OT- checking for water in fuel oil tank?

Ray · Sep 28, 2011

Years ago our fuel delivery guy had some white stuff he would smear on a wooden stick and put it in a fuel tank to check for water.The stuff would turn color if it touched water.I burn used motor oil in my shop and it would be nice if i could check the oil i'm getting for water. Some people have a drum of oil to get rid of and when i get it home it's part water or antifreeze.
Anyone ever heard of this?

showcrop · Sep 28, 2011

It comes in the form of test strips now. I don't recall how you hold them but anyway you dip them down to the bottom and they change color if there is water. Your oil Co. has them.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 28, 2011

I remember seeing the guy at the filling station do that as well. Maybe check with a fuel truck guy and see where you can find that stuff.

bradk · Sep 28, 2011

I"ve used this stuff.......
Kolor Kut

Bob Huntress · Sep 28, 2011

This brings back memories. In the Navy, I stood Sounding & Security watch and Equipment Monitor. We use to use that water indicating paste to sound the tanks. Okay, we were SUPPOSE TO use the water indicating paste to sound the tanks. On my first ship it wasn't that big an issue, yet, my Destroyer we had the salt water comp tanks where the sea water would be under the oil to maintain the stability no matter what the fuel level was. On that ship, I actually did use the water indicating paste. Fond memories, I tell you, fond memories. BTW, my retirement date is Friday. I've been in the USCG for the last 11 years, but only 3 months of sea time with them, vice the 8 years out of 10 in the NAVY.

Billy Shafer · Sep 28, 2011

Get the Kolor Kut. It is simple to use and works very well. Yellow paste that turns pink when it hits water. I have used it for years. Good stuff.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 28, 2011

why not just put a long drip leg in the line so if there is any water it goes down the drip leg and drain it once a day. i made on out of 6in pvc pipe with a drain on the bottom and have never got any water to the pump but for every 100 gal or so i might get a gal. of water or less most of the time i might get a cup full. also help get the dirt out before the filters before the leg i was changing filters every 3-4 weeks

Anonymous-0 · Sep 29, 2011

Water finding paste is common in the Avaition, Insurence and Environmental Compliance industries. Many manufactures, all work. just google it.

JDseller · Sep 29, 2011

I have a used oil furnace that I burn all of the oil I can get in it. I don't get enough to do all of my heating. The used oil I get from other people alway worries me about water in it. So I just don't dump those drums until it has been below freezing for a while. Any water freezes in the bottom of the drums. I can dump the oil off the top with no water worries.

Bob · Sep 29, 2011

Anti-freeze mix is just as LETHAL to most waste oil burners as water and, obviously, can't be removed by the "let's wait 'til it gets cold trick".

HOW do you deal with that?

If so, my wife's cousin would really like to hear about it as it shuts his burner down MANY times during the heating season!

greygoat · Sep 29, 2011

I"m a retired Railroad Locomotive Mechanic.
We used the "Kolor Kut" brand on 3000 gallon
locomotive fuel tanks. It works good. I think
that you can get it at NAPA Auto Parts.

OT- checking for water in fuel oil tank?

Ray

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

bradk

Well-known Member

Bob Huntress

Member

Billy Shafer

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

JDseller

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

greygoat

Well-known Member

Similar threads