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OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in volume

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jim in NY

03-26-2008 21:48:54




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I have a chance to get a deal on some diesel fuel for the rig and on the side of the plastic barrels it indicates that the barrel is near 70 gallons and when you measure it for volume it measures as such: 2ft diameter X 3ft. High ???? This is the same height and diameter as common steel ones. However, everyone refers these sizes to/as 55 gallon drums. Is the number of gallons refered to as 70 when actually it would be 55 gallons of refined oil product when and if it were crude oil? Said differently, now that I am putting in diesel fuel instead of crude oil it will certainly measure 70 gallons of actual fuel ? That is to be the true amount of fuel I will be purchasing ? The formulae states that these barrels plastic/steel w/ the same measurements equals 70 gallons of capacity.

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DiyDave

03-27-2008 15:53:29




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in vo in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
Cause it has a "tornado" filling bung on it!



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Walt davies

03-27-2008 10:11:12




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in vo in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
Maybe this will help some.
Walt
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----
A 44-gallon drum (known as a 55-gallon drum in America, and increasingly in Australia as a 200-litre drum) is a cylindrical container (drum) with a nominal capacity of 44 imperial gallons, 55 U.S. gallons, or 200 litres. The exact capacity varies with wall thickness and other factors. Standard drums are 22.5 inches (572 mm) in diameter and 33.5 inches (850 mm) high.

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buickanddeere

03-27-2008 06:45:20




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in vo in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
Ever hear tell of imperial gallons?



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Janicholson

03-27-2008 06:24:38




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
Interesting!!
1 U.S. liquid barrel = 42 gallons From wooden barrel days!!
A 55 gal Drum is just a container that size Equals 200 liters Eee--gads its metric! JimN



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Kentb of SWMO

03-27-2008 06:10:43




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
If the 2 feet in diameter and 3 feet high are INSIDE measurement, that works out to about 70 gallons. Pi R squared H . In inches that would be 3.14 X 144 X 36 = 16286 Cubic Inches. divide by 231 CI to the gallon equals 70.5 gallons.

Kent



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Tramway Guy

03-27-2008 05:49:24




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
You can make an Allis WD have 45 horsepower by putting a WD-45 decal on it, too.
I think you are getting ripped off. Plastic drum gallons is the same as steel drum gallons, and a 55 gallon barrel holds at most 55 gallons, but usually it is limited to 50 gallons net, to allow for expansion and also potential damage to the barrel in shipment.
What formula are you referring to?

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dave2

03-27-2008 05:43:28




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in vo in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
55 is near 70..... .. Maybe they are comparing gallons to minutes. NY minutes are supposed to be shorter than the ones for the rest of us.

May want to consider buying by weight.

Good Luck,

Dave



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onefarmer

03-27-2008 10:55:22




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 Lots of people get 70 in a 55. in reply to dave2, 03-27-2008 05:43:28  
Lots of people get 70 in a 55. MPH that is.

On the barrel go fill it up and see what it holds.



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TomTex

03-27-2008 05:11:31




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
Sounds like someone is trying to rip you off, by charging you for 70 gallons per barrel. My standard steel barrel which came with 15W40 diesel motor oil, is 55 gallons. I always put in 50 gallons when filling with red off-road deisel to allow for hauling, pumping, moving, expansion, etc. Tom



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Texasmark

03-27-2008 06:18:29




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to TomTex, 03-27-2008 05:11:31  
Me too.

I checked the 231 cu in/ gallon and that is an accurate cross reference. Didn"t check the rest of it. A 55 gallon steel drum is definitely not 70 gallons; not US gallons as we know it....like when you buy a gallon of milk/US gallon of diesel....that"s 231 cu in.

Mark



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Texasmark

03-27-2008 06:17:47




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to TomTex, 03-27-2008 05:11:31  
Me too.

I checked the 231 cu in/ gallon and that is an accurate cross reference. Didn"t check the rest of it. A 55 gallon steel drum is definitely not 70 gallons; not US gallons as we know it....like when you buy a gallon of milk/US gallon of diesel....that"s 231 cu in.

Mark



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cannonball

03-27-2008 03:50:48




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in vo in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
A 55 gal drum is not 3 ft high...

MAY GOD BLESS THE USA



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Bendee

03-27-2008 00:47:29




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 Re: OT: why is 55 gallon drum actually near 70 gallons in... in reply to jim in NY, 03-26-2008 21:48:54  
They're actually 44 imp gallons which seems to be universal.
44 gal. X 160oz = 7040 oz or 202/203 ? litres.
55 gal. X 128oz = 7040 oz.

Pint imp 20 OZ, Pint US 16 OZ... 8 pints = Gallon. It does tend to expand in hot weather therefore the drum must cater for this.



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