Storing gasoline in 55 gallon drum

Hey folks,

I have decided to store a small amount of gasoline for mowers and tractors for the shop and orchard. I can buy no-ethanol gas locally (and leaded regular for that matter) and have had problems with fuel storage.

I have a 55 gal. barrel that I set up for kerosene with a GPI diaphragm pump in the large bunghole and a simple double elbow vent pipe in the other.

The hand pump is rated for gas and I am looking for insight on how to store this drum. Ideally I would like to store it in the shop (2400 sf with 18' ceilings) but don't know if it can be done safely.

I can transport up to 100 gal in NY without hazmat issues.

Looking for suggestions, opinions and info.

Thanks in advance,

Brad
 
I store gas and diesel in 55 gallon white fuel drums in an open bay machine shed. I would never store it in an enclosed shopbuilding. I"m thinking of building a small shed away from the machine shed where I would store both my gas and diesel.
 
I'm certain that your insurance agent would be nervous about it being inside your shop.

I have a "fuel shed" - an 8' X 16' lockable metal building on skids that I store my fuel in. I only keep up to 100 gallons in there. I used to keep it in the shop, but I'm glad it's out of there for my peace of mind.
 
No way would I store gasoline in my shop. Too easy to ignite the fumes, and the contents of my shop are too valuable to risk it. Of course vehicles and power equipment in the shop all have enough gas in their tanks to level the place, but that's mostly unavoidable.
 
Hello Brad Buchanan,

Store outside....SAFER!
Keep shaded .....Less evaporation.
Use a non metallic drum, no rust issues. Provide the bottom, or the lowest part of the vessel with a drain, just like you would do for an air compressor, for removing condensate.
Do not draw from the bottom of the vessel.
Filter the product before goes into the vehicle tank if you can. That is how I would do it! It all adds up to piece of mind.

Guido.
 
Years ago it was common to store fuel in barrels on stands about 5' in the air. used gravity feed, no pumps to worry about. I think there is still a fuel stand at the farm.
 
55 gal drums will not meet UL standards for storing gas. Some of the later ones are made of very light steel and were called disposable, IE made for 1 time use only. your local fire department will likely have the information you need.
 
When I had my farm I stored all fire hazard liquids and other out in a large plastic shed far away from my outbuildings. I didn't have any worries, even if the shed caught fire. It was at a safe distance.
 
Hey Tom.

Thanks for the input.

I have a couple of barrels that I have been using, one is an ethanol barrel and the other was used for UTF.

They are pretty sturdy.

Brad
 
Hi Mark.

I had considered doing that but my forklift gets stuck if I get off the smooth shop floor!

I have to be able to offload from a trailer to wherever it is going pretty much by hand.

Brad
 
Hey Guido!

I have a couple of blue plastic barrels that were originally used for sausage casings. I use them for water and have not found a source of info as to which plastic drums could contain gas safely.

Brad
 
Hey Mark.

I have gas and diesel in 5 gallon type 1 safety cans in my shop and have never had any problems.

I think I will consolidate all my fuel storage when I figure out how to do it.

Brad
 
Hey PJ.

I may end up doing something like that.

I have to move everything by hand right now so it will probably be ground level.

Brad
 
Hello Brad Buchanan,

Weed trimmers have plastic gas tanks. Gas station underground tanks have been fiberglass for years.
That is why I suggested a non metallic tank. I don't know where you need to look for one that would be O.K. for gas though. I would think that somebody has something that would work.

Guido.
 
I wouldn't store it in the shop. Gas fumes have tendency to settle, but build up to something like 18" above contained ground level, well above pilot light level. A fella nearby some years ago brought a gas can into his home and was cleaning something with gasoline well away from the furnace and water heaters, but the fumes settled to 18" above the floor, worked their way to that area and ignited. He lived, but the explosion burned him and his house real bad. 55 gallon drums with fuel for ag use do well outside, especially elevated so that gravity does the work through the nozzle, no pumping or any of that.

In any event, be careful, use it in good health. Time it as best you can when prices are down. A couple of years ago after it got well over $4.00 and then dipped into like $2.80 or so, I honestly contemplated buying in bulk for a few hundred gallons, but convinced myself that it would go below that. If I only knew than what I know now. $2.80 versus $4.00? Wish I had that back.

Mark
Something like this?
 
Brad, no, I don't suppose you've had any problems storing fuel in your shop; if you had you wouldn't have a shop anymore. I keep kerosene in my shop, but gasoline goes out in the tool shed.
 
Hello Brad Buckanan

Do a search on plastic gasoline storage, you'll get plenty of hits. I just did one and there are many storage vessels company out there. Good luck!

Guido.
 

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