i need an easy way to get oil out of a basement tank

[DZink24]

I know that there are members here that can brainstorm with me. .



My SIL has a 250/275? gallon heating oil tank in her basement, you know, one of the big ones. It has been inoperable for at least 5 years, she heats with electric. Anyway, I noticed that the tank is slightly "damp" near the bottom at some of the welds, and around the valves and stuff at the bottom. The exterior of the tank is rusty, (a hand written note on the directions for operation stapled to the wall nearby says april 1959!). I have heard the environmental and monetary nightmares of one of these tanks springing a leak in an enclosed basement. I have removed the bung on the top of the tank, using a pipe wrench and a 24 inch breaker bar, and put a broomhandle down in, and have come up with about 17 inches or so of oil, so i figure at least 60 gallons.



I called an oil company, to see if they can remove and buy back the oil, but they told me that any oil they remove from a tank has to be classified as a hazardous waste, and disposed of as such, regardless of the fact that it is perfectly good oil.



So here is the question, who out there either has done oil recovery or has an idea for me to try? I tried a drill powered siphon pump, but that didnt work so hot. I checked the plumbing section at lowes, but they really didnt have much for me. Oh, I hope sucking on the end of a piece of hose isn't my only option! That can't taste good!



One major obstacle I am dealing with is the fact there is not a whole lot of room above this tank, maybe 18 inches to work with, and thats being generous.





Sorry for the long winded post!

any ideas??

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

The tank should have a shut-off valve at the outlet, put a hose from there and run it to a 5 gallon can and drain it that way. Do you have an old lift pump? you could pump it out with one of those. Is there still a furnace there? fire it up and burn it.

 

[CKelley1]

a jet pump on the floor to a hose up to your truck with 2 55 gallon drums in the bed, as long as you do not see allege in it just mix it 50-50 with diesel and run it in the truck

 

[PToombs]

Go to NAPA and buy a $20 12 volt universal fuel pump for a car. Goes in-line. Run a wire from a battery to the pump and pump it into a 5 gal can or right into a drum on the truck. My buddy emptied a full tank this way. Slow, but steady.

 

[The patriot]

I havent seen one of these tanks w/o a drain on it.

Get a ball valve, close nipple, and some clear plastic tubing and let the gravity work for you.

 

[Hoefler]

Use a self priming 12 volt RV water pump. I have used them to change oil in boats for years, and they work very well.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

#ad

 

[The patriot]

He didnt say if he had an air compressor... ... . :-laf

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I'm spoiled, I've got a compressor and a Sandpiper on my work truck

 

[The patriot]

I've used the sandpipers at work. They can pump a LOT fast, as long as they dont freeze in the cold, or blow a diaphram.

We had 4" ones. Gotta hold them down when theyre balls to the wall too. :-laf

They get kinda jumpy.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

we've got some big ones... the one on my truck is just a little 1", but it'll still move some juice!

 

[DZink24]

thanks for all the replies so far!



No, no air compressor in the basement. I swear they had to have built this house around the tank, no way they fit that thing down the stairs. I darn near got a hernia bringing a washer and dryer down there last year! cramped!



there are all sorts of plumbing and piping down at the bottom of the tank, but that is where the majority of the "wetness" is. i don't want to touch that, break the weld, and fill her basement with HHO. that would not be a good situation:{



when i get the stuff out, i am gonna fill up the John Deere 4300 and the rest in the above-grade 75 gallon tank. from shining a light down the bung, the fuel looks good, algae free, and as red as cranberry juice!

 

[nickleinonen]

seal the tank up, shop vac on it to create a negative pressure in the tank, drill and tap a new fitting into the bottom somewhere then put a valve on it.

or just sawzall the tank in half and bail the tank empty [just filter the oil real well before using it. don't want all the metal shavings eh. . ]

 

[DZink24]

seal the tank up, shop vac on it to create a negative pressure in the tank, drill and tap a new fitting into the bottom somewhere then put a valve on it.



or just sawzall the tank in half and bail the tank empty [just filter the oil real well before using it. don't want all the metal shavings eh. . ]

good point, she's never gonna go back to oil. but what about the sparks from a sawzall??



that whole negative pressure thing sounds slick... .

 

[JDiepstra]

I havent seen one of these tanks w/o a drain on it.

Get a ball valve, close nipple, and some clear plastic tubing and let the gravity work for you.

I was wondering why it took so long for someone to suggest letting it drain out the bottom.

 

[GHarman]

I was wondering why it took so long for someone to suggest letting it drain out the bottom.

Bottom plugs are not always easy to remove, especially if there is already rust showing on the lower part of the tank. (It could be rusted tight or the bung is rotten) Not knowing the clearence, if you CAN remove the plug and swap it out with a nipple and shut off valve, catching the flow in a pan? Sometimes it is easier using a transfer pump from the top. A plug on the bottom of a liquid laden container is often more of a pain in the A** than not. No guarantee of an easy decant! GregH

 

[JDiepstra]

Bottom plugs are not always easy to remove, especially if there is already rust showing on the lower part of the tank. (It could be rusted tight or the bung is rotten) Not knowing the clearence, if you CAN remove the plug and swap it out with a nipple and shut off valve, catching the flow in a pan? Sometimes it is easier using a transfer pump from the top. A plug on the bottom of a liquid laden container is often more of a pain in the A** than not. No guarantee of an easy decant! GregH

Good point GregH

 

[The patriot]

Yea, guess I didnt read it all. I've never seen an above the ground tank that rusty, but that dont mean it never happens... .

 

[PToombs]

Forrest, I don't think he wants to buy a $5 or $600 pump to get $700 worth of fuel out.

 

[DZink24]

i never really gave a thought to check an auto parts supply store for a cheap electric pump. i've got the deep cycle trolling motor already, so i am half way there!



i am gonna give her $3 per gallon for it, that way, we both win. i am rounding up the fuel cans now:-laf.



the valves and stuff at the bottom of the tank are pretty rusty, they may very well open fine, but then again, they may never close again either. and i dont have that many empty fuel cans



i know several of the firefighters in the town she lives in, could be a bit embarrassing to see them pull up in front of her house with buckets of absorb-all, pigs and pads, as i point to the valdez-sized mess in her basement:{



thanks again for the replies, we got some smart cookies on this site!