Old fuel tank - how to prep for use?

   / Old fuel tank - how to prep for use? #1  

ning

Elite Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2017
Messages
3,787
Location
Northern California
Tractor
Branson 3520h
I recently bought a tractor and don't care for the idea of having to refuel it with 5g jugs, so I found what appears to be a pretty decent fuel tank on craigslist. It's aluminum, about 50g; has a large filler opening that feels like it closes positively, a breather port near the filler, and a valve on the bottom. The construction looks like it's fairly thick aluminum; there's a bit of a dent on the bottom where someone probably dropped it on the valve, and part of the handle of the valve (which looks similar to a water hose bib) is broken off.

It was cheap, so I got it. How to clean it up? It had some diesel in it and looks reasonaly clean; emptied at the seller's. Some of the diesel that came out was gooey probably from water; the tank had been mostly empty for who knows how long.

I picked up a water & particulate filter at TSC. How much pressure is needed to push diesel through a filter? My idea has been to build a stand for the tank and put it up high, and gravity feed to refill my tractor (and occasionally my truck). Can I stick the filter right under the fuel tank, or will I get next to no flow? I can be patient for my occasional refills, but I'm no saint.
 

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