Reducing the volume of diesel tank

[Slinky Spring]

I have removed my diesel tank due to contamination. Being in the lakes i use very little fuel. I understand that keeping the tank full reduces condensation so when I replace the tank, once cleaned, I am thinking of reducing the volume so that I can keep it filled up without using a large amount of fuel. The capacity is currently about 70 litres. I was thinking of using plasic drink bottles. Are they likely to be affected by the diesel. Can you suggest anything better? Is the whole idea misguided?

 

[Tranona]

Why not just replace it with a smaller tank. Vetus do a simple plastic 25L tank.

 

[Rossynant]

Plastic bottle may dissolve. You never know what it's made of. Only thing to trust is engine oil bottles. But why experiment? get small tank. Current one may just be kept empty, until needed.

 

[VicS]

You can check what a drinks bottle is made of from the recycling marking. Polyethylene terephthate is the commonly used perfectly clear material . It is, as it so happens, resistant to diesel but they are very thin walled and its a c**p idea when you could so easily get a small plastic tank specifically for diesel

 

[Slinky Spring]

I have done that as a temporary measure but the original tank is a combined unit with gas locker and the plastic tank does not fit in the space created.

 

[Rossynant]

Then just don't worry too much about condensation, get yourself a good fuel filter with clear separator and drain (so to see what's going out of tank), put biocide into fuel. And tank of corrosion resistant material, naturally.

 

[William_H]

Well if you could remove the tank and get it modified in shape reduce the size by putting a deep Vee shape or funnel shape into the bottom. Fit a purge valve outlet right at the bottom which hopefully can be accessed. This way you could easily drain away water and gunk. Fit the actual fuel take off a bit above the bottom so that there is a good capacity for water that is not taken to engine.
Although really as said a little 10l plastic out board tank would do fine. You can then easily tip it upside down to clean out all the fuel water gunk etc. good luck olewill

 

[knuterikt]

I have removed my diesel tank due to contamination. Being in the lakes i use very little fuel. I understand that keeping the tank full reduces condensation so when I replace the tank, once cleaned, I am thinking of reducing the volume so that I can keep it filled up without using a large amount of fuel. The capacity is currently about 70 litres. I was thinking of using plasic drink bottles. Are they likely to be affected by the diesel. Can you suggest anything better? Is the whole idea misguided?

Keeping the tank filed to reduce condensation is overrated...
If the tank is in good condition put it back.
Or try to find a standard fuel tank that can fit into the space.

 

[nimbusgb]

Ive had a 2 litre coke bottle holding diesel in the garage for some cleaning and for testing an eberspacher. Been in there about 3 years now. Still in good shape.

But not a safe or friendly solution!

 

[NormanS]

Well if you could remove the tank and get it modified in shape reduce the size by putting a deep Vee shape or funnel shape into the bottom. Fit a purge valve outlet right at the bottom which hopefully can be accessed. This way you could easily drain away water and gunk. Fit the actual fuel take off a bit above the bottom so that there is a good capacity for water that is not taken to engine.
good luck olewill

That is the way that all tanks should be made. If only they were.

 

[testmonkey]

how about a small outboard engine fuel tank? I've used one successfully on a small diesel.

 

[nigelmercier]

What about some of the balls used to insulate swimming pools, or the type used to make ball pools for kids?

 

[simonfraser]

I run my eber heater off an outboard external 'petrol' tank, all sorts of sizes available, no probs over the years.

 

[wotayottie]

Then just don't worry too much about condensation, get yourself a good fuel filter with clear separator and drain (so to see what's going out of tank), put biocide into fuel. And tank of corrosion resistant material, naturally.

+1

 

[Daydream believer]

Do not forget that as well as the main fuel supply you need to fit an outlet for the injector byepass fuel. Quite a lot of fuel goes round & back into the tank

 

[Rossynant]

Do not forget that as well as the main fuel supply you need to fit an outlet for the injector byepass fuel. Quite a lot of fuel goes round & back into the tank

Especially with more modern engines. There is another way around it, to fit fuel return to external pre-filter. Not sure if would be good idea for some new engines which pump back a lot. I saw this arrangement with older Volvos and have this with old Perkins.

 

[fisherman]

Well if you could remove the tank and get it modified in shape reduce the size by putting a deep Vee shape or funnel shape into the bottom. Fit a purge valve outlet right at the bottom which hopefully can be accessed. This way you could easily drain away water and gunk. Fit the actual fuel take off a bit above the bottom so that there is a good capacity for water that is not taken to engine.

My tank is shaped like a builder's skip, 1000lts plus. It has a small sump about 100mm square underneath the central baffle, so the shoyte should hit the baffle and drop in. The fuel outlet is 20mm or so above the tank base. I never get any visible muck from the sump, but still have to change filters much more than in the past. Seems the junk just isn't heavy enough. To reduce the volume what about fuel or oil containers. How much access have you? One of those plastic 25 litre sherry containers, they collapse and can be inflated to a suitable size. I used to use them for homebrewed beer.

 

[Burnham Bob]

why not bite the bullet and fill the old tank once then keep it topped up? diesel doesn't go off like petrol and a small bottle of marine 16 diesel treatment will cost you a fiver. cheapest and easiest solution compared to fitting a new tank!

http://www.marine16.co.uk/acatalog/Fuel_Treatment_Products.html