Diesel Fuel & Storage Questions

[Junkman]

That actually is a good deal if he is supplying the tank. That alone is worth at least $300. I would jump on his offer is it is still good. The price is not going down anytime in the near future according to all the forcasts... Like money in the bank..

 

[PineRidge]

I was originally trying to locate a supplier in my area that would furnish a free fuel tank like the deal that you were offered. However in my area the suppliers weren't interested so I purchased my tank outright. However with the money that I will save purchasing off-road diesel the tank and diesel pump will pay for itself in short time.

I agree with Junk, I would jump on an offer for a free diesel tank.

 

[PineRidge]

Well after weeks of waiting the last of the materials were finally delivered today so I was able to finish up my diesel storage tank. The center bung was 1-1/2 and that's where I decided to mount the gage/whistle/vent combination. I guess the 1-1/2 assembly was a non-standard size as that's what held up the parts from getting to me sooner. I mounted the tank using floor flanges and lagged them into the PT lumber to better stabilize the full tank. the tank is a bit lower on the end with the bottom drain to facilitate draining of any condensate build up. I also used a ball valve and a cap as an added safety measure. The electric pump is made by Fill Rite and I installed an optional automatic nozzle and also added a spin on oil filter to take out any impurities in the diesel. The fill has a hinged lockable lid and the gage/whistle/vent combination lets me know how much oil is left in the tank at a glance and gives the delivery people an audible means of knowing when the tank is almost full.

Anyway I'll have the tank filled the first of the week but here are a few pictures of the completed tank and pump assembly. I'm happy with the way it turned out and it really beats hauling diesel from the gas station in 5 gallon plastic jugs... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Close up of the electric pump.

 

[PineRidge]

Close up of the gage/whistle/vent.

 

[PineRidge]

Close up of the fill.

 

[PineRidge]

Final picture of the drain assembly. The ball valve is hidden just behing the tank leg.

 

[sneaky_pete]

Looks great Mike - I would love to have a tank like that and quit hauling 5-gallon jugs from town. Super job.

Pete

 

[Dargo]

PineRidge, isn't that one of those 250 gallon home heating oil tanks? The reason I ask, that is what I use up in the loft of my barn. I just have two of them up there and use gravity for flow. I got both of mine free for just getting them out of the basement of a couple of old houses that used to use home heating oil.
You sure went through a lot more time and care than I did. Looks great. You did a good job. You make my job look like I was lazy. I just cleaned them inside and painted the outside, shortened their long shakey legs, vented them, and added a fuel filter and hose with the "gas station" style handle on the end.
Well, I did use 4" x 4" steel square tubing and 6" I beams to support that section of my loft. Anyway, I've been using those tanks for almost 10 years now with no problems. I change my in line fuel filters once a year is all I ever do. It must work, because I've never had any problems with any of my diesel powered machines and have never had a fuel filter plugged on a machine. I'd say you're set. After your pic, I'll pass on showing mine. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> PineRidge, isn't that one of those 250 gallon home heating oil tanks? </font>

Dargo it is indeed a home heating oil tank only it's 275 gallons. I paid 100 bucks for the one that you see in the picture (minus the pump & other fittings) and had a second 275 gallon tank given to me for free. The only thing we needed for the second tank was the electric pump and a valve for the drain on the bottom of the tank. Fact is they delivered the free one to my home. There's a deal! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

We fixed the second tank up similar to the first for a fellow TBN member, he had his filled weeks ago and has been using it since.

 

[Junkman]

Sorry, but your pump doesn't meet code..... the hose is black... it should be yellow for diesel fuel...... Wait till I report you to the Tractor Fuel Tank Enforcement Police..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Quick get out your stencil and mark that tank "Diesel Fuel" and be certain to put a proper placard on it...

 

[PineRidge]

picky, picky, picky. Junk see if this one makes you happy...

No yellow hose either....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Junk see if this one makes you happy... )</font>
Amazing what photo editing software can do isn't it?
While you were at it, why didn't you just paint in the hose as yellow? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif John

 

[kensfarm]

When I finished my tank.. (painted white).. I searched and looked over what diesal stickers/no smoking/warning signs to put on the tank. I was undecided.. called to have someone come fill it.. when I got home.. the company had put a sign on it for me.. "Off Road High Sulfer Diesal".

I read an article a while back about how the color of the fuel tank effects the amount of evaporation of the fuel.. that's why I ended up painting mine white.

 

[PineRidge]

At the risk of asking a dumb question here goes. I understand that there is no road tax applied to off road diesel, hence the lower price. The dye in the diesel is used to differentiate the off-road diesel itself. It was intended for diesel vehicles (tractors, and the like) that are to be legally operated off-road only, but there are a lot of gasoline tractors, machinery, lawn mowers and the like that have nothing at all to do with operating them on public roads, so why not an off-road gasoline as well? A very good friend of mine has an old Massey that uses gas and he has a 300 gallon tank in his garage so he doesn't have to trudge to the gas station to fill it. Can anyone wise me up on this, why not an off-road gasoline as well? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Dargo]

There is. You can buy off road unleaded as well.

 

[PineRidge]

It seems that you can teach an old dog new tricks, I just did a Google searh for off-road unleaded and found the following:

manitoba has farm fuel, or off road, or whatever you call it. You have to buy it in bulk.

We call it purple. And yes, it is gas. I don't think we have special diesel, though.
Cops set up road blocks and stick a dipper in your tank to check for purple, so don't try running it in a car.

 

[Dargo]

Yes, you are correct about the giant cotton swabs. It really confused me when I was pulling into a car show a few years ago and a DOT cop asked me to stop in my diesel pickup. He then pulled out this giant cotton swab. (yeah, I was getting nervous, but not for the fuel reason /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif). It wasn't until after he'd run it down into my fuel tank on my pickup that he told me what he was looking for. Boy, was I relieved. He still had a whole box of those cotton swab looking things and I didn't want him doing any other probing!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Junkman]

do you mean like this??????

 

[Dargo]

You're killing me!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That's great! Yeah, you have the idea!!