They would have stopped and toped off my 30 gallon drum if I'd have let them know ahead of time.

 

[texasjohn]

Osconda, hmm... howdy, neighbor... I looked for the phone number/address of the Texcon Oil in Pflugerville, but my net search skills failed me... wonder if you could pass that on...

and drop by for a visit one day.. I'm just a mile off I 35 just outside of Jarrell...

 

[AlanB]

Sorry for the poor quality, somehow I am hitting buttons on my camera and not even sure what I am hitting

I need a camera with an ON button, and a Shoot button, but I dont think those are made too much anymore.

Anyway, this is my setup for fueling our little tractor and our backhoe.

Works well for us. I do use a diesel fuel supplement, but currently with the work going on in the house I am turning the fuel fairly quick.

12v electric pump, water block filter unit, spill pallet, run down chicken coop (not everyone has ALL the advantages of an old house )

 

[HappyCPE]

I was wondering about storing my drums inside the shop verses outside underneath the covered shop awning. It seems like there would be less temperature swings inside the shop and therefore less condensation. If it were gasoline, I would definitely store it outside, but I’d like some opinions about storing diesel inside. My shop is partitioned off and I have a good place to keep chemicals, etc.

I can't speak to the methods of distribution and pumping but as far as storage, I would NOT have that much diesel in the shop. Your "partition" actually needs to be a minimum of 2 hour fire rated enclosure and maybe as much as 4 hour depending on building codes. You might not be subject to codes but that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. Also, what are you doing about containment? Five years from now that drum could spring a leak and you would have diesel all over the shop.

My suggestion, which migh be overkill, is to build a little shed or hut out of concrete block that is +/- 6x6' inside, with a roof and slab. Get a hollow metal door made so that there is a high sill, which will catch big spills. Then you can keep your other chemicals in there as well.

Of course, doing that pretty much negates any savings you get from buying fuel in bulk. Which is why nobody I know does it.

 

[LBrown59]

I would NOT have that much diesel in the shop.
My suggestion, which migh be overkill, is to build a little shed or hut out of concrete block that is +/- 6x6' inside, with a roof and slab.

My Set up



This set up is



in here.