Pumping diesel fuel

[dlabrie]

I am still trying to figure out this fuel business. I bought a drill pump at walmart for $5 and attached a couple of hoses to it. The instructions said not to use with flammable materials. I have used it a couple of times with out a problem. Has anyone else done this? Is it really dangerous?

Also, I was thinking of getting a 55 gal poly drum and having it filled when my home heating oil tank is filled. I think that would be OK for the summer but in winter I would have to cut it with 50% kerosene and the company isn't going to come out here just to deliver 25 gals.
David

 

[Egon]

If you are pumping hydrocarbons its very advisable to use an intrinsicaly safe pump. One that is rated for this type of service. Otherwise a hot day and fumes or slight seal leak just may make things unpleasant. You should also use a ground strap.

Egon

 

[cp1969]

A lot of drill motors use brushes which create sparks. Sparks and flammable vapors = not good

 

[wdn]

Home Depot sells a battery operated siphon pump for $10.92. It is marked 'for kerosense only' though they sell it next to the red gasoline cans in the garden department.

Anyway I bought one yesterday and put the 2 D cells in it, and pumped a full 5 gallon can of diesel into an empty one to try it out. The thing works fine it only took a few minutes. Not as fast as you could pour it but it seems every other time I manage to spill some and with the pump you don't spill any fuel.

It has a long end you stick in the bottom of the fuel can, and a flexible hose on the other end. This is pretty nice to use to pump 5 gallons from a fuel can into the tractor. You can prop the fuel can up onto the fender and keep it level the pump does all the work. For ten bucks it is worth it.

 

[skent]

exact same thing I use!!

 

[dlabrie]

Thanks,
I'll have to pick one up next time I'm near a Home depot.
David

 

[gerard]

If you already use fuel oil I don't see why you would bother getting a separate tank. By a 2 inch bung adapter w/ pump that will go right in the oil tank and pump fromk there. Re the drill pump - many pumps have to be specifically designated as safe for petroleum products because the seals have to be designed for that. If not the diesel may break down the seals on your drill pump. (Some plastics are "eaten up" by petroleum products. Try pouring some gas ina plastic disposable drinking cup and wait about 15 minutes - will eat a hole right through.)

 

[dlabrie]

Gerard,
My 330 gal oil tank is in the cellar. Is there any way I could pump through the fill pipe that goes from the outside, through the sill to the tank?
David

 

[gerard]

Easy answer - don't know!! Depends on how much suction the pump can draw. You're probably looking at at least 6 foot of "head" and a fairly long siphon tube. Also a little more messy since you would have to pull it out after pumping so the oil man could fill next time. Why can't you pump it from the tank in your cellar? Unless it's an underground tank? If the tank is accessible it should have a capped opening that will fit a standard 2 inch pump collar. You install the hand pump and leave it in place. (Mines in my garage so it's a little easier). Just attach a short piece of hose to the end that extends to your fill container and pump it right in.

 

[dlabrie]

I have a finished cellar and I really don't want the smell of diesel in the house. Also I am trying to simplify getting the fuel into the tractor. You are right about the mess with a long hose. I guess ideally, I would like a 55 gal drum with a hand crank pump and hose so I can just pull up to it and fill up.

 

[gerard]

yup, you have a valid point since I haven't been able to pump without at least a little smell/spill!! How about the 55 drum/pump and just have your oil supplier fill top it off when he fills your house tank? If you can put it near the house fill opening it would be easy for him and you could periodically pump out the drum into the house tank to rotate the fuel. (55 gal would last me almost a year!)

 

[dlabrie]

That's just what I would like to do. However, In the winter, I would somehow have to add 25 gals of kerosene so it wouldn't gell. I don't think I could get the oil co. to come out with such a small load.
David

 

[gerard]

Don't need kerosene - there are enough anti gel products out there where one bottle will treat 250 gal that you could add and treat the whole drum. Any truck stop carries them and adding too much is not a problem.

 

[dlabrie]

I thought the same thing until I stopped at a friends farm and asked how he managed his fuel. He has a 250 gal tank outdoors and has it filled by the oil man. Last winter he added the gel treatment and it still gelled on him. Now he has it mixed with kerosene. Perhaps he didn't use enough of the treatment. I think I will call the oil co. and ask their opinion. I just found the 55gal poly juice barrels at a lumber yard for $12.
David

 

[gerard]

Hadn't heard of any instances of gelling if properly used. Maybe he got water in his tank? Before you buy the plastic tank I'd check with your supplier and make sure they'll deliver to a "non certified" container. I'd also make sure the plastic is compatible with fuel oil and would PROBABLY try and find a steel one myself. (Some plastics break down in the presence of petroleum products and I don't think you wnat 55 gal of diesel soaking into your soil next to your finished basement!! You could also ask your supplier if they use a "winter mix" in the winter. Some people's tanks are outdoors and they MAY cut with kerosene as a matter of course. Problem solved! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Back many years ago before I got the tanks I used to just take 55 gallon drums to the farm service place and have them filled with diesel. Back then I could lift them off the truck by myself. If you guys have tractors you could just use your loader to take them off. It was nice too because you didn't have to pay the road tax that way either. I then just used one one of the hand cranks. One word of caution though if you have it outside make sure and cover it. Rain somehow makes it's way into the barrel where the pump goes into the barrel.

 

[dlabrie]

...make sure they'll deliver to a "non certified" container...

I hadn't thought of that! Hopefully my supplier can sort it all out for me.
Thanks.
David

 

[Bird]

Gerard, at one time I had a steel barrel; got water and rust in it. Then I got a poly barrel (mine originally came with an industrial degreaser in it) and never had another problem. A neighbor has two of the poly barrels. Of course we always took them to the fuel distributor since they don't deliver that small a quantity, but the never hesitated to fill them.

 

[pajoube]

I burn fuel oil at my Montana home, It is a 500 gallon tank that is outside with a 1 inch line running into the house, gravity fed. It gets very cold in Montana and I have never had any gel problems. In the fall when I order my winter supply they treat the oil for cold weather.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

I have been following this read with great interest. If I end up with a diesel tractor and could take fuel out of my heating oil tank for the tractor this would be of great advantage. There has been comments both ways regarding the use of heating oil for tractor use. The experts out there please continue to advise.
PJ