Gasoline Transfer Pump

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Flatbedford

Flatbedford

Minister of Fire
Mar 17, 2009
5,252
Las Vegas, NV
Now that it is looking like severe storms and long term power outages are going to be the new normal, I've been thinking about bulk fuel storage options. I'm not crazy about having a bunch of 5 gallon containers in my barn or shed. Seems like more than a couple is like having a firebomb. After some thought. I realized that the 16 gallon tank in my 1970 F350 would be a great bulk storage tank. It couldn't be much more portable, it is safe, and being in a pre-emission vehicle, I could probably get a garden hose straight through the filler cap and to the tank. I figure some kind of pump would be handy to. Maybe a 12 volt one that could run off the truck battery to make the transfer a little easier. This is where I've gotten stuck. I haven't been able to find a pump that would be suitable for this. I checked Northern Tool, TSC, Grainger, Gemplers, and a plain old Google search. There just don't seem to be any pumps out there suitable for this application. I have found a couple hand pumps, but they are either really cheap and crappy looking, or very expensive and more suited to either pumping from a 55 gallon drum or a transfer tank. Any suggestions? I'm not crazy about the old mouth full of gas method either.
 
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I see them all the time in auto parts stores, I think made by Mr gasket, usually behind the counter. might not be large flow numbers but for five gallons at a time should work. fifty bucks or so, 12 volt,s probably 3/8 line,compact also holley and carter make electric fuel pumps
 
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Are you saying to use an automotive fuel pump with enough hose on it to reach into the tank on one end the can on the other? With long enough wires I could power something like that from a battery. As long as the battery is far enough away from fumes that sparks wouldn't blow me up.
 
I hadn't thought of that. I was hoping for a nicely packaged setup, but I suppose I could put together something for myself. I guess some fuel hose of the correct size and some long wires with alligator clips should do the job OK.
 
Flatbedford said:
I hadn't thought of that. I was hoping for a nicely packaged setup, but I suppose I could put together something for myself. I guess some fuel hose of the correct size and some long wires with alligator clips should do the job OK.
Click to expand...
I have used this setup for sometime. I had an old facet fuel pump out of an old car and I use a battery booster box to power it. I used a small diameter hose to feed into the tank. If the hose has too large a diameter it will be harder to snake it through the filler pipe.
 
bsa0021 said:
If the hose has too large a diameter it will be harder to snake it through the filler pipe.
Click to expand...

That's the main advantage to using the old truck. The filler pipe is 1" diameter and only about a foot long because the tank is in the cab behind the seat.
 
They sell these for trucks now...not sure about the price thou.

http://www.fueltool.com/
untitled.png
 
I use a kerosene siphon for transferring gas from lawnmowers etc. The kind with a squeeze bulb. Cheap, easy and safe.

Ehouse
 
Shadow&Flame said:
They sell these for trucks now...not sure about the price thou.

http://www.fueltool.com/View attachment 80389[/quote]



neat idea however it wont work with his truck he has a manual pump on the engine, this works off the electric pump in the tank in an EFI engine. he could do something similar if he wanted to tap the fuel line by the carb and add a disconnect or hose
hey flatbed you could probably do that for a few bucks. start the truck and pump fuel...........
Click to expand...
 
to add to the above...............
put a T inline before the carb with a Schrader valve, use a coiled air compessor hose Schader on one end and some sort of nozzle on the other, clip it on, start the truck dispence gas.......probably could even connect it permanent and add a tool box under the hood to store it in
 
I have thought about burying a plastic 55 gallon drum to store fuel, but I think between all the vehicles and tractors, lawn mowers etc there shouild always be enough fuel for an emergency
 
With an easy syphon or pump setup, the old truck would be much more simple than buying, filling, carrying, lifting and storing one of those caddies. The truck is also good because as i drive the truck and top off the tank, I won't have to worry about keeping the gas fresh. The caddie would have to be maintained.
 
I don't understand why this isn't simple. The existing tank has a line that rus down under the cab and then up to the fuel pump on the block right? We had an old chevy with a cab tank behind the seat like that. Kinda creepy. Anyway, that fuel line is never under pressure, it is the suck line that drains the tank into the carb.

Why not just put a tee in the line under your door? A valve or cap will act as your tank drain and allow you to fill your jerry can.
 
Highbeam said:
Why not just put a tee in the line under your door? A valve or cap will act as your tank drain and allow you to fill your jerry can.
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I thought of that last night. I don't remember how exactly the truck is plumbed, but I think it is that simple. The valve and T would always be there. No other crap to keep track of. If it works out, I could sue it to get all the fuel home. No more tanks to haul to the station and back.
 
I had the same concerns about storing lots of gasoline as the orginal poster noted. But, after seeing the post Sandy FUBAR gasoline situation in NYC and NJ, need to rethink things. I had filled up the car and 2 five gal cans for the generator and chain saw a couple of days before the storm was supposed to hit, thinking, hey this will last me. Guess not. Turned out the storm was a non event this far north, and I still have those 10 gals, but next time, I'm buying 20 gals. My garage is cinder block walls, built into a hill, 50 feet from the house. I bought some cinder block, built a well ventialted enclosure off the back and that is where I will store my 20 gals. After 6 mos of storage, the gas in that can will go in to the car, lawnmower, ATV, boat, etc. Then fill with fresh, repeat cycle.

That's my situation and setup, I'm sure others can find a safe way to store 20 gals of gas.

Just glad I live in the boonies and not NYC or NJ
 
Even being 40 miles out of the city where I am is whole other world right now. There are lines and gas rationing down there and up by me I just pull up and pump.
 
Flatbedford said:
With an easy syphon or pump setup, the old truck would be much more simple than buying, filling, carrying, lifting and storing one of those caddies. The truck is also good because as i drive the truck and top off the tank, I won't have to worry about keeping the gas fresh. The caddie would have to be maintained.
Click to expand...

Keeping a truck running is simpler than a cheap device made for the purpose? OK then.
By the way, gas stabilizer works fine.
 
Flatbedford said:
I thought of that last night. I don't remember how exactly the truck is plumbed, but I think it is that simple. The valve and T would always be there. No other crap to keep track of. If it works out, I could sue it to get all the fuel home. No more tanks to haul to the station and back.
Click to expand...

That will only work if the tank drains from the bottom. Pretty unlikely.
 
Retired Guy said:
I would expect that if the T were below the bottom of the tank it would siphon irrespective of the point where the fuel line exits.
Click to expand...

Yeah, as long as you don't run it empty.
 
When it's empty, it's empty. Did you expect to keep siphoning fuel from an empty tank?
 
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