Temporary Oil Tank

[Onoff]

I had the same issue with my oil can for the lathe, on a much smaller scale - it holds 100ml..

A simple solution was to drop a few 20mm ball bearings in, which displaced the oil ar the bottom to a usable hieght, also adding weight so it wouldnt tip over.

Solutions, you could add a second lower drain valve, or temprarily displace the oil to a higher level - chuck some bricks in there?

I really don't know if I have any water in the very bottom. The tank is around 26 years old and has run empty more than a few times. "Bricks" tbh it'd take a good few to displace the oil in there to a useable level. I'd worry too about any grit floating about.

On the assumption I stick a tube in and syphon off say 25L into a blue plastic oil drum, the container is blue rather than transparent. How would I see to know if there's any water in it?

 

[reb78]

I really don't know if I have any water in the very bottom. The tank is around 26 years old and has run empty more than a few times. "Bricks" tbh it'd take a good few to displace the oil in there to a useable level. I'd worry too about any grit floating about.

On the assumption I stick a tube in and syphon off say 25L into a blue plastic oil drum, the container is blue rather than transparent. How would I see to know if there's any water in it?

You'd probably see it but if you're doing it 25l at a time, get a clear/opaque 25l water container (like in the pic in my earlier thread) and it's really obvious.

 

[Onoff]

You'd probably see it but if you're doing it 25l at a time, get a clear/opaque 25l water container (like in the pic in my earlier thread) and it's really obvious.

I see it now yes.

 

[cheb]

There used to be, possibly still is, a product called Petrogage. You smeared it onto a stick and poked into the fuel tank, it changed colour or nor depending on whether it touched oil or water.

 

[Onoff]

Just get a normal container, take the lid off, and stick a pipe in the top - job done!

I didn't realise that would work, thought it had to be gravity fed. So pipe in the container and the pump should draw the oil through?

 

[cheb]

The water will separate very quickly too even if it's been churned through a rotary pump.

 

[Onoff]

There used to be, possibly still is, a product called Petrogage. You smeared it onto a stick and poked into the fuel tank, it changed colour or nor depending on whether it touched oil or water.

Cheers. Found similar:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Water-Finding-Detects-harmful-Heating/dp/B00NU6C036

 

[Onoff]

relationship

Ah, those were the days!

 

[addjunkie]

Id not dick about with temporary tanks etc. just order the oil your self from a local supplier, itll arrive in a few days.
You dip the tank, you order the oil, then it is only your fault when it runs out.

But Id suggest ordering a 1000 when you have 1000 l left. Never let it get low!

 

[Onoff]

Id not dick about with temporary tanks etc. just order the oil your self from a local supplier, itll arrive in a few days.
You dip the tank, you order the oil, then it is only your fault when it runs out.

But Id suggest ordering a 1000 when you have 1000 l left. Never let it get low!

Tell her not me, God knows I've tried. I'm just the poor schmuck who has to bleed it now!

 

[dobbslc]

This is what I did a few years ago.



I cobbled together a filter out of an old unit and pumped the oil out the tank with one of those Lidl 12v pumps.
You can almost see the level drop when its running like this!

 

[addjunkie]

Tell her not me, God knows I've tried. I'm just the poor schmuck who has to bleed it now!

Its your Mrs….

 

[Onoff]

Its your Mrs….

Say the word and she's yours. Comes complete with many years of moaning & nagging left.

Fingers crossed I'll freeze to death in my sleep tonight.

 

[addjunkie]

Say the word and she's yours. Comes complete with many years of moaning & nagging left.

Fingers crossed I'll freeze to death in my sleep tonight.

If you ordered the oil, it would be in the tank. Not an issue here in the canaries, nice and warm.

 

[Farside]

If you ordered the oil, it would be in the tank. Not an issue here in the canaries, nice and warm.

<blakey>
"Oi 'ates you, Butler."

 

[waddycall]

Some suppliers let you collect oil in cans . Ours has a forecourt type pump for heating oil. Worth asking as all you might need is a few Jerry cans and do a few runs to the yard.
There is another supplier who sells pre-filled drums. I lived in a shared house that always had issues with the oil running out. The tank spent half its life with blocks under one end. If you do go that route it’s worth trying the water detecting paste.

 

[RichardM]

Tell her not me, God knows I've tried. I'm just the poor schmuck who has to bleed it now!

Isn't the heating on in the pub - problem solved.

 

[Melvyn Best]

Would it be worth rigging up a reserve tank that automatically fills when the main tank is filled that you manually switch onto when the main tank gets low? Or even a reserve tap like on a motorbike? If the reserve was large enough for a few days it would give you enough time to order before running out. Myself, I would probably let her suffer the cold, she might just learn from it

 

[cocker]

Check other suppliers in your area .
Ours will come to your house in a pick-up with 200/400 l (and a pump ) if you run out , and only charge the current rate .
He only does this for existing customers .
He'll bring non customers emergency oil - for double bubble !

 

[8ob]

A truck fuel tank would do everything needed here and they change hands for next to nothing. Fuel cap, tappings in place and the chance of rigging up a gauge, you could even wall mount it using the original tank brackets. Just thoughts.

Bob