Fuel storage

mikeh19d · Sep 18, 2018

Sooo.. I've been looking for a small fuel "cell" to store more than 5 gals of diesel for my tractor and I am thinking about using a 250-300 gallon IBC tote. FYI, an IBC tote is a poly bulk fluid storage container sitting in a wire basket. Now keep in mind the basket is heavy duty, its got to support 250-300 gallons of liquids. I'm wondering if anyone is using one of these to store fuel and if so how to you have your tank set up to pump fuel? If you don't use an IBC tote does anyone use poly tanks or barrels? If you use this type of container do you get fuel delivered in bulk? I want to thank you for reading my post and your comments in advance.:thumbsup:

Einthewoods · Sep 18, 2018

I don't use poly tanks or barrels, but do have a 300gl above ground fuel tank. I haven't had it filled in a long time. Wasn't worth it cost-wise and I didn't use enough to make it worth the aggravation of fuel stabilizers that I had to put in it.

So, if you are going that route, hopefully you use it enough to make it worth your while and costs.

Diggin It · Sep 18, 2018

I'm not sure a delivery truck would pump into that. I've even read here that some gas stations won't allow pumping into unrated containers. My neighbors all have large tanks and get fuel delivered by truck. I have a 55 gallon barrel that I haul to one of those neighbors and fill it from their tank. Then use a handcrank barrel pump to get it into the SCUT.

iflywhatevr · Sep 18, 2018

I ordered a 100 Gallon storage tank to use for my garage. I called a local oil company they will Fill it with off-road diesel at 50-60 cents a gallon less than pump prices for on road diesel with no delivery charge. Granted this will only last me a couple months but better than those 5 gallon cans I despise shuttling back and forth from the gas station and pouring into the tank.

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395489_200395489

Tractor Seabee · Sep 19, 2018

Einthewoods said:
I don't use poly tanks or barrels, but do have a 300gl above ground fuel tank. I haven't had it filled in a long time. Wasn't worth it cost-wise and I didn't use enough to make it worth the aggravation of fuel stabilizers that I had to put in it.

So, if you are going that route, hopefully you use it enough to make it worth your while and costs.

Lesson here, only buy the storage capacity you will use in less than a year. When I had a 20 AC forest and 2 AC of finished landscape I bought a 50 Gl tanks for diesel and gas. Now I moved into town and they are too big. Diesel will keep pretty well but the gas I will keep for my 17 KW generator and use it up in the pickup. Hand crank pumps in both. At my age 5 GL cans are out due to weight. The 50 GL tanks I can put in and out of the pickup for filling. Both are code stamped and placarded and tie down.

Safety note: I saw a guy a while back with 3 55 GL drums lying on their side in a PU. Rolling around and thumping the tailgate. I got away from him quick. I watched him fill them and turn them over on their side dripping gas from leaky bungs. I asked the state police about that and they stated it was the fire marshal's jurisdiction not theirs, unless he dropped them on the road, then everybody gets in the act.

Ron

Einthewoods · Sep 19, 2018

Tractor Seabee said:
Lesson here, only buy the storage capacity you will use in less than a year. When I had a 20 AC forest and 2 AC of finished landscape I bought a 50 Gl tanks for diesel and gas. Now I moved into town and they are too big. Diesel will keep pretty well but the gas I will keep for my 17 KW generator and use it up in the pickup. Hand crank pumps in both. At my age 5 GL cans are out due to weight. The 50 GL tanks I can put in and out of the pickup for filling. Both are code stamped and placarded and tie down.

Safety note: I saw a guy a while back with 3 55 GL drums lying on their side in a PU. Rolling around and thumping the tailgate. I got away from him quick. I watched him fill them and turn them over on their side dripping gas from leaky bungs. I asked the state police about that and they stated it was the fire marshal's jurisdiction not theirs, unless he dropped them on the road, then everybody gets in the act.

Ron

Yeah, when I bought this house and it had the tank, I thought I would full it immediately and really like having it. Seems a few 5 gallon cans are actually all this guy needs.

So, one of these days I'll Craigslist it away.

shooterdon · Sep 19, 2018

iflywhatevr said:
I ordered a 100 Gallon storage tank to use for my garage. I called a local oil company they will Fill it with off-road diesel at 50-60 cents a gallon less than pump prices for on road diesel with no delivery charge. Granted this will only last me a couple months but better than those 5 gallon cans I despise shuttling back and forth from the gas station and pouring into the tank.

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395489_200395489

Sounds like an excellent option....at least for me.

TnAndy · Sep 19, 2018

My setup is dedicated shed with 500gal gas and 300gal diesel in loft for gravity feed. Both are stabilized with PRI products (PRI-G and PRI-D + biocide). Shelves below hold oil, fuel cans, etc.

Fuel is bulk delivered by farm co-op or local fuel distributor, depending on price at the time.

GSVette · Sep 19, 2018

I bought a Fuel Caddy (35 gallons) which has proved sufficient for fueling my LS XR4155, Case 580E and Bobcat 3400D with a couple of fills using a 5 gallon diesel. It seems to be sufficient for my current needs

Gary Fowler · Sep 19, 2018

I have a 100 gallon steel tank with a 15 gpm DC Filrite pump to dispense the fuel. Because of the minimum 150 gallon delivery from my fuel supplier, I got one of the IBC Tote tanks from a local business, free for the taking. They get epoxy resin in them and after a bit of water washing and gasoline scrubbing to get the small amount of resin out, I got it filled with about 60 gallons of diesel. Then fuel prices fell so I had the thing filled with cheap diesel along with my 100 gallon tank. Both are set inside my enclosed boat shed away from sunlight and moisture.
I don't have the IBC tank piped to dispense fuel. When my 100 gallon tank runs dry, I remove the pump, place it in the IBC (it has a 2" bung cap in the middle of a 6" filler cap)tank and then refill my 100 gallon tank. It is a bit of a pain to do, but only needed about once a year now that most of my tractor work is done. I suspect that my 300+ gallon fuel purchase will last me several years. Most of my fuel now is consumed in my RTV. The diesel will never go bad so no concern there.