Oil tank fill tube (inside tank)

J.C.A._3

Had diverters on the bottom of them, to shoot the oil out to the sides of the tank when filling from a very low point. This kept the oil from going straight into the "spooge", and stirring it up too much.

If you find one, usually they have been a problem tank for quite a while. Heck most of the ones I used to find had already been changed to top feed tanks shortly after the tube/diverter was installed.

BTW Maine Ken, most AREN'T caused by improperly installed fittings, but by a combination of poor welds on the collars, the guy OVERFILLING the tank being asleep at the switch or my favorite....I'll fill it just a bit more after the whistle stops....Maybe I won't have to come out here so soon..... Chris

Unknown

You know on old tanks sometimes you find a tube in the fill pipe that directs the oil to the bottom of the tank?

What were those for? What was the bennefit (aside from putting money in the pockets of the guy who sold those tubes) Does it stop the bushings at the top of the tank from leaking oil, or is that just from newer oil trucks filling at 80+ gallons a minute?

Thanks in advance
- Norm

[Deleted User]

Funny thing about

those tubes - they keep the foam off the top of the oil. Get more gallons in & cleaner whistle cutoffs.

Maine Ken

Anti foam tubes? And the leaks are from improperly installed fittings.

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Maine Ken

In my neck of the woods, you find saddlebags along with nice teflon coated joints and/ or barely tight joints. All from IMPROPER workmanship. If the guy is asleep at the fill or trying to get that extra in how do you explain the hundreds of crossover connected tanks with NO leaks.

All the ones that I find and the HO wants fixed. I take apart, clean and put back together with no more leaks. (maybe new drivers:) )

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J.C.A._3

Maybe.........

But, you're the guy that has to fix their screw-ups..

Hammer it into the drivers heads that when the whistle stops....it stops for a reason. FILL AND SPILL Isn't an option for me. I steadfastly refuse to do it. Crossovers are OUT. No-way, No How, will I subject my license to such bafoonery.

A couple more gallons WILL fit in, no doubt...But if the temp. outside rises 10 ° between the day they delivered, and the next day after a "top-off", it has to go somewhere.

BTW, No Teflon on oil connections!!! A pansy installing a fitting has no place piping an oil tank...and I agree improper workmanship is the biggest contributor to a poor tank install, but the overfill is the biggest cause of "top O' the tank leaks. Chris

[Deleted User]

Amazing.

From many years of tank installations, I have found that methods to reduce, or eliminate foaming, results in larger deliveries & fewer spills (leaks). Many of the foam clouded vent signals sound like a choking bird, rather than a clear whistle. The miserable signal, & gurgling cutoff, leads all GOOD, & many not so good, drivers to wait & try to maximize the fill.

A few extra, SAFE, gallons could be the difference between making, or not making, a profit on the fill. Seems like we should do everything possible to accomodate.

And. Crossovers all the way. Just do them right.

J.C.A._3

Ron,

If you're comfortable doing them....fine. Keep on brother. I've done a few and the results aren't what I want, so I choose to go with two fills and a single vent. Personal choice and in my opinion a safer and less chancy way of doing it. Again, I know it's legal,but I just don't do it.

The experience began with my parents home. The "spill and fill" was done there, and it worked for about the first 3 fills, then I could smell oil everytime I walked in the door.There were no leaks from the fittings, but the area surrounding the welded collars was "seeping" on the fill and plugged ports of the #1 tank.As soon as I was licensed, I changed it to 2 fills.
After wiping all the overfill from the tank top, and treating it with stink stop....no more smells. This, of course, is just my opinion.

BTW, does anyone agree that this is why the tank tube was installed?(remember the original question?) Chris

[Deleted User]

Yes.

Tank tubes were installed to stop foaming. Don't use them on 275/330, single or double. Found another way to reduce foaming. However, on built-in-place tanks, we extend a 2" stub 18" into tank. Whistle is clear & cutoff is sharp. Max fills. No spills.

Can't remember having leaking welds @ thread-o-lets on 12 gage tanks. 14 gage - yes. But, that was a different era.