Stockpiling Fuel

[pooky2483]

What are the laws where you are as to stockpiling fuel. Petrol/diesel and other flammable fuels?
Here in the UK, the restrictions are laughably pathetic regarding petrol...

Trading Standard's advice is that where plastic containers are used, the legal limit on storing petrol is two five-litre containers where, for example, the petrol is stored in a garage adjoining a home. Such quantities are generally sufficient to enable a home owner to refuel and operate domestic gardening equipment. Alternatively, two ten-litre metal containers may be kept in such circumstances.

SOURCE

If it did happen and TSHTF big time, who would really care about laws...

 

[Gazrok]

In the US, this is largely controlled by the states, counties, city ordinances. It's mostly dependent on where you are. For example, not too many restrictions on us out in a rural area, and outside of city limits. After all, most farms keep some kind of fuel storage.

 

[pooky2483]

I did plan on making an underground storage bunker for the fuel under a shed but after reading another one of my threads I will be looking into another way to power our bungalow.
I was going to buy 20lt containers and fill them up whenever I went to top up our car. That would have cost just under £50 ($81) a pop.
I will have to research a few more options...

 

[Brent S]

This is why I'm switching most of my stuff to propane. It lasts forever and burns cleaner too, meaning less oil changes as well. It's easy to get a large tank too.

 

[Maverick]

We have two 270gal above ground gravity tanks 1 diesel and 1 gas no pumps required. In the gas tank I use a fuel stabilizer it gives me a year of storage, the diesel will keep a year if outside temperature remains around 68deg or use a algaecide, keeping the tanks completely full (topped off) will keep condensation out of the fuel

 

[Brent S]

We have two 270gal above ground gravity tanks 1 diesel and 1 gas no pumps required. In the gas tank I use a fuel stabilizer it gives me a year of storage, the diesel will keep a year if outside temperature remains around 68deg or use a algaecide, keeping the tanks completely full (topped off) will keep condensation out of the fuel

thats one tough algae if it can live in diesel fuel! I knew there are things that actually eat oil, but I figured diesel was refined and too strong for anything like that.

 

[bigpaul]

I live in a Housing Association house, we aren't SUPPOSED to have even 5 litres in a can of any sort, whats in the petrol tank of the car is okay but not even enough to top up a motor mower is allowed, but like you say after SHTF WHO CARES about rules?

 

[Maverick]

thats one tough algae if it can live in diesel fuel! I knew there are things that actually eat oil, but I figured diesel was refined and too strong for anything like that.

algae is a big problem in diesel, once it is in the diesel fuel nothing removes it except draining, it plays hell with the filters, injectors and glow plugs

 

[Silent Earth]

thats one tough algae if it can live in diesel fuel! I knew there are things that actually eat oil, but I figured diesel was refined and too strong for anything like that.

IIRC both Aerobic and Anaerobic bacteria can and do live off hydrocarbons, that black slimy sludge one often finds in diesel systems and furnace oil heaters is a bacterial deposit, you can treat diesel with anti fungals, you can get cetane boosters etc and other stuff like acetone to help stabilise the fuel.

 

[Maverick]

I live in a Housing Association house, we aren't SUPPOSED to have even 5 litres in a can of any sort, whats in the petrol tank of the car is okay but not even enough to top up a motor mower is allowed, but like you say after SHTF WHO CARES about rules?

that's pretty restrictive, that leaves out having a generator then. we have housing associations here that don't allow gas mowers but electric ones ok, so apparently the 'association' on both sides of the pond gone to the same school.

 

[Silent Earth]

I found that adding a small amount of gasoline and nail varnish remover ( acetone) to refurbish stale diesel and though an old concept having your modern diesel vehicle fitted with a water trap in the fuel line makes good sense.

 

[Gazrok]

keeping the tanks completely full (topped off) will keep condensation out of the fuel

Yep, that's the problem I did with my diesel truck, letting the tanks get too empty. Problem is, my auxiliary tank is 151 gallons, so was just too tempting to use it up and not refill it...especially when money was tight. Costs nearly a paycheck to completely fill that truck (front and rear tanks, plus the auxiliary).

 

[Maverick]

Yep, that's the problem I did with my diesel truck, letting the tanks get too empty. Problem is, my auxiliary tank is 151 gallons, so was just too tempting to use it up and not refill it...especially when money was tight. Costs nearly a paycheck to completely fill that truck (front and rear tanks, plus the auxiliary).

cost is a problem in trying to keep the tank topped off, in my d6 cat the tank is 65gal so I keep it topped off and use a algaecide since it may be a year before it even gets use again, my older diesel truck stays topped at all times

 

[Silent Earth]

Over here recycling old cooking oil from fast food joints and mixing it with diesel is hugely popular, I used to use 25 % cooking oil and 75% diesel some folks went up to 80% cooking oil in a warm summer, the old oil is filtered first of course before use.

Also DIY biodiesel plants are pretty popular over here working out at only a third of the price of regular bought diesel.

 

[Gazrok]

Used to be here, but now, fast food joints can actually SELL their used cooking oil, vs. paying to have it taken away. So, not really worth it.

 

[Silent Earth]

similar tale happening in places over here, but fuel is so expensive in the uk that very often its cheaper to buy 30 litre drums of new cooking oil because its cheaper at the time than diesel/

 

[bigpaul]

that's pretty restrictive, that leaves out having a generator then. we have housing associations here that don't allow gas mowers but electric ones ok, so apparently the 'association' on both sides of the pond gone to the same school.

yeah, I stick to the rules for now, but I have cans ready to fill "just in case"!!!

 

[Gazrok]

Thing is, diesel used to be CHEAPER than regular gas. What the heck? Then, it was about 10 cents more a gallon, but now, it is like 60 cents more per gallon. Since then, the wife and I pretty much carpool, and we only use the diesel truck when we need it to pull the horse trailer, or just need a bit more cab room (as it is bigger in this respect too).