Moving Heating Oil

robinStoryja

Norm, Are you sure about that? Here in NH you can transport up tp 110 gallons without a permit. They use that amount because that's what the fuel tanks on a BST (Big Scarry Truck)are.

Bob Harper

Moving Heating Oil

I had the idea that I could pick up some home heating oil below market value from homeowners that have switched to natural gas. My question is what is the best way to pump it out of an existing oil tank? I was thinking a diagram pump, but if anyone has done this or has suggestions I would appreciate them. I have access to 55 gallon drums and thought moving it in them would be the best idea, but I am open to ideas here too.

Thanks,
Jeff

Norm Harvey

There is a plethora of legal issues involved with transporting fuel oil. Don't think that you can just throw some drums in your pick up truck.

In MA the only way you can transport oil relatively trouble free is 5 gallons at a time.

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Joe_136

I have an friend who heats with used motor oil. What he uses to go pick up larger quanities is a trailer with a large tank on it, and he has a diaphragm pump mounted on the trailer. His particular pump is air operated and usually where he goes to get oil has electricity so he takes a small compressor along to run the pump. I have also seen him use a small cylinder of CO2 regulated down to power the pump when there was no 110 available for the compressor.

It does a good job- even with thick, cold oil. He brings the oil home and stores it in larger holding tanks to let water and etc. settle to the bottom and then drains that out and disposes of that.

So, yes, a diaphragm pump is good.

lee_7

Most states have a Haz mat classification on their commercial licenses to protect the public from this. Check with your state to find out how much you can legally transport without the commercial license.

But is the savings worth the trouble? Liability insurance for waste removal? Emergency spill equipment required in case you spill? Equipment to pump and store oil? Filtering equipment? Who gets rid of tanks? Permits for tank removal? Certification for tank removal? The list goes on and on.

Seems like a lot of work if you do not have the equipment and insurance already.

Just my $.02

Chris S

In a meeting I had with a NYS DOT official I was told that the limit was a combined 700 pound of fuel. The 110 gallons referred to above would fit into this. The change allows us to now carry LP tanks again without a hazmat cert. The way it ws explained to me, you can carry a mix of fuels (acetylene, LPG, diesel,gasoline) on a commercial vehicle up to the weight limit- without any placard, or special endorsement.

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Tekkie

I would not like to be....

The firefighter coming out to put your truck fire with non placarded materials. The first thing out would be the binoculars and no rescue attempt would be authorized....