Water in fuel storage tank

[IslandTractor]

I have water (considerable amount) in my 30 gallon fuel storage barrel.

Two issues:

1) how did it get there suddenly over the past winter as water had not been an issue in the prior three years with the same system?

2) how to salvage the fuel?

I have a simple 30 gallon plastic barrel that has a 12v pump fuel dispensing system from HF that has served me well until just now. The intake hose is at the bottom of the barrel. I added a water/particulate filter to the system when I first installed it several years ago. Flow has always been excellent and I never have had to change the filter. The filter did it's job and stopped working yesterday by restricting fuel flow to a trickle. I removed the filter and it was full of water. I figured it had done its job but was surprised to find that there was at least 2 or 3 GALLONS of water still in the fuel barrel when I tried to clear it of water. I'm still getting significant amounts of water after pumping 5 gallons of fuel water mix. So far, to clear the water out I have just activated the pump with the filter off and collected samples every half gallon. Initially I got almost pure water and now I'm getting about 1/3 water as determined by letting the samples sit in a clear jar until separation is complete.

I am glad I installed a water filter but confused as to why after several years I now have a lot of water. I haven't had any water, or at least not enough to degrade the performance if the filter, until yesterday which was my first refueling attempt this year. The fuel barrel is sealed and stored in a barn. I recently added 10 gallons of fuel from 2 five gallon plastic fuel cans that were filled last fall and stored in the barn as well. The storage tank was only half full over the winter.

So, where did the water come from? Condensation seems the obvious answer but why zero problems for several years and now literally gallons of water?

What is the best way to salvage the 20 gallons or so of otherwise good fuel? I was hoping the water would all clear before I got fuel from the bottom of tank pickup hose but I am still getting about a third water even after taking out 5 gallons.

The first photo shows what came out initially (it has some oil I added to the top as I couldn't believe there was pure water coming out of the pump. The second photo shows what I am getting after removing 5 gallons.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Condensation from ambient air temperature changes will add moisture to the fuel. The more "air space" in the tank, the more water each temperature change will add. So a full tank is affected less than a mostly empty tank. Adove-ground storage tanks are affected more than UST's.

If you haven't been inspecting the bottom of the tank, it could be that the water was building up slowly. That would be my vote. Second possibility is the last load of fuel you purchased already contained water-it happens.

 

[TCJatko]

I had a similar problem (on a much smaller scale) this spring. Fuel from the gas cans had a large amount of water in it. In the past, I've noticed some ice chips in the gas can when refilling stuff in the winter, obviously condensation settling out and freezing, but nothing on your scale. I wonder if you didn't pump all that water at the local fuel source. Maybe a change of gas stations is in order?

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks guys. I guess condensation is clearly the initial source and whether it was from my barn or the gas station I will never know. Any ideas in salvaging the fuel? Any reason not to use diesel that has once had water in it if you can separate them completely? I'll obviously get a new filter but just wanted to be sure that the water issue hasn't adversely affected some other fuel additive etc. I do put sea foam in the stored fuel.

 

[Dr Dave]

Can you raise your pickup tube off the bottom of your tank, suck out the fuel. Then drain the water from your storage tank.

My raised fuel tank, has a water drain at the bottom, rear of the tank, the front of the tank is slightly higher.

Isoprophal alcohol, works great to remove water from gas, I am not sure ahout diesel?

Dave

 

[IslandTractor]

Can you raise your pickup tube off the bottom of your tank, suck out the fuel. Then drain the water from your storage tank.

My raised fuel tank, has a water drain at the bottom, rear of the tank, the front of the tank is slightly higher.

Isoprophal alcohol, works great to remove water from gas, I am not sure ahout diesel?

Dave

Good idea. The raised pickup I can do easily. The bottom drain would be a challenge with my plastic tank as U can only access the interior via the two bung holes on top. Anyone know of a drain that can be installed just from the outside?

 

[greasemonkeyok]

As Soundguy noted in another thread recently, alcohol combines with gasoline to make a azeotrope. Don't know if that applies to diesel as well.

My personal opinion is that azeotropes are not desired fuel, and it is better to remove the water instead of dispersing it.

 

[TCJatko]

Good idea. The raised pickup I can do easily. The bottom drain would be a challenge with my plastic tank as U can only access the interior via the two bung holes on top. Anyone know of a drain that can be installed just from the outside?

I've seen videos about installing a hose bib on a plastic drum by just drilling the proper sized hole and screwing in a pipe-threaded valve.That was for a rain barrel, this might be considered risky for a fuel storage tank.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've seen videos about installing a hose bib on a plastic drum by just drilling the proper sized hole and screwing in a pipe-threaded valve.That was for a rain barrel, this might be considered risky for a fuel storage tank.

Yes, I found the same DIY rain barrel instructions and also feel the a slow leak of water is no biggie but I don't want a spigot without a backside lock nut for a fuel application.

Might be best to simply have a long tube I can weight so it goes to the bottom but pump up any water rather than drain it out passively from the bottom. A little drill powered pump should work if rated for fuel/oil.

 

[IslandTractor]

This filter saved me from pumping water into the tractor. Got it from TSC. Glad I did. I'm get a couple of replacements.