Questions on an old diesel tank.

[IMCA38]

Last week I bought a 300 gallon tank and stand at a farm auction. I'm sure it's pretty old, but it's in decent shape and the price was right. Today, I knocked all the old scaly paint and surface rust off and started to put a coat of Rust-oleum on it.
Now- my questions.
1- there are several pipe plugs in various locations. Should I tempt fate and pull them out and re-goop them, or let them be? They didn't look to be leaking.
2- the prior owner used a bung on the bottom of the tank for his hose line. I don't think this is right as on the opposite end, there are 2 bungs on the end cap. One in the center, I presume for a gauge and another at 6:00 on that end, which I assume is normally used for the hose outlet. The fill cap is on the top of the tank at that same end.
What are the pros and cons of using out of the absolute bottom as opposed to near the bottom?
3- When I set the stand, should it be perfectly level, or can I tilt it slightly to aid in draining all the fuel?
Thanks
Todd

 

[Junkman]

You should tilt the tank so the low end is NOT the end that you are taking fuel from. You want the water to settle to the opposite end. If you have a big pipe wrench, you can remove the bung plugs if there is a reason to, but it not, then there is no reason to disturb them. I am having a hard time understanding the location of the bungs on your tank. Is there a possibility that you can post a picture of the tank? That will clarify the description and I can help you from there. The fill can be any top location hole, but it is usually best to make the fill at the end which is also the lowest end. That makes it easier for water checking. The tank needs to have a vent also. This should be of a design that doesn't allow for water intrusion...

 

[IMCA38]

Junkman
I'm not much of a wordsmith, but here goes. Just so we are all clear, the tank is cylindrical, about 5' long and I'd guess 30" in diameter. It sits horizontally on the stand, about 5' off the ground. Say the tank is on the stand and oriented north and south, the north end has the center bung and another at the bottom , but also on the end of the tank. The filler is on the top of the tank toward the north end. It has an aluminum flip cap that can be padlocked, and appears to be a vent setup as well as the cap rests on 4 "prongs" as opposed to sitting flat on the bung. The cap has a skirt that conceals the prongs.
The remaining bung is toward the south end of the tank but points straight down toward the ground. (the south end cap of the tank has no bungs in it)
The prior owner used the "south" bung for the outlet hose.
Hope this helps...

 

[JerryG]

The bung below the center bung is where the outlet hose should be. The bottom bung on the south end is for a drain. I would put a drain valve in that bung and the hose below the center bung.

 

[Junkman]

North end should be raised by 2" higher than the South end and the hose should come off the North end of the tank. The South end of the tank can have a drain installed in it, but it must be a locking type of device so it can not be accidental opened. That will prevent any unintended spills. If this is going to be exposed to the weather, then use a soup can to cover the fill to keep any spiders out. Just hope that there are no leaks in the tank and that is why it was sold.

 

[PineRidge]

If you are going to be pumping the fuel out of the tank as opposed to draining it from the bottom then cut the pick-up tube that extends into the tank so that it doesn't draw the last inch or two of fuel off the bottom of the tank. That will give the water and other crap a place to settle out so that you can deal with them as a separate issue and they don't get picked up by your pump. Also if you will be using a pump use a good spin on filter to catch sediment and water before it gets to your tractor fuel tank.

Did you inspect the inside of your empty tank? Did it require cleaning prior to your using it?

 

[Junkman]

Hate to do this to Mike (PineRidge), but if you decide to use a pump, then it MUST be at least 8" off the bottom. If not, the suction of the pump will be sufficient to pull anything that is on the bottom up into the draw tube and through the pump. Mike, I thought that I had taught you better.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Junkman (Paul) don't mean to split hairs with you cause I have so few on my head anyway but actually the instructions that came with my Fill-Rite pump state:

1. Tightly screw suction pipe (1200KTG9099) into inlet flange (1200F6465) of pumping unit.

2. Extend suction pipe into tank or barrel to within 3" of tank bottom. Do not rest suction pipe on bottom of tank.

3. Screw inlet flange of pump into tank or barrel opening. Inlet flange must be completely and securely threaded into an undamaged tank or barrel bung.

Junk I'm sure 8 inches off the bottom for the suction tube isn't going to hurt you one bit but it's a lot more fuel that will never get pumped out of the storage tank the way I look at it. I'm sure a few TBN brains might even compute the difference in gallons of oil that will be left in your tank between 3 inches and 8 inches pick up height on say a 275 gallon home heating oil tank but it's still early for me and I'm still sucking down the coffee here. Thanks for keeping me on my toes though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

To keep your tank clean use the bottom bung with a valve, then a T for fuel supply and drop leg to catch the water and debri. The drop leg should also have a drain.

Egon

 

[Junkman]

PineRidge (Mike) ... The difference is that I am working with old knowledge and you are using new instructions. The old pumps the instructions were to keep them 8" from the bottom. The new instructions (according to you) are to keep it 3" from the bottom. The only thing that I can think of to reconcile the difference is that the old pumps had more "sucking" power than the new pumps. Either way, if there is no water or other debris at the bottom, it won't matter. If there is, I would still prefer to use the 8" measurement. When I come to meet Samantha, we can discuss this over dinner. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif