Plastic barrels and old food oils

[Fallon]

OK, jumping in here. I have 2 55 gallon blue plastic barrels. I have no idea what was in them before. There seems to be some conflict in this thread unless I'm reading things wrong. Can I use them to store diesel, or is there an issue with the plastic? I'd only get 20 gallons or so at one time, so I'm not worried about being topheavy during transportation, I just don't want the fuel contaminated.

Are you worried about the plastic surviving or the diesel? Personally I wouldnt wory about either. Clean the barrels out reasonably well & let them dry completely (assuming you use soap & water or a solvent). I run all the fuel out of any storage tank through a filter. A goldenrod water blocking filter is only $10 or so & the manifold to plumb one in permanently is $30ish.

 

[Alan W.]

I have a black plastic barrel that has sit outside with used oil in it since 98. No problems with the barrel but I have had to replace the bung gaskets a couple of times.

 

[Diggin It]

Are you worried about the plastic surviving or the diesel? Personally I wouldnt wory about either.

I have splashed gasoline and other petroleum based products on some plastics that almost instantly melted/dissolved. In other cases, it took time for the damage to become evident. I don't want to spend $3-something a gallon for 20 or 30 gallons of diesel only to find it leaking out on the floor after a few weeks. And I dern-tootin' don't want to put plastic contaminated fuel in a $20,000 machine.

 

[Texasmark]

I probably knew this, but that's a recycling symbol, not related to the content it will resist.


What Do Recycling Symbols Mean? | Plastics Make It Possible

Thanks for the link. You answered my question and the question on this post:

2. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Uses of HDPE include: bottles/jugs for milk, water, juice, cosmetics, shampoo, dish/laundry detergents, and household cleaners; containers for margarine, cottage cheese, and other foods; cereal box liners; trash and retail bags.

Products made with recycled HDPE include: bottles for items such as shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, household cleaners,

"MOTOR OIL AND ANTIFREEZE;"

plastic lumber for outdoor decking, fencing, and picnic tables; pipe, floor tiles, buckets, crates, flower pots, garden edging, and recycling bins.

When I need to replace my metal barrels it will be with blue plastic for my oil storage. It it can tolerate oil it should also tolerate gasoline........take a look at the bottom of a red plastic gasoline can next time you are in wallyworld or such. Betcha you find a 2!

 

[greggyy]

FWIW the drums I have, which are the blue food grade ones, had oils in them, canola, flaxseed etc

 

[Handloader109]

Hdpe is what all commercial gasoline and diesel fuel tanks are made from. Impervious to fuel and oil. Way better than steel.

 

[goeduck]

I stop by a car wash and wash out the inside of the barrels with the pressure wand. I use detergent and spray clean as much as possible, then rinse, rinse, rinse. Then I use an old style mop to dry the inside as much as possible. Then leave the lid off to better dry out. I have not used them for fuel, they are water tanks.