Seperating water from diesel

[Royk]

Here's the deal; I keep two, blue-plastic 55 gallon drums to store offroad for my tractor, with a hand pump to pump it into the tractor. Due to lack of room in the garage, I set one of them just outside the garage door. Apparently rain water must have found its way into the barrel through one of the caps. I found this out when after three fillups, the tractor would lose power and stall. At first I thought it was contaminated, but then realized it was water. I then drained the water through the petcock and did all the fun stuff to get it started again. I've lifted the siphon tube for the handpump up higher in the barrel and no longer have the problem, but i must be getting close to the water now. How can I retrieve the remaining fuel and lose the water? My other barrel is empty if I need it.



Roy

 

[RRees]

How much fuel is left in the barrel? Let it freeze? Water freezes at approx 32 degress fahrenheit (depending on elevation). Can you pour into smaller containers and possible mix with some Diesel Power, etc. to reduce the water in fuel effect.



Drill a small hole in the bottom of the barrel and let the water run out, then plug hole with a wooden shoring plug (dowel)?



Have a big fire? Just kidding.



I'm out of ideas for know. Good luck.

 

[nickleinonen]

you could boil it out. . but that is a little damgerous maybe... if you had a vacuum still, you could boil it out at 20" hg vacuum and it should boil the water out at like 100*f. . i don't know how the fuel would react to that though

 

[PToombs]

Put your pump right to the bottom, pump the water out into clean 5 gallon pails. Pour the fuel off the top, you can see the water, then pour out the rest of the water.

 

[Royk]

Thanks for the replies. Good ideas. After I posted that yesterday I went out to mow and had to fuel the tractor. I noticed condensation on the outside of the barrel along the bottom. I now know how much liquid is in the barrel and it's almost empty. It looks like it has to be less than 5 gallons. I may shake it up and spray what’s left on my weeds, since diesel is like Roundup™ on vegetation.



Next question: The bottom of the barrel looks like, well, uh, the bottom of the barrel! Any suggestions on cleaning some of that skanky sludge out before filling up with fresh fuel?



Roy

 

[nickleinonen]

Any suggestions on cleaning some of that skanky sludge out before filling up with fresh fuel?

leave the fuel in the drum, and tape/hoseclamp a toilet brush to a broom stick and scrub the barrel/drum. diesel fuel is a pretty good solvent

 

[Royk]

leave the fuel in the drum, and tape/hoseclamp a toilet brush to a broom stick and scrub the barrel/drum. diesel fuel is a pretty good solvent

Good idea. I don't think the wife will let me use any of her brushes! I'll have to go shop for some kind of cheap brush that will fit through the hole in the top.



Roy

 

[PToombs]

You might want to put some biocide in when you clean it and when you fill it up. ( kills algae)

 

[DBentley]

I just picked up a funnel at a country fair that was on display at a racor vendor. This thing will not let water pass only fuel. It was 15. 00 for the small one i got and 35 for larger one. It could solve your water in the barrel problem.

 

[2-ND TIME]

water fuel problems

How about tipping the barrels slightly and having the rain water pour off mid distance to the two bungs. This should keep the water out. You could get elaberate and have a breather out one of the bungs and run in throught silica this would dry the air for awhile and then dry it out in the oven when it is light brown/ old glass looking.