I have a block building I use as a storage building/shop. It had oil heat for years and a thoroughly defunct furnace. My HVAC buddy recently replaced the furnace with a good used take out which works great. He also put in a good clean used tank and the whole system works well for the first time in the six years I’ve owned the building.
The problem: the building has an existing 275 gallon tank (outside) that is not now being used. It is nearly full of old- sitting at least 10 years- fuel oil. Before I hire the Hazmat boys to pump it out and haul it away, does anyone know if I can use the old fuel oil, possibly mixed with fresh stuff rather than dispose of it?
=====Zippy=====
Replies
Find a buddy with a diesel truck and let him have it.If he mixes it 50/50 with fresh diesel he"ll be fine. Let the last few gallons go..rust city. It's a win-win.
Zippy,
You might want to drain some out into a jar and see how bad it really is. When we first moved into our house, we used the oil heat for about a year and then got a wood burning firplace insert. we heated with the wood for almost eight years, probably did not burn 20 gallons of oil in that time. I got too busy and my Wife went back to work so we sold the insert and fired up the furnace again. Never had a single problem with the oil that had been sitting for eight years. The tank was in the attached garage on the house. Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Be careful using home heating oil in a vehicle. Here in NY the home heating oil has no road taxes so it is much cheaper than diesel fuel. They add a dye to the home heating oil and if they find it in a vehicle it is a large fine. I don't know how actively they check when doing a truck inspection but it might not be worth the penalty if they do.
When we moved in here there was a 250 gallon heating oil tank against the back of the house. I wanted it gone, so I called the company that had filled it to pump it out. Turns out they know of a couple of places that are worthy of donations--in this case the animal shelter, which is a non-profit. They pumped out our tank and gave the fuel to the shelter, and charged me about $20 for the service call.
Odds are good that it is usable. It will be in better condition if the tank is near full due to less condensation.
The thing is that the good fuel is likely to be on the top, so you would not want to drain it from the bottom outlet.
Old tanks generally have a water layer on the bottom, and a gelatinous sludge forms at the water/oil interface from the organisms that live here. Just goes to show how there can be living things anywhere!
When I dismantled my tank, I shoveled out about 5 gallons of gooey sludge.
You can pump it down to the last 4 inches (or so), then cut into it so that you can have a clear view to pump the rest of the good material. Then you can shovel and scoop out the crud (dispose of properly).
burn it yur diesel truck or sell it to somebody thsat can...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Like others said, you should be able to use it. All the sediment, water and crap will settle to the bottom. My friend is an installer for one of the larger oil companies around here, and a few years ago I gave him a hand taking out an old oil tank that was 3/4 full. We asked the owner how long it was there for and he said that the house was changed to gas heat when he bought the house 19 years ago. The oil, other than the bottom crap was perfect.
In my area, the metal salvage yard will take the old oil tanks. You take out all the good oil, legally dispose of the sludge, etc. Tip the oil tank up on end and cut the tank in half with a sawall and the scrap yards will take it for free. Its not messy or difficult and after the tank is drained of the good oil, it takes less than an hour.
Edited 4/6/2006 9:14 pm ET by DDay