Using a diesel transfer tank for Unleaded

I bought a 80 gallon transfer tank, the kind that goes in your truckbed. It has been used for diesel, can I start using it for unleaded without changing anything? Has a 12 volt pump and a nice shut off nozzle, the nozzle is small like on regular unleaded pumps at the gas station. I was going to use it for diesel but I run three times as much unleaded and the 5 gallon cans are getting old. I only use 10 gallon of diesel a month, probably more than 50 gallon of unleaded in the summer months. I know about the 33 gallon limit for unleaded.

Thanks
Nate

What's the 33 gallon limit??? Never heard of it. Chris

Get as much of the diesel out as you can and use it.

What is this 33 gallon limit you talk about?

Gary

Get most of the diesel out, and don't worry about it. Some people add a little diesel to the gas in old tractors. If you ever go back to using it for diesel it would be more important to get all the gas out. Gasoline can be very bad for some diesel engines.

I thought you could only carry 33 gallons of unleaded in containers on the highways? Is this not true?

The truck that hauls your fuel had to change what he hauled in his tanks to haul gas or diesel. Just get it empty, all the way empty. Vic

I think it is 110 gallons in a transfer tank.

I don't know about small containers.

(quoted from post at 21:34:04 03/23/14) I bought a 80 gallon transfer tank, the kind that goes in your truckbed. It has been used for diesel, can I start using it for unleaded without changing anything? Has a 12 volt pump and a nice shut off nozzle, the nozzle is small like on regular unleaded pumps at the gas station. I was going to use it for diesel but I run three times as much unleaded and the 5 gallon cans are getting old. I only use 10 gallon of diesel a month, probably more than 50 gallon of unleaded in the summer months. I know about the 33 gallon limit for unleaded.

Thanks
Nate

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e sure it is clean of algae, sediment, etc. & no problem with the change.

Not sure about the hose. We had a hose on one of our diesel transfer tank the would spark a little once in a while. Seems like there is a Non-static hose. Don't know what the difference, but it might be a problem with gas, maybe?

Diesel hoses have a wire molded in to handle the static electricity that builds up by flowing fuel. Bad hoses can spark....mine did one night while filling the combine. Gas no issue. If tank was used for gas, issue would be varnish buildup peeling off when used for diesel, clogging the filter.

For one it is against the law and if you are ever in a accident that causes a fuel leak you will be under the jail.
Second the pump and hose is most likely rated for combustibles (diesel) and not flammables (gasoline).

Gasoline has a container size limit of 8 gallons before haz mat rules kick in.
Diesel has a container size of 119 gallons before haz mat rules kick in.

(quoted from post at 18:34:04 03/23/14) I bought a 80 gallon transfer tank, the kind that goes in your truckbed. It has been used for diesel, can I start using it for unleaded without changing anything? Has a 12 volt pump and a nice shut off nozzle, the nozzle is small like on regular unleaded pumps at the gas station. I was going to use it for diesel but I run three times as much unleaded and the 5 gallon cans are getting old. I only use 10 gallon of diesel a month, probably more than 50 gallon of unleaded in the summer months. I know about the 33 gallon limit for unleaded.

Thanks
Nate

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Is the tank steel or aluminum? I remember seeing a sticker on one that said not for gasoline...not sure if it was mine (aluminum) or somewhere else. Maybe it was on the electric pump...

Neighbor had one with a sticky switch. He was filling his gas tractor in the shed and the tank was getting full and the pump was acting up. He grabbed the wire leading to the battery and gave it a yank...it sparked and started the tractor on fire. Burned the tractor pretty bad, a nice hole in the roof, and caused an accident out on the hiway going past the place from all the gawkers...be careful!

You can haul 440 lbs of ALL haz material combined under the materials of trade clause. This includes the container it is in so things like bulk tanks or oxygen cylinders add up fast.

Since gasoline is a packing group 2 material the container size is limited to 8 gallons.

Packing group 1 is one pound or one pint size
Packing group 2 and 3 is 66 pounds or 8 gallons.

Diesel is not regulated in containers less than 119 gallons so you are free to do as you please as long as you keep the tank(s) size under 119 gallons.

The Iowa DOT states that gasoline can be transported in an DOT certified gasoline transport tank. If the tank and fuel (gas/diesel) are under 1000 lbs you do NOT have to have placards and a Hazmat license.

The key is two things.

1) Under 1000 lbs.

2) The transfer tank must be labeled and DOT certified for gasoline. Most farm transfer tanks are NOT certified for gasoline.

There is also a farm exemption on the 1000 lbs rule as well.

You are getting a lot of conflicting info and to save you some agony ask a fuel distributor about pump and grounding. Then call your state DOT and they can give you the low down on type of tank and mounting. Also they can tell you how much you can haul legaly without getting into trouble.

No JD what it says.......
All haz mat is regulated unless a exemption is given.
Haz Mat will be package in approved containers and any quantity needs proper shipping papers.
If the quantity of a class 3 (gasoline; diesel) goes over 1000 lbs then you need a haz mat CDL and placards.

Materials of trade exempts gasoline from the above rules as long as you put the gasoline in a properly marked container; keep the size of the container to 8 gallons or less; and do not exceed 440 lbs total weight container and gasoline.

Maybe the link will explain it better than I can.
Material of Trade,

What about 55 gal. barrels of automotive racing fuel??

Nate, my boss had the gas tank fall because of broken tank strap on 03 Ford F150. This happened in front of fire house in Oneonta NY on May 20 2013. On September 9 2013 he received a letter from DEC telling him he was going to be fined $37500 a day from May 20 - Sept 9. That was for a minor spill of gasoline from vehicle tank! He got lucky because there was a recall on 03 F150 tank straps, if that was a 5 gallon container that spilled ,OMG!! His insurance still paid $1200 to DEC. Hope this helps enlighten everyone to make sure fuel containers are secured properly! Remember big brother is watching! Greg

I have a 100 gallon diesel tank and a 55 gallon unleaded tank in my truck bed, both started out life as diesel tanks, both are steel, both have pumps rated for gasoline and diesel. When I converted the smaller one to gasoline I just made sure it was really empty, put 5 gallons of gas in it and drove around with it in there for a couple days, pumped it into an old 5 gallon plastic can to use for starting the burn pile, etc.. (I know - dangerous too). Then I changed the fuel filter on the pump and filled it to the brim with unleaded. That was 5 years ago and never have had any issues since the switch. I guess I did leave the diesel sticker on the tank too just to deter thieves wanting to fill their cars up but I suppose that is another fine if I get caught?

John, I'm easily confused - would you please explain?

Can I haul 440 pounds of gasoline, including the weight of the container? Is this weight separate from the fuel in the pickup fuel tank (powering the truck)?

Of this 440 pounds, must it be contained in maximum 8 gallon approved containers?

Or can I only haul 8 gallons of gasoline?

I know that you provided a link, but I'm easily confused.

I haul my gasoline in 5 gallon plastic gas jugs.

Thanks

(quoted from post at 01:22:54 03/24/14) What about 55 gal. barrels of automotive racing fuel??

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The race haulers are under the same thing. They can no longer legally haul a barrel of fuel. It has to be in approved containers for their gas or alcohol, like the five gallon plastic jugs you see at the races.

PJH
I will be glad to explain it better to you.

We will assume you and anyone else reading this is not licensed to haul hazardous materials. I am not talking about a CDL with a haz mat endorsement; I am talking about the license the federal government gives a carrier that hauls hazardous materials.
So since you are not licensed to haul hazardous materials you can not unless you have a exemption. One exemption you can use is materials of trade. The government allows you to haul limited quantities of hazardous materials to do your job or get things like gasoline home to use in your tractor or lawn mower.

We will stick with gasoline and diesel for this discussion because every different kind of hazardous materials has different limits.

For gasoline.
You must haul gasoline in approved containers. They must be red; marked with the words gasoline and made of metal or plastic. They must be secured from movement and closed to prevent leaks.

Since gasoline is a packing group 2 material the container size is limited to 8 gallons each.

You are allowed to haul up to 440 pounds of all hazardous materials at one time. This includes the containers the hazardous materials are loaded in.
So if you have a 100 pound oxygen cylinder and a 40 pound battery loaded on the same truck your gasoline would be limited to 300 pounds.

If you only have gasoline in 5 gallon containers you can haul 12 at one time.
5 gallons of gas weighs about 35 pounds.
440/35= 12.57

Things like the truck fuel tank and starter battery fall under perceived threat so they will not be counted. Perceived threat means a fire fighter is going to know every truck is going to have a fuel tank and battery so he already knows to adjust for this.

Since Diesel is a class 3 it should fall under the same rules but it does not. That is because diesel has a added exemption. Diesel is not regulated by the DOT in containers less than 119 gallons. This is how they get by putting diesel tanks in the bed of pickups.

Farmers have a added exemption but that is limited to agricultural products. Gasoline is not a agricultural product but Liquefied petroleum gas is.

Hope this helps.

Leaving the Diesel sticker on a gasoline fuel tank is setting a trap for an emergency responder. Your truck is disabled, in a mv accident, how the fire company responds will differ with the cargo.

Perfect explanation, thank you. I looked at the tank today, and it says for diesel only so that answers my questions. I didn't want to but I'll have to buy an old fuel barrel and have the local guys fill it for me.

Thanks again
Nate

Acadamy Sporting goods has a 12 gal. Red Plastic Portable Boat fuel tank on sale. Has wheels on it even. Be sure you take it out of the bed of your pick-up when you fill it up and reload it to take it to your boat at the lake.