On Farm Gasoline Storage

Just bought a 250 gallon gasoline storage tank (on a stand). I have seven tractors and one large grain truck. All are gasoline except for one diesel. I'm tired of running to the gas station and buying five or ten gallons of gasoline at a time. I can also have bulk gasoline delivered cheaper than I can buy at the gas pump.

I plan to add a filter and a meter to this storage tank.

I'm now worried tho that the current gasoline will evaporate too much and cause lots of problems in carburetors.

1) should I be concerned?

2) is there anything I can do (add something???) to the storage tank to prevent the carburetor problems???
thanks, kelly

Has it got threaded bung's, i bought a, oh i guess it's a air tight valve to keep the gas from vaporizing, so when the the gas man come to fill, he takes it off like a regular gas cap! It's got two holes drilled into it so you can chain it, and put a padlock on it if you want !

don't be worried about that. that's a pretty small tank and the gas will be gone before you know it. the round tanks were 300, 500, and 1000 gallon. the oval ones were 200 gal. I think.

The mandatory switch over date to summer RVP gasoline is May 1 for bulk terminals.
This gives retailers a chance to get a few loads of summer gas before their mandate date of June 1st.

So your jobber is already getting summer fuel.

The problem with storing E10 in above ground storage tanks is condensation from thermal cycling. The lower the level gets in the tank, the more surface area is exposed, the more condensation, the more water is deposited into a lessening volume of fuel.

The ethanol readily absorbs any moisture, so water separators don't work. The moisture gets carried with the fuel into the tank of the vehicle.

I was looking for a method to seal the tank, but didn't find anything. There has to be some way of controlling the venting, it can't just be capped off. You might talk to the supplier that will be filling it, see if they have any recommendations.

don't just put a filter on it put a water filter on it. that's what I use and have no water getting into my vehicle gas tanks.

Never any carb problems either

You generally don't have water problems with gasohol. But go to your local farm store and buy a pressure cap. It will have 2" pipe thread's. Also paint it white. A meter will really slow it down.

I store E10 in a 250 gallon overhead tank with zero problems here in northwest Iowa. The tank is refilled probably 1 1/2 times a year on average. I do have a pressure/vent cap on the tank which is a good idea no matter what kind of gasoline is stored. Maybe in a hot climate you might see more evaporation but here in Iowa e10 evaporation is a non issue.

The biggest worry you will have is that when the tank gets low, you will start wondering who has been stealing all your gas! But Im sure you will keep it locked for peace of mind.

I suppose it has to be red, or they won't fill it! If so, it would reduce evaporation and thermal cycling if you could keep the sun off of it. Someone posted a link to a detailed study on evaporation on here recently, the guy is a geek, but his information is very detailed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzr41PxgX9M

Thanks all. Lotsa good replies. My concerns are
reduced greatly.
FYI I won?t worry about theft cuz my place isn?t
even visible from the county road. My drive is a full
half-mile with a full 90 degree turn about 2/3 way.
The tank is silver (allowed here in Texas) so it?ll
reflect some sun.
I?m placing the tank on a northeast corner beside
my machine shed. It?ll be in the shade from about
ten and on.
I may still add a roof above it.
Thanks again for all the good thoughts and advice.

We have had the same 300 gallon bulk gas tank on the farm for 44 years. Gone from leaded to unleaded to e10. Dad's truck, Mom's Trax, the four wheeler, and six gas tractors all take fuel from it. Never been a problem.

Better check your fire insurance before putting it close to a building.

Agreed - I had a friend who had to move his gasoline bulk tank away from a building or lose insurance coverage on the building. They're more trouble to move when they are full.

Bulk gasoline in my neighborhood costs more than pump gasoline if you don't factor in the aggravation.

Not only distance from buildings, but also wells and open waterways. Texas A/M should have state info on their website as to siting plans. Makes a difference on size of tank, pumped or elevated, gas or diesel, annual use, containment structure requirements, etc.

My supplier actually talked me into a smaller tank (diesel) which more closely fit my annual usage. The argument was that keeping several hundred gallons of fuel over winter with today's fuels is less desirable than it used to be. I'm sure pros and cons both ways, it has worked for me. Smaller meant no required concrete containment structure also.

(quoted from post at 20:33:09 04/30/20) Just bought a 250 gallon gasoline storage tank (on a stand). I have seven tractors and one large grain truck. All are gasoline except for one diesel. I'm tired of running to the gas station and buying five or ten gallons of gasoline at a time. I can also have bulk gasoline delivered cheaper than I can buy at the gas pump.

I plan to add a filter and a meter to this storage tank.

I'm now worried tho that the current gasoline will evaporate too much and cause lots of problems in carburetors.

1) should I be concerned?

2) is there anything I can do (add something???) to the storage tank to prevent the carburetor problems???
thanks, kelly

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I suppose it can vary from one area/climate to the next along with the composition of the fuel you receive, so asking a few local people what they do or don't do would the best advise you could get.

For my purposes I have 500-600 gal of gas delivered at a time probably 3 times a year, never had a problem with it going bad.

Not uncommon here for a vehicle that has sat for 2 or 3 years with fuel in it to fire up and run just fine on what's in the tank.
You mentioned you have 7 tractors, I am guessing you have at least one that sat for quite some time with aged fuel in it.
How did it run when you finally started it back up?

As far as the meter goes unless there is something new out there I have not seen one that will work with any accuracy on a gravity flow system.

Filters and water separators are just another hassle and expense.

Install your tank so the back end is a couple of inches lower that the front end where your hose attaches and any water or sediment will settle at the low end and not come through the hose.

Try not to draw any fuel out of the tank the same day you get it delivered so it has time to settle out.

(quoted from post at 22:33:09 04/30/20) Just bought a 250 gallon gasoline storage tank (on a stand). I have seven tractors and one large grain truck. All are gasoline except for one diesel. I'm tired of running to the gas station and buying five or ten gallons of gasoline at a time. I can also have bulk gasoline delivered cheaper than I can buy at the gas pump.

I plan to add a filter and a meter to this storage tank.

I'm now worried tho that the current gasoline will evaporate too much and cause lots of problems in carburetors.

1) should I be concerned?

2) is there anything I can do (add something???) to the storage tank to prevent the carburetor problems???
thanks, kelly

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The link will show a pressure/vaacum vent that might help prevent the tank from constantly breathing damp air in and out.

If you were to put the tank in an insulated shed to keep the temperature swings as slow as possible that would be a good thing too.

Do you have to place the tank in a concrete containment "tub"?