Question for Handipersons, HVAC types... Fluid transfer ??

Disco Stu's picture
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Sycamore Slough
Disco Stu on Sunday, November 5, 2017 – 11:31 pm

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So I've got a home heating oil tank in the barn full of oil. Want to move the tank,  but need to remove the liquid.  I have suitable containers but there are no outlets at the bottom of tank.  The copper lines (to old oil furnace) go in through the top. 

What kind of inexpensive pump can I use to pull the oil out ?  There's probably 200 - 220 gallons in there,  worth $2.10 / gallon,  so 400-450 bucks worth.  So it's worth my time,  as the furnace still works.  Of course I could run it in one of the old diesel farm tractors.

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uncmozo
Jerry H on Monday, November 6, 2017 – 08:03 am

Best thing to do is put the oil into 55 gallon drums, those blue plastic ones, or steel. Your tank must have a vent, remove the vent with a pipe wrench or whatever else would work. This will be the largest opening in the top of the tank. Get a hand crank pump, and attach 2 garden hoses, one to the inlet and one to outlet side of the pump. Drop the inlet side hose to the ALMOST bottom of the tank (you do not want to suck up the gunk at the very bottom) and the outlet hose goes in the drum. This will be a 2 man operation, just start pumping. Advise against any electrical pump, this could be a source of a spark - ka-boom!

They make hand crank pumps for emptying drums, you just don't need the pipe that drops down to the bottom of the tank.

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Full Name: 
Sycamore Slough
Disco Stu on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 – 02:10 pm

Thanks Jerry H --

For your excellent information.

I wound up getting one of these cheap yet efficient items from China Hardware Store,  aka Haror Freight.  With my 20% discount, it was under 100 bucks.
But after reading reviews,  I opted for the 2-year warranty,  since they seem to have a high failure rate.  Extra 35 bucks for that,  but I have diesel stuff around the Farm.  So it will come in handy.  Came with chinese hose-clamps,  barbed fitting & hose.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-diesel-transfer-pump-66784.html

They sell cheap manual  'Barrel Pumps' for 35 - 40 bucks,  but the labor and time was a factor.  It might take me all day to do this simple task by hand,  when I could make more progress for Society doing amateur Brain surgery  wink The 12 - volt pump supposedly runs 8-10 GPM,  I guess we'll find out.

Now I just need a few more clean containers for storage / transfer.