Cleaning a water tank that has had diesel in it

[ChattingLil]

we have two large water tanks.
One we use and is adequate for our current requirements.
The other has what looks like jellified diesel in the bottom. It's red, smells like diesel, but is a gloopy texture, almost like swarfega type texture.

No matter really, whatever it is, it clearly has to come out. Obviously we can scrub and maybe use bilgex to attempt to dissolve any oil residue and rinse rinse rinse. But what else should we try? We are in no hurry for it, so it can be a long process.

 

[sailorman]

washing machine powder, its low on foaming "bubbles that are kind to your hands "
or
Degreaser from a janitorial suppliers

 

[Zen Zero]

My sister's hubby filled their horse-lorry's water tank with diesel a couple of years ago. They tried a number of detergents but after a lot of effort, decided to replace the tank.

 

[savageseadog]

Steam cleaning? It will be difficult to remove.

 

[BruceK]

I'd try Gunk Green, it's brilliant for cleaning oil pans out in the garage, but I doubt you'll ever get it 100% taint free. Sole use for head and shower reserving the other tank for drinking water?

 

[sailorman]

There are Pro Co`s but i guess quite a few £s.

 

[TQA]

A genuine steam cleaner is your best bet. Note that they are rare nowadays due to H&S concerns.

But it is really hard to get rid of the taint esp. if you have a sensitive nose.

 

[Satwatch]

You don't need to go as far as replacing the tank, using something like Simple Green is good you can find it all over the USA and there are a few distributors in Europe. make sure you get the right one though - one is clear and aroma free and the other one is green and scented.

 

[biscuit]

Happened to a friend, was no big problem.
Don't pay attention to doom-mongers.
Remove as much as possible by hand.
Wipe surface as far as you can reach with clean rag.
Flush several times (but don't flush through your system. Use a separate pump) with clean water and non scented dishwasher tablets (cheap ones are perfumed)
Fill with diluted Milton (as for baby's feeing bottles). Leave 24 hrs, repeat if need be.
Refill & add purifying liquid/ tabs as normal. Good Luck!

 

[EdWingfield]

I'm afraid I'm a doom-monger. Human taste is sensitive to hydrocarbons at molecular levels. On a brand new patrol boat the crew made a blunder and got fuel in the tank. Try as they might they couldn't get rid of the taint. The health inspector (me) just sniffed it, tasted it -spat it out, after each wretched attempt at cleansing and said 'Unfit'. Could the tank be relegated to washing/deck wash/windscreen wipers water only?

 

[Giblets]

Steam cleaning? It will be difficult to remove.

+1 but an industrial unit rather than the namby pamby domestic ones.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I had the same problem last September, put 40L of diesel into a 400L water tank, so had 360L of water with 40L of diesel on top.

After a lot of messing about and time wasting trying to clean it, I fitted a new tank.

 

[sarabande]

if anyone has any problems with oil in water tanks, have a word with OilTechnics. They have some very clever products with magic enzymes, which eat through any oil, and 'convert' the oil to bacterial debris which is easier to flush out then sterilise.

http://oiltechnics.com/

No affiliation just a satisfied customer.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I contacted Oiltechnics and this is the reply I got:

I would recommend our product Sobo Power to clean the sides of the tank you have described.

Please find attached a link to more technical information from the Company website.

http://www.oiltechnics.co.uk/Industrial/Ind_Floor/Sobo_Power.html

I would recommend that after you have washed out the tank you chlorinate it and then have the rinse water checked by a water quality laboratory to ensure the water is safe to drink.

I have talked to the sales department and we would be able to offer you two options

4X5L at £50.80
1x25L at £44.80.

After talking to them on the phone, they recommended scrubbing the sides of the tank with what is essentially a detergent, they didn't recommend an enzyme based product.

In my situation the size of the tank (400L) small access hatch and internal baffles made mechanical cleaning impossible.

 

[Halo]

If it's a steel tank clean it. If it's grp or plastic change the tank or just forget it.

 

[nickd]

Use isopropanol to wash the tank it dissolves diesel - if you have no isopropnaol use cheap vodka
It works

 

[Daydream believer]

Think laterally & look on the bright side. One now has 2 fuel tanks

 

[Stemar]

My go-to product for getting oil and diesely smells off things is Bio Clean. It removed a stench from our bilges following a hard to find diesel leak. If all else fails, I'd talk to them about how to go about it. I contains harmless bacteria that eat oils and other organic contaminants

 

[Boater Sam]

we have two large water tanks.
One we use and is adequate for our current requirements.
The other has what looks like jellified diesel in the bottom. It's red, smells like diesel, but is a gloopy texture, almost like swarfega type texture.

No matter really, whatever it is, it clearly has to come out. Obviously we can scrub and maybe use bilgex to attempt to dissolve any oil residue and rinse rinse rinse. But what else should we try? We are in no hurry for it, so it can be a long process.

If its an oily pink deposit it could well be bacterial debris, seen it before. Simple Green will shift it, is non toxic, odour and taint free providing you don't buy the perfumed one. Then bleach the tank with Milton or chlorination tablets, rinse well.

 

[RichardS]

Think laterally & look on the bright side. One now has 2 fuel tanks

The last 5 years literally flew by.

Richard