On Site Fuel

[4x4moses]

It depends on how much fuel you plan to store, and how much you use. I store about 30 gallons of gasoline (non-ethanol, for mowers/generator), and 15 gallons of diesel for my tractor. I treat the gasoline with fuel stabilizer; and the diesel is treated with Hot Shots (lubricity) and Killem (anti-bacteria). I don't use my tractor nearly as much as others, so 15 gallons will last me several months. I store everything in plastic fuel cans, and use a battery-powered pump (Harbor Freight) for transfer.

 

[Old Jarhead 03]

How many of you have on site fuel tanks? Gas and/or diesel (on and off road).

Some questions have…
How big is your property?
How is it to work with your local fuel distributor?
What’s your setup? 55gal drums, ground level with pump, elevated gravity feed, mobile trailer/truck?
Do you use more/less fuel than you planned?
Any cost savings?
Is on-site worth it?

Compared to some, I don't use much of either gas or Diesel (8560 Mahindra+Ram 3500). I did keep a dozen 5 gallon jugs of each, and always use a preservative. They are easier to handle. I fill two per month, and rotate the stock, which keeps for 2 years. I no longer have a gas vehicle, so I use less of that, and it is all for small engines, snow thrower, yard max barrow, walk-behind brush cutter, chain saw, etc. If the fuel gets close to two years it goes in the Ram 3500, and gas goes to a neighbor, who is always happy to get 5 gallons of free gas.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Please do your local firefighters a favor and label the "sheds" with a hazard placard so they know what is inside them. The placards are numbered so no one knows what you have inside except a trained first responder.

I think they'd appreciate it even more if i placarded the two covered trailers with up to 800 gallons of diesel in plastic totes that sit fairly close to the house, and with more combustibles nearby.

Of course, those trailers would be moved away if there's a fire heading our way - if I'm home, which is generally the case.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

If the fuel gets close to two years it goes in the Ram 3500, and gas goes to a neighbor, who is always happy to get 5 gallons of free gas.

I'd gladly take the two year old fuel and gas.

So far it seems like correctly treated diesel is still fully useable after 10 years, and Star Tron can keep gas good for more than two years. How much longer I don't know yet.

 

[Bob435]

I like great setup you guys have come up for fuel distribution. Was going to do the 55 gal drum route.

Had a neighbor who bought a VW diesel Jetta from an owner and it came with 14 x 5 gallon yellow plastic jugs filled with diesel. He wanted to get rid of 12 of jugs with diesel for $100 15 years ago.

I am still using jugs. Not a problem. Each jug is numbered and refilled with red diesel at 30 gals rotation.
Use about 120 - 150 gallons per year on 12 acres. Have JD 435, two diesel cubs, skid steer, mini-x and two diesel gensets.

 

[ismilelots]

How many of you have on site fuel tanks? Gas and/or diesel (on and off road).

Some questions have…
How big is your property?
How is it to work with your local fuel distributor?
What’s your setup? 55gal drums, ground level with pump, elevated gravity feed, mobile trailer/truck?
Do you use more/less fuel than you planned?
Any cost savings?
Is on-site worth it?

I recently bought one of these ---> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL794Z6V?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1.

I have it on a pallet I load into my pickup and fill it up whenever the prices drop.
They also have a 75 gallon one.
A stationary take has a lot of environmental policies you have to follow and normally a minimum amount before a truck will come and fill you up.

 

[Jaygyver]

I have around 5 acres and cut 4 ish with tractor and riding mower and I also mow 2 ish miles of shoulders and whatever snow removal for our development.
I gave up on 5 gal jugs a few years ago and went to 4-14 gal tanks, 2 for gas and 2 for diesel. I use StaBil "storage" year round in the gas tanks as I don't know how much fuel I'll use from one year to the next. They have wheels so the wife and I can still move them around and I can still take them down from the pu when full or, a few years from now, I can use the tractor to do it.

I used to lay it down, like the one in the sxs for the wife for watering her outdoor plants, when using them with a 12v/120v stick pump but they only lasted around a year or so, so I made my own fuel station. It has a reversible 120v gas/diesel compatible pump. A work in progress but I can use diesel and gas at one time. I run a 3 way valve to split the diesel and gas and make sure to drain the hose after each fill up. It's on a HF dolly.
I kept the "stick pump" for the emergency "ran out of gas" situations as it also has clips for a battery hook up. I did keep a 2 gal jug for the pressure washers and stuff with the smaller tanks for the shed so I don't have to drag them up to the shop where the tanks are.

 

[Aussie Cargo]

Two off 200 litre drums, use the loader to move them, have a air spear and compressor to pump fuel. 400 litres last six months.

 

[RayIN]

Just a homeowner maintaining 10 (soon to be 50) acres. Brush hogging 15 acres, flail mowing same, several times a year. I don't use enough for quantity, and lowest price around is 7 minute drive. I keep 2- 5 gal containers for tractor and torpedo heat in garage during winter. I always wondered if buying 55 gals at a time would save money, but I doubt it...

In Indiana off-road diesel is 78 cents/G less than on-road.
ref: Diesel Tax

 

[Mtsoxfan]

In Indiana off-road diesel is 78 cents/G less than on-road.
ref: Diesel Tax

I know it's cheaper, was wondering if buying 55 gals at a time gets discounted.

 

[RayIN]

I know it's cheaper, was wondering if buying 55 gals at a time gets discounted.

Nope. My MH has a 150G diesel tank, no discount anywhere. Most semi power units saddle tanks hold 150G ea., and some extended units have 4 tanks.

 

[BlueKnife]

I always wondered if buying 55 gals at a time would save money, but I doubt it...

It'll save time and money spent going to get fuel, since you'll be going to get it less often. I have a 90 gallon slip tank in my pickup. A lot of the time, it just rides there. If I need the space in the bed, I take it out and set it down somewhere that is more or less convenient. I live in an area where logging is the primary economic activity, so half the pickups you see have slip tanks in the back. There are half a dozen places locally that sell off road diesel and I have an account at the local card lock place, which is where I usually get my fuel. When I lived back east, it was no different. Plenty of places sold off road diesel at the pump.

 

[deserteagle71]

I know it's cheaper, was wondering if buying 55 gals at a time gets discounted.

Not in northern Nevada at least. Doesn't matter if you buy 5 gallons, 55 gallons, or 500 gallons - price is the same. Only discount for me is using dyed (off-road) diesel in my tractors because that saves about 60 cents a gallon road tax.

 

[Tkekic]

I have 51 acres. Most of it is pasture but I make hay on 12.5 acres. I have two tractors one 70hp and one 55hp. I have an elevated gravity feed tank that holds 150 gallons. I fill it two or three times a year. I have a great relationship with a fuel dealer and even if I am not home they will fill it and send me the bill. The fuel dealer made the tank and sold it to me really cheap with the understanding that I would buy from them. I am not charged for delivery. I love my setup.

 

[kneedeep]

I use a 100 gal transfer tank on pallet skid. After gumming up two tractors with soy gunk, a local machine shop welded a bung on the bottom after I cleaned it out with E10 and pressure washer.
I check the fuel in a glass jar regular to stay ahead of the soy sour. Two different biocides and a quart of 2 cycle oil for the old fuel pumps works here.

 

[lman]

In Indiana off-road diesel is 78 cents/G less than on-road.
ref: Diesel Tax

What station is that at? In my experience it is usually about $.50 less. I assume the station makes a little more money on the red fuel.

 

[RayIN]

What station is that at? In my experience it is usually about $.50 less. I assume the station makes a little more money on the red fuel.

That is directly from the link results for Indiana; statewide.

 

[LouNY]

Well heck, guess I'll chime in.
A buried 1000 gallon tank and a backup 275 at the house, a couple of 275's for the equipment. One is straight #2, the other is blended #1 and #2. Then a portable 300.
Home heat and 4 tractors and a lawn mower for off road fuel. I have considered a tank for on road but it usually isn't much if any cheaper delivered as gotten in town.

 

[number two]

My fuel and propane supplier has a 175 gallon minimum for diesel delivery.
Every summer I fill as many barrels to last us until next year.
12 VDC drum pump & old battery for power.
I like the summer fuel for higher BTU content-treat it myself as needed for winter use.
Big difference as to how much snow can be blown compared to pump fuel in the winter!
Filled up several weeks ago right at $3.00/gallon for farm red diesel-no road tax,no sales tax.
On road here is $3.79-3.89.
Good Day!

 

[Fallon]

My 300 gallon gravity tank is sitting in the barn. It's been empty for a couple years now & I'm thinking about removing it. To much effort to get it filled & no cost savings.

I have a translucent plastic 55 gallon drum & manual pump. It's ratchet strapped to a pallet. I've got a gas station 15 minutes away at tractor speed via a gravel road. They sell off road diesel. I fill the tractor whenever I'm hauling it to a gig so I only need to refill it once a year or so.