new mild steel fuel tank needed...central scotland area

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andrewinstirling

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my old steel tank needs replaced...simple oblong shape...considered tek tanks but wondered if it would be cheaper getting one fabricated.. and would save doing it long distance ...old tank has lasted 30 years so a new one will outlive me!

thoughts on (i) new mild steel tank rather than plastic ..cost etc and (ii) has anyone had new steel tank made in glasgow/edinburgh/stirling area?

Thanks
 
andrewinstirling said:
my old steel tank needs replaced...simple oblong shape...considered tek tanks but wondered if it would be cheaper getting one fabricated.. and would save doing it long distance ...old tank has lasted 30 years so a new one will outlive me!

thoughts on (i) new mild steel tank rather than plastic ..cost etc and (ii) has anyone had new steel tank made in glasgow/edinburgh/stirling area?
Click to expand...

You might as well get it in stainless; material costs will be a small part of the the overall cost of the project.
 
Fit a ready made plastic tank from Vetus or CAK Tanks(caravan supplier) who make a range of off the shelf plastic tanks. No corrosion, translucent so you can see fuel level, gauges can be fitted, Can be strapped in position easily, much less condensation during the winter. A winner all round(assuming they have a tank to suit your space etc). Cheaper than stainless.
 
andrewinstirling said:
my old steel tank needs replaced...simple oblong shape...considered tek tanks but wondered if it would be cheaper getting one fabricated.. and would save doing it long distance ...old tank has lasted 30 years so a new one will outlive me!

thoughts on (i) new mild steel tank rather than plastic ..cost etc and (ii) has anyone had new steel tank made in glasgow/edinburgh/stirling area?

Thanks
Click to expand...

What capacity do you need? Ive recently taken 2x10 gallon tanks off that were only 6 months old oblong shape stainless steel. I needed a larger tank after fitting a bigger engine so they are for sale. If they are what you need pm me and I can give you dimensions and pics.
 
The problem with mild steel tanks is you can get condensation from hot fuel returned to the tank and diesel with water in it, hence the water traps on filters. Result corrosion, as mentioned stainless fuel tanks are available.
 
West of Scotland Engineering (www.wose.co.uk) made mine, a replacement for an existing one, which they copied. They did an excellent job, met a tight deadline a day earlier than they'd thought, and the price wasn't excessive. They would have powder-coated it as well, but circumstances meant that it was better for me to paint it. All the bolt-holes and piupe connections lined up perfectly when I installed the new one, making the installation as painless as anything can be where one bolt can only be reached through a narrow gap about a foot away from the bolt!

I'd thoroughly recommend West of Scotland for any engineering task aboard.
 
Op needs to decide just what fuel capacity he needs. Hence if the available space must be filled. The shape of the bottom of the tank is important. An engineering comany might make a steel fuel tank for you witha flat bottom. What you really need is a bottom to the tank with slope and low point. You need to be able to drain off fromb the low point with either a tap at the bottom or provision for feeding a tube down to the low point. This is to easily enable you to drain off any water that may condense. This is where your fuel bugs live. You then need a fuel take off to the engine that is above the drain but not so far as to make too much fule irretrievable. About 1% is a good amount for the water sump.
All this however may reduce the total capcity of the tank of course. However in many cases less is better. Don't forget provision for a large inspection cap so you can clean out the tank. Or better still and easier fit one of the good plastic outboard fuel tanks that can be removed for filling and cleaning. Good luck olewill
 
andrewinstirling said:
wow thanks guys for all the messages and ideas. ...will now have to decide on the material. ..nothing ever simple!
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There are very many boats around with mild steel tanks that have survived for decades. As with all corrosion issues, keep the water out and it won't happen. If having a new tank made it will pay to have a sump into which water can sink, draining it off periodically. A common source of water in fuel tanks is a leaking filler cap, so make sure the O-ring is good.
Stainless steel fuel tanks do not like water any more than mild steel ones do and plenty corrode at the welds.
 
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