Draining a fuel tank

[landscaper]

I have access to an old 1000 gallon diesel tank that I'm considering making a culvert out of. How do I get any remaining fuel (not more than a few gallons) out of it without dumping it on the ground? After it's empty is it safe to cut the ends out of it with a torch?

[outlaw josey wales]

if it had diesel in it then not it isnt safe to cut unless you fill it w water. diesel residue in bottom will burn for a while . better off to get someone to cut it for you if you never fooled w fuel tanks and a torch!!!

[MudHog]

fuel tanks are never fun to work on. Of any tank, Propane or Diesel are the best ones to work one. Propane because the fuel evaporates to nothing and Diesel because it is not as volatile as gasoline.

Some options would be if you have a sawzall. That would be your best and safest means of cutting it. There is little to no chance of sparks and the heat build up won't be enough to ignite the diesel residue.

[ironside39090]

I 2nd what Outlaw said. Fill with water if you plan on cutting it. If you have never done this I suggest getting someone who has before.

[BIG TIMBER]

FILL WITH WATER!!!!

[MudHog]

1000 gallons of water is alot of water!! I got a 50,000 gallon propane bullet tank here at our shop in for repair, would yall like to pay the water bill to fill it with water?

In general, I wouldn't cut it with a torch. Drain the remaining fuel, get a sawzall and at most pour oil or spray WD as your cutting to keep the cut cool. The size of the tank will disipate the heat from cutting with a sawzall which is why I'm saying at most pour oil or spray WD. If you did the torch route, then you would be blowing the slag into the tank and then would have a risk of the slag igniting the remaining fuel.

[BAY KINGFISHER]

cold cut with sawzall as mentioned. or cut with torch after purged with nitrogen and checked with a gas sniffer for presence of the lel. or fill with water if thats an option.. used to employee one of these techniques depending on the circumstance during my offshore days.. talk about nervous watching a construction worker fire up a torch with millions of cubic ft of gas and condensate one drip away..

[landscaper]

I knew I was going to have to be careful with this, but it's starting to sound like a lot more trouble than it's worth. How thick is the steel on these things? 1/4-3/8? Won't it take me a month of Sundays and burn up my sawsall?

[MudHog]

thickness: likely 3/16" or 1/4". I doubt 3/8" You could always drill a hole in it to check the thickness.

It's not a pressurized tank, so it's just trying to support itself and the liquid inside of it.



you may go through some blades, but you won't burn up your saw. that is, unless you got a cheapo deapo saw.

[brandon327]

I think i would buy a culvert.

[stevea]

I use water and a bag of dry ice it will take all the oxygen out of the tank i have done this to propane tanks to cut em

[JaMak84]

What diameter is the tank?

Just an FYI if you opt to buy a culvert. Used steal in the 54"-60" diameter is going to be between $145-$155/ft, roughly $4500 for a 30 ft culvert. You'll definetly come out better just paying a professional to cut it for you.

[landscaper]

What diameter is the tank?

Just an FYI if you opt to buy a culvert. Used steal in the 54"-60" diameter is going to be between $145-$155/ft, roughly $4500 for a 30 ft culvert. You'll definetly come out better just paying a professional to cut it for you.

Yeah I know! That's why I'm thinking about using this tank. I'm gonna have to buy a couple culverts as it is, and if I can make this tank work it will save me a good chunk of change.

[ScottBrown]

Stevea,

What is the process using the water and dry ice?

[msbigdawg1234]

You can also use a steam washer to get the residue and gas out...but to be honest with ya if ya gona run more than wheelers across it it aint gona hold up as culvert...your best of spending the money on some plastic culverts and be done with it depending on how deep the ditch and how much water is gona flow thur it.....