Should 275 gallon oil tank in basement be kept full over summer?

RTW · May 22

My 275 gal oil tank in basement is about empty, but its only used for the boiler thats off for the summer. Should I get an oil delivery now or can I wait until the Fall if oil is not needed until then? Inotherwords, is there a downside to an almost empty tank over the summer months?

Regards,

RTW

Intplm. · May 22

The upside might be the price of oil. Check the prices to see how much the prices go down during the warm weather months when few "will call" customers are buying oil. ( Assuming you are not on auto delivery.)

With that little amount of fuel, you can have some moisture build up and mix with the oil. This should not pose a problem with a well-serviced boiler and a good-quality filter on your burner.

If this is indeed serving a boiler, and if the boiler has a domestic HW coil, you will need to keep an adequate amount of oil in the tank to heat the domestic hot water.

The key is a well maintained boiler.

WMno57 · May 22

Oil is cheaper in the summer, and keeping the tank full displaces humid air which causes water in the fuel, problems with BioDiesel, and rusting of the tank.

True for Gasoline, Diesel, Cars, Construction Equipment, and lawnmowers. Borderline call with a snow blower or generator that sits for 11 months. Otherwise, keep the tanks full.

Intplm. · May 22

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1802306#Comment_1802306

Ah yes, a very good point. I was speaking only too the oil quality and burner performance. Thanks forsharing.

leonz · May 22

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/197146/should-275-gallon-oil-tank-in-basement-be-kept-full-over-summer

Be sure to buy a bottle of HEET or 911 fuel treatment to treat the load of fuel when you recieve it.

WMno57 · May 22

I'm not a user or believer in any of the elixirs or additives.

Stabil, HEET, 911, Lucas.

Lucas Oil treatment is a subtractive. It dilutes the additive package in motor oil.

Snake Oil.

Just keep the tanks full.

WMno57 · May 22

HVACNUT · May 22

Dear Headline, yes.

RTW · May 22

P.S. The tank feed to line to boiler is mounted underneath bottom of tank if that is a factor ( not mounted on the side of tank) Tank must be at least 60 years old with no signs of deterioration.

EBEBRATT-Ed · May 23

All tanks come off the bottom with the feed line now. Some older tanks came off the end at the bottom.

Dave Carpentier · May 27

60 years old ? Is the tank is tipped towards the outlet, or away ?

EdTheHeaterMan · May 28

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1802618#Comment_1802618

Yea that is a great question. I would like to know this also. Since there is much debate herein, about tank bottom deposits accumulation being less when the bottom outlet is at the lower end of the tank.

I also agree that a full tank in the summer is better than an empty tank in the basement. Humid summer air can enter thru the vent. cold basement air can cause the humidity to condense on the inside walls of the tank. You can get a few ounces of water per summer x 60 years = lots of water.

Dave Carpentier · May 28

@EdTheHeaterMan - I keep thinking I should cut a chunk out of the bottom of my ~22yr old (empty and not in use) tank and measure the thickness. The factory stamp says 2.5mm wall thickness.

EdTheHeaterMan · May 28

You will find that there is missing metal where there was water setting for some time.

On an older tank you may find that there are actually pinholes that are blocked by the bottom sludge. Cleaning a 60 year old tank bottom may actually start a small weeping from one of those pin holes. Ask me how I know!

Want to read about a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent? look here

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/197121/removing-old-tank

Not so much the solution the the problem, but the interaction between LRCCBJ and me. Quite a battle! LOL