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Old 01-29-2020, 11:31 AM   #1
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Refurbishing gas tank for fresh water?

I have an opportunity to get one of these gas tanks used (https://www.amazon.com/Delta-482000-.../dp/B0002M8TLS), but in great shape for dirt cheap. I'm wondering if it'd be possible to recondition it for fresh water use?

Could it be flushed out, neutralized, and coated on the inside enough to negate any fuel toxins/carcinogens? Would it even be worth the effort?

Not sure if it was used for diesel or 'regular' fuel.

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Old 01-29-2020, 12:05 PM   #2
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For posterity: The link is for a 51-gallon tank made of steel, $353.

In 2016, I paid $179/piece for 55-gallon, stainless steel, food-grade drums. They had previously been used to transport coconut oil and can be washed with sodium percarbonate (OxiClean's active ingredient).

So I take it “dirt cheap” here means under $100? Under $50? The way I see it, I've already cut the biggest corner of them all by choosing to live in a bus. I'm not going to skimp on “little” things like water storage--and regular, old, rusty steel (however prepped, painted, or powder coated) is for fools.
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Old 01-29-2020, 12:09 PM   #3
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Anything is possible, I guess, but this seems like an inadvisable option. The tank description doesn't mention any existing internal coating but if it is there it's intended for fuel and not for water. Getting another coating to stick on top of the existing may be impossible. Effectively removing all the fuel residue from the tank will probably be impossible, too.

I think using it as a potable water tank is out of the question but that doesn't mean it's unusable altogether. Maybe use it as spare fuel storage or adapt it for grey/black water?
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Old 01-29-2020, 12:11 PM   #4
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I consider myself a subscriber to the 'anything is possible' mindset, but in this case, even if it was (& I'm not saying it is), I imagine you'd be better off working a minimum-wage hard-labor job for however long it takes to pay for a proper potable water tank than attempting to make this work. Just my .02. I've cleaned & reconditioned used motorcycle tanks just to use with more fuel & that was bad enough (as in I simply won't do it anymore).
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Old 01-29-2020, 12:21 PM   #5
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New Member 7 posts and they have dropped 11 backlinks in the forum.



hmmm, ?
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Old 01-29-2020, 12:44 PM   #6
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Thanks for the replies. In my case, it'd be <$50. Sounds like just not worthwhile at all.
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Old 01-29-2020, 01:13 PM   #7
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i got my food grade plastic 55 gallon drums for $5 each, they previously had apple cider vinegar in them so a quick rinse with baking soda and water was all the cleaning they needed. Repurposing a used fuel tank sounds like terrible idea by comparison.
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Old 01-29-2020, 01:17 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by cweiss View Post
Thanks for the replies. In my case, it'd be <$50. Sounds like just not worthwhile at all.
Might work fine for a grey water tank though. You'd still probably have to clean it pretty good, but not freshwater good.
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Old 01-29-2020, 03:37 PM   #9
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Nope

I would never drink out of a fuel tank. No way. You know how toxic that is?
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Old 02-15-2020, 04:17 PM   #10
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I tried it and NO it doesn’t work. Buy a clean new tank. Additives in gas will stick into the tank. Not worth it. Cheers
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Old 02-15-2020, 08:42 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
i got my food grade plastic 55 gallon drums for $5 each, they previously had apple cider vinegar in them so a quick rinse with baking soda and water was all the cleaning they needed. Repurposing a used fuel tank sounds like terrible idea by comparison.
Darn, I thought I got a deal when I bought mine for ten bucks a piece. Have four under two twin beds just behind the rear axle for almost 200 gallons of fresh water. I did use an old 100 gallon fuel tank off an old International Transtar semi for a grey tank. worked well.
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Old 02-16-2020, 09:02 AM   #12
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Is this one of the one million bad ideas?


Yep.


Don't do it. The people saying food grade poly or stainless are the ones you need to listen too.
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Old 02-16-2020, 09:19 AM   #13
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This thread has to be a joke. Come on....

Whats next, Is it ok to skip holding tanks....
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Old 02-16-2020, 09:37 AM   #14
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This thread has to be a joke. Come on....

Whats next, Is it ok to skip holding tanks....

No Joke,


Been seeing this coming a long time. And then people wonder why campgrounds won't have them or they can't get insured.


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Old 02-16-2020, 10:22 AM   #15
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This thread has to be a joke. Come on....
One can easily recognize Manchester town water by taste. They'd have a unique flavor for sure!


The medical bill 10+ years later might not be worth it though.



Quote:
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Whats next, Is it ok to skip holding tanks....
Is this really that bad? I skipped the black tank, but left room for one.
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Old 02-16-2020, 10:36 AM   #16
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Is this really that bad? I skipped the black tank, but left room for one.

Nah man, just straight pipe it to the ground and tell people it's the "slobber tube".
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Old 02-16-2020, 12:13 PM   #17
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So many other options than a used gas tank. Brand new 55 gallon blue barrels cost $50. No cleaning, food safe and easy to maneuver. No to a gas tank.
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Old 02-16-2020, 04:21 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cweiss View Post
I have an opportunity to get one of these gas tanks used (https://www.amazon.com/Delta-482000-.../dp/B0002M8TLS), but in great shape for dirt cheap. I'm wondering if it'd be possible to recondition it for fresh water use?

Could it be flushed out, neutralized, and coated on the inside enough to negate any fuel toxins/carcinogens? Would it even be worth the effort?

Not sure if it was used for diesel or 'regular' fuel.
No amount of rinsing is going to make that a good idea.
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