Used Fuel Tanks

[nyone]

Home heating oil tanks are cheap but usualy after a few years they have major sludge on the bottom. You would be better off with 55gal drums that held fuel, not oil there alot thinner.

How you store that container has alot to do with how the fuel keeps also. Sitting outside in the weather/sun is no good.

 

[Industrial Toys]

One of my tanks in current use has been here since 1972. No problems. Just painted it a few times. If you have filters and most importantly, don't suck right off the bottom, you should be fine. No need for this constant Diesel Fuel Hysteria.

 

[D2Cat]

Have good friend who owns tractor shop. He and another friend were talking on taking care of tractors used seldom. He said be sure you fill the tank when you park it. Okay nothing new there but his reason surprised me for had never thought about it or heard it. The fuel coming back into the tank from the system is coming back hot, as he said about as hot as the engine. Thus the fuel tank is heated and when it cools that is why condensation is such an issue. In all these years had never been told why condensation was being caused. Now that to me makes sense.

I'm not aware of what they are talking about. Return fuel "about as hot as the engine"... not that I've ever seen. Condensation is caused by the temperature differential just from the atmosphere. Ever been in a metal roofed barn and see water drip to the ground?

 

[fried1765]

One of my tanks in current use has been here since 1972. No problems. Just painted it a few times. If you have filters and most importantly, don't suck right off the bottom, you should be fine. No need for this constant Diesel Fuel Hysteria.

In Ontario?
Doesn't that 47 year tank age wildly violate provincial rules for steel fuel storage tanks?

 

[bdog]

Check with your fuel supplier. I was shopping around for bulk tanks and decided to go ahead and call the supplier and see what was needed to get setup for deliveries and they brought me a 1,000 gallon tank for free. No contract, just a handshake that I would buy my fuel from them.

 

[BufordBoone]

In an attempt to avoid fuel problems, I set my pump pickup a little on the high side. I have a 100 gallon tank. Most I'm ever able to get in it is about 93 gallons.

I figure (hope) the remaining 7 gallons will hold any contaminated fuel. I plan to fully drain it about every 2-3 years. I'll segregate that 7 gallons to be used for starting brush piles.

Don't know if this plan really helps with fuel issues but it helps me feel like I'm doing something useful.

 

[PA hayseed]

In an attempt to avoid fuel problems, I set my pump pickup a little on the high side. I have a 100 gallon tank. Most I'm ever able to get in it is about 93 gallons.

I figure (hope) the remaining 7 gallons will hold any contaminated fuel. I plan to fully drain it about every 2-3 years. I'll segregate that 7 gallons to be used for starting brush piles.

Don't know if this plan really helps with fuel issues but it helps me feel like I'm doing something useful.

I agree, I bought a used 275 tank from the recycling dump. A little sludge was cleared out through inverting the tank and using some kerosene. Then I set my pump up a little higher on the tank so that any junk can settle on the bottom. There is a drain plug on the tank. All my tanks are indoors (house and garage).