I have emptied several tanks and it is a breeze. In fact I have 500 gallons stashed in an underground tank for my generator and trucks. I use a diaphram pump (Sandpiper Pump) to pull out the oil. The pumps are safe for flammable and combustible liquids. The work great off deuce air pressure. Rent a 1" pump and it will empty out you tank in less than 20 minutes with 60-90 psi air supply.
The Following User Says Thank You to atankersdad For This Useful Post:
I do quite a bit of transfers with a cheap generic electric fuel pump
That is pretty much what I was going to suggest.
Just hit the local auto parts store and pick up one of those cheap little "ticker" electric fuel pumps. Plumb it into the line, hook it up to a 12 volt battery and let it fill your containers. It is a bit slow, but it will get the job done fairly cheaply and cleanly. You'll find other uses for it later too, I'm sure.
__________________
"I'd be more concerned if it didn't leak."
Location: ABERDEEN INDIANA THE NEW PROVING GROUNDS
Posts: 1,748
i just hook up my 24 volt 1.5" transfer pump and in abou 15 minutes that tank is empty bring on the next one please oh i do have some for sale and hoses too
__________________ HOME ......OF ........MONSTERMASH...&......SOON DOCTOR DUALLY.................WAY DOWN HERE IN BEAVERGULTCH..........WERE THE BIGG GREEN BEAVER LIVES................
HOME OFFICE OF THE BIGG GREEN TRIPLE AAA RECOVERY SERVICES 812-571-2137 812 756 3106............. NO..HAUL..TO..BIGG..OR..SMALL...........
Maybe more work than you intended but there's always digging out the tank. It's probably no deeper than the bottom of your basement. If you've got a straight shot down the filler neck then just drop a line with a nut attached down in. You'll know when the nut hits the bottom 'cause the pull on the string will lessen. Pull it out and you'll know both how much fuel is in the tank and how far down the bottom of the tank is.
I've you've replaced the furnace with a heat pump; leaving the old tank in the ground is kinda foolish as it's eventually going to start to leak and then you'll be dealing with the hazmat boys-- they'll be the ones whose sense of humor was surgically removed the day they were handed their hazmat certification.
Use an air operated pump if you can. I have one you can use if you don't mind shipping it back to me later. You can run it with air pressure from the deuce.
__________________
Robert Miller
Currently out on the road programming robots.......
I'm not sure of your set up, but my old house had a fuel tank in the basement...if it were me I'd just fill up my jerry cans in the basement and haul them up the stairs to fill up the truck...if that is an option anyway...
