Farm fuel tank

FarrviewSouth · Dec 31, 2008

I just located a 300 gallon diesel tank and although it is supposed to be solid, I am wondering how much psi I should pressurize it with to make sure it is good. Anyone know what pressures are used to test used tanks of this type?

flying belgian · Dec 31, 2008

Just hook the water hose up to it. Most pumps are set to 5opsi. which is plenty to check for leaks.

IaGary · Dec 31, 2008

5 lbs is plenty on a light weight tank like that.

10 lbs can dome the flat ends of the tank.

I have seen a square tank go round with 15 lbs.

Gary

FarrviewSouth · Dec 31, 2008

Thanks for the replies, I will try 5 lbs and give it a try

FarrviewSouth · Dec 31, 2008

Gary, I reread your post again and I will keep the psi below 5. Thanks

Anonymous-0 · Dec 31, 2008

Don't forget, it's pounds per square inch. I made a hydraulic tank out of 1/4" plate 7x12x18", put air in to test for leaks and bulged it. Figured out I had 17 TONS of air trying to get out for the pressure I had.

Mike Aylward · Dec 31, 2008

I used to use a pickup tank that pumped with pressurizing the tank. One to two pounds of pressure will move fuel. When you get up to five pounds you are tempting fate. A pound or two will make a leak appear if there is one. Five pounds will make more leaks. Hope this helps. Mike

Fixer · Dec 31, 2008

I used to hydrostatic test anhydrous ammonia tanks. Fill the tank with water. Hook up pressure washer to tank fill to pressure you would like. Works Great.
testing with air is like making a bomb.
Bernie Steffen

NEKS · Jan 1, 2009

Put a little diesel in it and let it set for three or four days. If it is going to leak,it will get a wet spot on the outside with out losing fuel. A area 6" wide and the length of the tank on the bottom is the only place I ever seen them leak.

LN · Jan 1, 2009

read a label on a new fuel oil tank ,said no more than 2 psi for leak checking

johns48jdb · Jan 2, 2009

aren't you asking for more trouble by putting water in the tank? how are you going to get it all out. ask a distributor how they would test a tank. may have some thing they pour in the runs through leaks easily and then mixes with diesel or eveporates ease. don't know, just a thought.

tim(in) · Jan 2, 2009

As someone who used to work for a fuel jobber. i suggest asking a tank manufacturer. They will know an dmight even be able to do the job for you. We did clean tanks out before delivering them to a new customer with a high pressure washer and let them drain > just remember to put the plug back in the tank before you get it filled and use a filter. We would change the filter and use water paste to check each fall before cold weather set in for water. Good luck and be safe!

Farm fuel tank

FarrviewSouth

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flying belgian

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IaGary

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FarrviewSouth

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FarrviewSouth

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Anonymous-0

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Mike Aylward

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Fixer

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NEKS

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LN

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johns48jdb

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tim(in)

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