Oil & Fuel Ideas for fuel transfer???

[HCJ]

I am tired of hauling 5 gallon containers of diesel! And whoever invented those "ventless" containers?? It seems those have become all that is available and they really are a pain. Does anyone else hate them? Man, are they slow to empty.

I am thinking about another way to haul diesel. I use about 10 or 15 gallons weekly. I have seen those 30 gallon and 10 gallon tanks at Northern that look nice, but just can't decide. I don't want to have fuel delivered, since my place is pretty far out and I don't live there. So assumming I bring fuel in my truck, what are some good ways you guys use? I would prefer not to spend a fortune, don't want a permanent tank in my truck, so it needs to be semi portable. A 30 gallon tank would be hard to handle, whereas a 10 should be managable, but probably not much better than using several 5 gallons. Any clever ideas to lift a bigger tank out of a truck bed, suspend it, and have it gravity feed? I am toying with that idea. I also would consider a hand pump or a 12v. What are my choices?

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

One of these or something similar and an old battery charger for 12volts is what I use. As far as bulk storage that will be a constant challenge unless you get several barrels and justify a run by a fuel truck. I have a 150 gallon tank that fills once a year with no problems.
Northern Ind. Diesel Fuel Transfer Pump 12V DC 10.5 GPM - eBay (item 330321118732 end time May-09-09 15:52:38 PDT)

 

[602466]

I have one of those plastic 275 gallon containers on a metal skid. Check Craigslist and you will find them there. I got mine for $60.00. When I need to fill it up I use my FEL with pallet forks to place in on my pickup. I only put 50 to 100 gallons in it at a time. Then just place in anywhere you want with the FEL.

Works good for me.

Wally

 

[Wis Bang]

Diesel weighs 7.1 LBS/gal so a 10 gal container weighs around 75 LBS depending on the weight of the container. Since you use 10 - 15 gal a week get the electric pump and the 30 gal container. Make sure you secure it well as now you're talking over 210 LBS just in the weight of the fuel that you don't want sliding around.

That's enough fuel to last two weeks, enough to be convienient but not enough to develope problems from condensation, etc. Any bulk storage has the potential for a microbe colony to grow at the meeting of the fuel and any water trapped underneath from condensation.

Hazardous Material laws kick in at 1000 LBS +/or when the container holds over 119 gal, the definition of a bulk container so the average person can transport three 55 gal drums -or- one container up to 119 gal without having problems w/ the Haz Mat enforcement though larger tanks need to be 'secured'.

 

[chh]

I used a 55 gal. barrel for years for that before I got an overhead 500 gal. tank and started having fuel delivered. If you have an FEL a 30 gal. barrel would not be hard at all to move out of a p/u bed. A hand pump would transfer the fuel easily. 12v electric fuel pumps with hose, wiring, and nozzles start around $200. I currently use a 100 gal bed tank with a 12v pump to transfer fuel around and keep a 500 overhead for bulk delivery here at the ranch.
I see used bed tank setups for sale on craigslist pretty often. Many of the bed tanks have lifting rings on them, you might could find the whole setup pretty cheap that way. I wouldn't fill it completely and try to move it if it was a bigger tank, but you could make one work out as a portable easily.

 

[radioman]

Diesel weighs 7.1 LBS/gal so a 10 gal container weighs around 75 LBS depending on the weight of the container. Since you use 10 - 15 gal a week get the electric pump and the 30 gal container. Make sure you secure it well as now you're talking over 210 LBS just in the weight of the fuel that you don't want sliding around.

That's enough fuel to last two weeks, enough to be convienient but not enough to develope problems from condensation, etc. Any bulk storage has the potential for a microbe colony to grow at the meeting of the fuel and any water trapped underneath from condensation.

Hazardous Material laws kick in at 1000 LBS +/or when the container holds over 119 gal, the definition of a bulk container so the average person can transport three 55 gal drums -or- one container up to 119 gal without having problems w/ the Haz Mat enforcement though larger tanks need to be 'secured'.

That is very informative tidbit and good to know. Do you have any link to support the statements ?

 

[Wis Bang]

That is very informative tidbit and good to know. Do you have any link to support the statements ?

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration - go into Haz Mat rules.

I've spent 31 years in operations and safety in the chemical tanker transport industry and was responsible for Hazardous Materials training; I instructed the MC307/312 - DOT407/412 portion of First responder training for the New Jersey State Police at Middlesex County Fire School for three years.

I've also been thru OSHA 1910.120, have any questions regarding Hazardous Waste?

My first job was dispatching fuel transports. Gas averages 6.5 LBS/gal, Diesel 7.1 and bunker is 7.4 - 7.8 depending on if it is #4, #5, or #6. Sulfuric acid is 15.463 LBS/gal

Somewhere around here I have a reference book from N.T.T.C {National Tank Truck Carriers} with a weight per gal table for a variety of products but I can get the weight/gal from a proportion using the specific gravity of the product from the MSDS against the weight of water [8.463LBS/gal]

 

[Wis Bang]

I have one of those plastic 275 gallon containers on a metal skid. Check Craigslist and you will find them there. I got mine for $60.00.

These 'tote bins' are considered Bulk Containers by Haz Mat Enforcement and that's according to the capacity not how much you put in it...

The valves and closure have to meet DOT 'spec'.

 

[greggh]

I still use the 5 gallon containers. However, I dont use the spouts that come with them. I purchased a large funnel and secured a cotton cloth over the top of the funnel. I just pour directly from the can into the funnel. Works fine for me.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I really hate the new ventless gas cans. And they spill around twice as much gas, I fail to see how that's an environmental improvement.

Just bought a fill rite FRV700 pump this afternoon for the same reason. Going to put it on the oil tank for the house heat (common up here) and hard pipe it through the basement wall to a hydraulic quick connect that I'll put on the hose.

Am expecting this will save a world of hassle as well as cost, as I think the basement tank is 500 gallons, and gets refilled automatically (runs heat in winter, hot water year-round)

If anyone sees anything dumb in this idea, please point it out!

 

[wedge40]

Wait a few minutes and LBrown59 will post all about his set up. Or better yet you could do a search using his ID.

I would look into getting two 55 gal drums and a transfer pump. One would I would put in the truck and fill with fuel, the other I would keep on the ground and then transfer from the truck to ground and then from ground to tractor as needed. Thats what I plan on doing to with Gas once I get everything set up.

Wedge

 

[JMynes]

I really hate the new ventless gas cans. And they spill around twice as much gas, I fail to see how that's an environmental improvement.

Just bought a fill rite FRV700 pump this afternoon for the same reason. Going to put it on the oil tank for the house heat (common up here) and hard pipe it through the basement wall to a hydraulic quick connect that I'll put on the hose.

Am expecting this will save a world of hassle as well as cost, as I think the basement tank is 500 gallons, and gets refilled automatically (runs heat in winter, hot water year-round)

If anyone sees anything dumb in this idea, please point it out!

Not necessarily dumb, but there are a couple of issues:

1) You don't pay sales tax on heating oil, at least in Maine. It may be different where you are. Heating oil is sales tax exempt, but off-road diesel (which is the same thing) is taxed. So if the oil company gets wind of this, or some local authority, you could be in for a fine.

2) I accidently spilled some heating oil into the fuel tank of my tractor once (OK, maybe twice) last Summer. It ran fine, but had a real hard time starting when the cold weather came. And this was with Power Service mixed in. I switched to highway diesel and the troubles went away. Heating oil will gel in cold weather much easier than winter diesel. As long as your heating oil is in the warm cellar it flows good, but get it cold and you've got jello.

Good luck!

 

[Ken]

I now use a pump to a 55 gal drum to refuel the JD 4520. Since to tall to load standing on the ground from a 5 gal. container would have to lift the can to floor board of tractor. Then hold funnel lift can and pour into the tank. One day while stepping on to the floor board lifting the can and twisting to lift to refuel with ice and mud thick fell off the tractor spilling the diesel. Laying in cow manure,mud and cold tempertures. decided there was a better way.
At TSC bought a elec.12Volt pump that sits on 55 gal. drum loads quickly and uses regular service satation type of hose.
So far very little spillage and clean when finished filling.
When drum is empty easy to lift into the truck to refill.

ken

 

[Ductape]

Just bought a fill rite FRV700 pump this afternoon for the same reason. Going to put it on the oil tank for the house heat (common up here) and hard pipe it through the basement wall to a hydraulic quick connect that I'll put on the hose.


If anyone sees anything dumb in this idea, please point it out!

If it were me, I would at least hide your pump set-up somehow (maybe put a false birdhouse over it?). I plan to do the same, but I'm gonna leave the pump near the tanks and make it easily disconnected. Those oil delivery folks can be 'funny'.

 

[greggh]

The reason that I still use the 5 gal cans is that the distributor will not deliver unless I have a 300 gal tank. I can't afford that so the 5 gal. I've learned how to pour without much spillage so I can live with it. Also they wanted to lease me the tank. At this time I am not using the tractor full time so my needs are not as great as others.

 

[IMCA38]

How about getting a pickup transfer tank and mounting it permanently or semi-permanently on a small utility trailer? Then you could use either a hand pump or 12V pump to transfer into your tractor.

 

[heymack]

Get a 55 gallon drum, the cheapest fill-rite hand pump, a hose, filter and a few fittings and you'll be in business. To remove from your pickup truck, get one of these:

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

All said, your investment will be less than $200, but well worth it considering the reduced aggravation and time spend filling small cans. It should also give you the opportunity (ie enough quantity) to buy dyed diesel from a local distributor.

 

[HCJ]

Get a 55 gallon drum, the cheapest fill-rite hand pump, a hose, filter and a few fittings and you'll be in business. To remove from your pickup truck, get one of these:

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

All said, your investment will be less than $200, but well worth it considering the reduced aggravation and time spend filling small cans. It should also give you the opportunity (ie enough quantity) to buy dyed diesel from a local distributor.

Out of curiousity, do you remove it from your truck with your FEL or do you use a overhead winch or pulley system? That seems like the simplest system to go with. I like some of the fuel caddys, but they are over $500 and they don't seem to have any way to lift them from a truck. How long would you feel comfortable keeping fuel in a drum, and what additive would you put in it, if any? Thanks for your reply!

 

[LBrown59]

 

[radioman]

Wait a few minutes and LBrown59 will post all about his set up. Or better yet you could do a search using his ID.

I would look into getting two 55 gal drums and a transfer pump. One would I would put in the truck and fill with fuel, the other I would keep on the ground and then transfer from the truck to ground and then from ground to tractor as needed. Thats what I plan on doing to with Gas once I get everything set up.

Wedge

it never fails-he just posted his picture. again. must be his own masterpiece ?