Water in fuel storage tank

[lamanated]

Also, gas stations, fuel suppliers or airports have paste to check for water. if you have alcohol in it . like e85 you need the brown paste, not the golden type.

 

[Cordfed]

I bet you paid about $4/ gallon for that water, unfortunately. Did you get it drained and all sorted out?

 

[IslandTractor]

I bet you paid about $4/ gallon for that water, unfortunately. Did you get it drained and all sorted out?

I have gotten it drained so I get only a smidgen of water out of the fuel now. However, TSC was out of the water block filters so I am waiting for a fresh filter to add to the fuel hose/pump before I start using the fuel again. In the meantime I just bought a fresh 5 gallon container to fuel up the tractor last weekend.

My plan now is to first run the pump with a regular filter on it and discharge the fuel back into the storage tank to scrub the fuel. I plan to do that scrubbing for maybe three or four times the volume of fuel in the tank. I'll then throw on a new water block filter and repeat for maybe ten or twenty gallons to make sure the water is all out. If the flow is good after that then I'll start using the stored fuel again.

 

[Ken45101]

If you are in a hurry, grainger.com has the filters and ships quickly.

(Grainger is a big industrial supply company. I think that's where I bought mine.)

I wouldn't wait for my local TSC to get anything in stock. It's always "it might be on the truck next week, we will just have to wait and see.)

 

[IslandTractor]

If you are in a hurry, grainger.com has the filters and ships quickly.

(Grainger is a big industrial supply company. I think that's where I bought mine.)

I wouldn't wait for my local TSC to get anything in stock. It's always "it might be on the truck next week, we will just have to wait and see.)

I am more than occasionally disappointed with TSC but they are right off the highway on my drive to the tractor so I still use them. When it was clear that they did not have any of the filters in the store, I whipped out my iphone and ordered a couple from Amazon before even leaving TSC. TSC will continue to lose business as companies like Amazon offer better service, broader selection and cheaper prices. I can wait the two days for the Amazon shipment now and next time I won't bother stopping at TSC. Saved $6 per filter too. Amazon Prime is a beautiful thing. I haven't been in a shopping mall for three years.

About the only thing I really like about TSC is the ability to buy nuts and bolts by the pound rather than per piece or in little blister packs.

 

[RichardM]

Hi,
As everyone seems to agree condensatiion is a problem. However, a problem of barrels and tanks sucking in water that lays around (even very tight) fill caps or plugs can be worse. As a vessel heats up during daylight hours the air (and fuel) expand causing internal pressure. If this leaks or as the vessel cools a vacuum forms and anything around openings gets sucked in. This is especially a problem with oil or fuel drums (even sealed ones) they must be tilted so water doesn't lay on top.
OK so now you have water. Don't use it like that but also don't throw it away. If you can, store the contaminated fuel in a protected container and keep it as warm as you can. It will take awhile but the water will settle out. CAREFULLY decant off either the fuel from the top or the water from the bottom. Strain the fuel through a "water separator funnel,or filter" (fuel will pass a filter that water won't). Fuel should be clean and bright before using. Evaluate in a clear glass.
The other problem water causes is bacteria growth at the fuel/water interface. This will also plug filters.