New Storage Tank - How to Protect My Fuel?

[TractorGuy]

A large diesel generator is next on my to - get list. I'm the last house that ever seems to get power back here in the sticks....so also sort of a prepper move!

I recently acquired a Military Surplus generator I am getting ready for the next outage. Kind of frivolous for us since it was 30 years between week long outages but should be nice to have just in case. The MEP-803A is a tactical quiet model. They only go to 10KW rating for single phase use. The 804 up are 3phase only. I have load tested mine above the 10KW rating and it just plugged along. Here is my thread at the Steel Soldiers forum on the unit I bought.

These are auctioned off at various conditions and ages and can be a crap shoot but I rarely see where someone bought a unit they could not get going.

Came across your thread doing research on fuel storage for my purposes. I've only got a couple of 55 gallon drums and sounds like I will use a good bit more fuel than you do. Mine will be stored under a shed outside.

I concern myself a little with using metal at all but I see people have used metal storage tanks for eons. This warning in my JD manual states you should use plastic and NEVER use any galvanize metal.

DIESEL FUEL STORAGE
IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE GALVANIZED
CONTAINERS—diesel fuel stored in
galvanized containers reacts with zinc
coating in the container to form zinc
flakes. If fuel contains water, a zinc
gel will also form. The gel and flakes
will quickly plug fuel filters and
damage fuel injectors and fuel
pumps.
It is recommended that diesel fuel be stored ONLY in a
clean, approved POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC container
WITHOUT any metal screen or filter. This will help
prevent any accidental sparks from occurring. Store fuel
in an area that is well ventilated to prevent possible
igniting of fumes by an open flame or spark, this
includes any appliance with a pilot light.

 

[cold1313]

I think I'll add a 90* fitting to the drain port on the tank and a ball valve.

What is recommended to use as a thread sealant and what material for the elbow and valve? I don't have an issue going stainless if that is preferred.

 

[Fallon]

Personally I'm not that worried about sparks around diesel. Generally when I spill a few cups of diesel I grab my blowtorch to clean it up. It really only burns as long as you have the torch on the puddle. Occasionally some dirt or wood on the concrete will act as a wick to keep the puddle burning, but not much.

Gasoline is extremely flammable & dangerous igniting at the smallest provocation. Diesel needs a lot of persuasion to get started.

 

[Ehanson]

I would utilize a dessicant type breather on the vent on top of the tank, helps to rid incoming moisture in the air as fuel is used from tank.
Donaldson make them.

 

[cold1313]

Already have a desiccant breather ready to go on. The problem is that all of the fill caps also have built in vents. Haven't been able to find one without a vent (which I understand why).

I think I'll add a 90* fitting to the drain port on the tank and a ball valve.

What is recommended to use as a thread sealant and what material for the elbow and valve? I don't have an issue going stainless if that is preferred.

 

[cold1313]

I think I'll add a 90* fitting to the drain port on the tank and a ball valve.

What is recommended to use as a thread sealant and what material for the elbow and valve? I don't have an issue going stainless if that is preferred.

Any thoughts on this question? What type of thread sealant and what material for the elbow and valve? I'd rather spend extra money and not worry than go the cheap route....especially with this being the drain port.

 

[Looking4new]

Any thoughts on this question? What type of thread sealant and what material for the elbow and valve? I'd rather spend extra money and not worry than go the cheap route....especially with this being the drain port.

brass, with teflon tape or liquid teflon for threads

 

[cold1313]

Easy enough! I wasn't sure whether the Teflon would get eaten up by the fuel or not.

 

[Big Barn]

Use tape only if you're REALLY careful. Stray pieces could get into your fuel system. Using liquid teflon would be safer.

ALSO try to buy quality tape. Some cheaper offshore brands have been known to "ball up" and not seal properly.

Terry

 

[Fallon]

Use tape only if you're REALLY careful. Stray pieces could get into your fuel system. Using liquid teflon would be safer.

ALSO try to buy quality tape. Some cheaper offshore brands have been known to "ball up" and not seal properly.

Terry

I prefer the yellow stuff & liquid or paste Yellow means rated for gas. Yellow tape is twice as thick as the white stuff. I use a tube of yellow paste for all my air compressor or diesel plumbing fittings.

 

[cold1313]

Anyone know where I can get a fill cap, that is sealed? I bought a nice dessicant breather for the tank to keep the moisture out of the tank and still let it breath, but all of the fill caps that I've found vent.

Should I just get a 2" plug? I'm assuming those are NPT and I should avoid galvanized steel?

 

[Fallon]

Anyone know where I can get a fill cap, that is sealed? I bought a nice dessicant breather for the tank to keep the moisture out of the tank and still let it breath, but all of the fill caps that I've found vent.

Should I just get a 2" plug? I'm assuming those are NPT and I should avoid galvanized steel?

They don't make many un-vented ones because they are a bad idea due to pressure/vacuum issues. Although adding a desicant unit to the cap or elsewhere remedies that problem. I looked for a desicant filtering cap & struck out unless I was gonna pay industrial prices way more than I paid for my tank.

The caps themselves have a really coarse thick thread that isn't NPT at all. Trying to remember if the female part was welded into the tank directly or fit in a NPT hole & failing.

 

[cold1313]

Hurm. Wonder what thread it takes.

Sounds like I'm best off with a plug for a fill "cap"....

 

[cold1313]

4 months later and I have all of my fittings but yet to order my filters.

I'm thinking that I will run a 2 filter setup, since I do not use a lot of fuel and I do not need a high gpm. (actually prefer a low gpm).

Suggestions on what to get and where? I'm guessing when I order my Fill-Rite pump, I will need to buy a filter kit from someone?
Goldenrod?
What else?
Best place to buy?

 

[Fallon]

4 months later and I have all of my fittings but yet to order my filters.

I'm thinking that I will run a 2 filter setup, since I do not use a lot of fuel and I do not need a high gpm. (actually prefer a low gpm).

Suggestions on what to get and where? I'm guessing when I order my Fill-Rite pump, I will need to buy a filter kit from someone?
Goldenrod?
What else?
Best place to buy?

I have a goldenrod clear bowl followed by the goldenrod water blocking tin can. Pretty happy with that setup. 1-2 minutes to fill my L4060 via gravity from my 300 gallon tank 7ish feet to the bottom of the tank.

 

[cold1313]

I have a goldenrod clear bowl followed by the goldenrod water blocking tin can. Pretty happy with that setup. 1-2 minutes to fill my L4060 via gravity from my 300 gallon tank 7ish feet to the bottom of the tank.

Any recommendations on where to buy that setup? I'll need the pipe fittings to go from pump to filters to hose.

 

[Fallon]

Any recommendations on where to buy that setup? I'll need the pipe fittings to go from pump to filters to hose.

Any farm store will have them, possibly an auto parts store. I hear but can't verify you should use black iron pipe instead of galvanized. Either the galvanizing flakes off (probably not a problem upstream of the filters) or can otherwise do naughty things with chemical reactions. Not sure how true any of that is or not, but I followed it.

I also put in a 90 fitting so the filters hang to the side not straight out. And have a valve upstream of the filters to shut things down if there is a leak or I need to change filters with fuel in the tank. Have some wire from the fill cap down to help support the filters.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I think the amounts of fuel you can store varies by state and maybe even by town in the state. In my town in Ma, we are allowed three 330 gal storage tanks for #2 fuel in our basements.

 

[sixdogs]

Get the black iron parts at Lowe's or HD. Use 3/4" size, 3/4" filter adaptors and 3/4" hose. 1" is too big. Easy as pie and I may have posted pics of my setup in this thread. If not, and you want them, just ask. Get the pressure ca for the tank I mentioned earlier while you're at it. Life is good with a bulk tank.

 

[cold1313]

sixdogs - I was thinking of sticking a piece of 2" pipe for the fill and put a pipe cap. The cap you showed me (and I've seen at the stores) do allow air into the tank. I bought a large desiccant breather so I can hopefully keep moisture out a little better. Plus since I might only fuel up every few years, I figure it might work.

Benefits of the parts crib!