Filling your own oil tank

[1967 Tempest]

I cancelled my subscription with the oil company after they continued to gouge us at the price. COD is cheaper and there is now a smaller minimum requirement for delivery gallons.

That said, there is a gas station less then 10 miles away from the house that sells off road diesel, AKA #2 heating oil. It is usually a lot cheaper than even COD. I realize that the COD price also includes delivery etc..

I would like to fill my own tank when the need arises. But doing it in 5 gallon jugs would take forever and I would also need said jugs specifically for diesel. Does any one do this? Can you post your solution? I was thinking 55 gallon drum and hand crank or pump, but the weight of 55 gallons might prove to be too heavy for me to wrangle to the fill port.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Paragon Builder]

Fuel transfer tank with a 12v pump. Light enough to take in and out of your truck when empty. Back up to fill pipe and pump. No wrestling anything. Look for a used one on craigslist.

 

[Paragon Builder]

I wish I had a place that sold off road fuel around here....

 

[svk]

Around here they deliver for the same price as what is at the pump. How much more per gallon are they charging you?

 

[olyman]

I cancelled my subscription with the oil company after they continued to gouge us at the price. COD is cheaper and there is now a smaller minimum requirement for delivery gallons.

That said, there is a gas station less then 10 miles away from the house that sells off road diesel, AKA #2 heating oil. It is usually a lot cheaper than even COD. I realize that the COD price also includes delivery etc..

I would like to fill my own tank when the need arises. But doing it in 5 gallon jugs would take forever and I would also need said jugs specifically for diesel. Does any one do this? Can you post your solution? I was thinking 55 gallon drum and hand crank or pump, but the weight of 55 gallons might prove to be too heavy for me to wrangle to the fill port.

Thanks
Dave

different sates, have different rules, but in iowa,,a 55 drum is the max you can fill and haul legally.....

 

[1967 Tempest]

At the pump is like $1.94 and delivery is close to $3.00. When the oil company called me like 10 times to stay, their price was literally a dollar more.

My truck or any truck can not get near the oil tank fill port. I would need something mobile that has wheels or that I could strap to a dolly and get to tank.

 

[lindnova]

You could get a long hose for the transfer tank. In MN you can have a 119 gal max transfer tank in a truck without license endorsement.

Sounds like more bother than the $$ is worth unless you have a lot of time on your hands.

 

[NSMaple1]

Is $3 the COD price too?

How much oil would you burn in a winter?

 

[svk]

That is absolute robbery.

Our cabin is 45 miles from the delivery truck's starting point and we get fuel at prices within a few cents plus or minus what is at the pump.

 

[esshup]

Depending on how many gallons you need, there are tanks on wheels that boaters use to bring fuel to the dock. They are 20-30 gallon tanks, have wheels and handles, and even come with a hose and mechanical transfer pump.
https://www.google.com/search?q=tra...X&ved=0CEgQsARqFQoTCOPSx9Kf6scCFYaODQodWE0J7A

 

[esshup]

With that said, I filled a bobcat with 40 gallons of diesel every day for a week. I used 6 gallon red "gas" cans and had no problem filling them at the local truck stop every day. I tied yellow surveyors tape to the handles to signify "diesel". The station didn't care.

 

[svk]

With that said, I filled a bobcat with 40 gallons of diesel every day for a week. I used 6 gallon red "gas" cans and had no problem filling them at the local truck stop every day. I tied yellow surveyors tape to the handles to signify "diesel". The station didn't care.

We did the same when we used to have a drip heater in our old cabin. I don't think it makes a difference as long as it is put into an "approved" container ie no milk jugs etc. The color is just for user convenience.

 

[svk]

At the pump is like $1.94 and delivery is close to $3.00. When the oil company called me like 10 times to stay, their price was literally a dollar more.

My truck or any truck can not get near the oil tank fill port. I would need something mobile that has wheels or that I could strap to a dolly and get to tank. View attachment 446297

Is that a 72' Ford on the side? I had one in the same color that was set up for pure stock drag racing.

 

[olympyk_999]

We did the same when we used to have a drip heater in our old cabin. I don't think it makes a difference as long as it is put into an "approved" container ie no milk jugs etc. The color is just for user convenience.

we have used about any 5 gallon container to put diesel in to fill equipment...usually old 5 gallon hydraulic oil pails that have the top spout, or the "square" 5 gallon pool chemical containers...those are nice they have the spout like the oil pails but with a vent cap on the back...
basically anything that's HDPE will be good to put diesel in...im sure the fuel station wont care

 

[svk]

im sure the fuel station wont care

They dont...unless someone who gives a darn sees you fill an unapproved container it makes no difference.

State of MN pumps have a sticker that explains what an approved container is and has a big X though a picture of someone filling a milk jug.

 

[olympyk_999]

and has a big X though a picture of someone filling a milk jug.

looks like I wont be getting fuel in MN anytime soon then...those are the best fuel containers, especially for saw gas...(screw caps are better than the push on caps in this case)basically like having a flippy cap on your fuel container

 

[Marshy]

I have 3 blue HDPE 55 gal barrels I use for moving fuel oil. Once in a while you can find people selling #2 oil on craigslist and save some money. That being said, I've never pulled up to a pumping station and put fuel in them. If your rural it might not rais an eyebrow. You might want to check your state code about maximum gals of fuel you can transport without a certified container or license to see if the penalty out weights the benefit if caught. IDK, that's a personal decision however, I've moved about 130 gals in mine before. I bought a DC powered transfer pump at tractor supply. Expensive little thing but came with hose and even a discharge handle. It makes easy work, self priming and pumps over 5 gal a min. Pumps a 55 gal drum a little under 10 min.

 

[Jere39]

You are definitely being gouged on the delivery price. Just across the Delaware our newspaper has advertisement from several home heating oil delivery companies in the $2.09 range. Not listed as COD (but might be). I'd call around, some supplier must be interested in a fast buck while the thermometer is still pushing 90

 

[Marshy]

Yeah, oil is low right now. Time to shop around if they are charging in the high $2. Make sure you also ask if they have a discount for high volume delivers. Most of my local deliveries will drop another $0.05/gal from COD price if you order 300 gal or more at one time.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I was tickled when I filled up the tank in the service truck the other day (110 gals) for the equipment and they comp'd the coffee I got at the same time.
Oh, and even still had enough left over out of $300 to buy 2 McDonald's meals!