Goldenrod Water Block Filters Anybody Use Them

[Industrial Toys]

I have just ordered a new Bulk Tank Fuel pump with Goldenrod water block filter. My other tank just has their straight 10 micron filter. I intend to change that to a water block as well with the 17 micron filtration. I am told, it will absorb up to 1/2 cup of water and then it will restrict the flow. Obviously, I should make sure that the suction pipe is no where near the bottom of the tank.

Customer service suggested that some people use both filters in line, but I want to avoid the cost and more importantly, don't want to slow the pump down more then the one filter does already

Does anybody have experience with these?

Seems to me 1/2 a cup isn't very much water. How often does one need to change the filter?

What happens when the thing freezes? Never thought to ask them that. I called them back. Funny (well not really). Customer service didn't know. The engineers didn't know. Eventually half the company was conferenced into my call! Firstly it's never come up, so I will just make believe that it isn't an issue. I didn't know, but it's a common technology to put Corn Starch particles in the Filter that swell with the introduction of water. Who Knew?

Is 17 micron filtration enough? How much is that anyway?

 

[RFB]

It is an issue. It will freeze into a no flow situation even with treated fuel. BTDT

I use an above ground gravity flow 300 gallon tank with a Goldenrod clear bowl system. The water block works fine in non-freezing temps but if it has absorbed any water over time, it does freeze up in the winter. I take it out in the winter.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That would have been my uneducated guess. I'm flabergasted that the manufacturer has no experience with the effects of freezing on their product.

The last thing I want or need, is something else fuel related freezing up!

Maybe, water is indeed scarce, when fuel is not pulled off the bottom, and you don't try and refuel after a fuel shipment. Maybe the bulk of my water issues are actually born in the various tanks of the equipment themselves.

 

[RFB]

That is a problem with gravity fed systems; I am always drawing from the bottom.

I am close to empty and will not fill again until i can evacuate any condensate that has formed.

 

[Ken45101]

I have had one on my tank for 5 years now and never seen a problem and I haven't changed it. I did buy spares but they are are still on the shelf. Maybe I'm just lucky in keeping water out. I have one of those 240 gallon poly cubes, kept just inside the barn, with an electric pump.

I'm not sure that I see the significance of it freezing up. If it traps the water and eventually shuts down when it is full of water, does it make a difference if it is frozen water or liquid water? If it is blocked by water in either state, it's blocked. If not, then it's not blocked.

OTOH, maybe I'll find out something. My M5040 tractor should have been filled yesterday, but I forgot. Now we are in for sub zero temps.

 

[RandyT]

I Have been using the same water block filter on my 300 gallon overhead tank for about 7 years. I have put about 600 gallon through the filter and still working. My tank has a vent cap that holds like 5 psi in the tank when the tank warms up. So I get very little air exchange unless I use fuel from the tank.

 

[RFB]

Randy,

Do you have any info on the cap?

 

[RandyT]

Randy,

Do you have any info on the cap?

I picked it up at either TSC or Rural King when I got my tank. it works like a radiator cap. Allowed excess pressure out of the tank, but will also allow air in when a vacuum is create. If I remove the cap on a warm day, and I am not hanging on to the cap it will fly about 2 feet in the air, from the internal pressure created from the fuel expanding. Cap also has a spot for a padlock to secure the tank.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Funny, I was thinking about the same kind of thing, only like a bladder that expands and contracts. Or something that only allows dried air into the tank. All that becomes involved! My tanks, despite some effort, always appear to be on the verge of leaking, and I'm guessing they would leak under pressure albeit only a little. I'm kind of interested in the polly tank as well. Never seen one offered used. Is it certified for fuel use? Curious if the light would have an effect on the fuel, in paticular for possible algie growth?

Raised, gravity fed tanks have been outlawed around here a long time ago. Shame!

 

[RFB]

I just did some research and Cim-Tek makes caps called Pre-Vent that sound just like what you are talking about: http://www.cim-tek.com/petroleum/preventcap.html

They also have an interesting item that would seem to be useful for those (like me) who have above ground storage tanks (AST) and wildly fluctuating temps (100+f to -20f)

http://www.cim-tek.com/petroleum/tankdryers.html

I found that for about $8.00