I'm considering storing kerosene in a couple 50 gallon drums in the garage, any suggestions or concerns that I should be aware of? Can i use the plastic drums for kero? Thanks.

-- Preparing (central@Ohio.com), July 09, 1999

Answers

I've yet to read a definitive answer to your question. I have both plastic & steel drums which I can use for kerosene.

The archives, located at the bottom of the TB2000 Classic Forum, contain several threads which seemed to do little but cloud the issue. Par for the course, eh!

I'll be monitoring this thread with great interest.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 09, 1999.

A word of caution. Clearly mark your containers. This may seem like a duh but last week my weedeater wasn't working right so I decided to mix some new fuel. I wasen't paying attention and grabbed some kerosine on accident! I adjusted the carb. and poured in the new fuel and started it up. Boy did it smoke! I used it for about 45 minutes before I realized what I had done. This -so far- is the stupidest thing I have done in preparing for y2k.

-- Johnny (JLJTM@BELLSOUTH.NET), July 09, 1999.

Let's put it this way........my fuel company delivers my kerosene in plastic drums. Blue, food grade, no less, but still plastic. [Actually, the deliver the empty drum, pump it full, and put the caps on it.]

Kero stores well :)

-- de (delewis@iXinetone.ent), July 09, 1999.

Preparing : I have mentioned this idea before about storage of Kerosene. For those who don't have access to 55 gallon barrels, find old /or resently discarded water heaters, Many are 40 gal some are 50 gallon. Remove the lower heating element and open the main drain at the bottom. You will have taken off the galvinized fittings at the top ,where the hot/cold water enters. Take your water heater down to the local car wash and use the high pressure suds cycle to wash out all the old calcium and rust. The rinse the tank the same way. Let the tank air dry for several days and keep the drains open leaning on or against a wall at an angle. Use a flashlight to inspect the tank for any rust or particles of stuff still inside. If you do use a small wet/dry vaccum cleaner to finish the project. Now you have whatever size tank for actually free storage of kerosene. Hey, I have three tanks already cleaned and ready for fuel. To be sure you get clean fuel, set the tank up off the ground about the size of your gas cans. Place a funnel in the can and open the main drain with a painters filter in the funnel, or use a coffee filter to do the same thing. It does work !!! And why advertise you have Kerosene barrels ??? Who would look in water heaters for fuel..... Of course you don't hook it back up, duh , place them in the garage in each corner with galvinized screw plugs in the hot/cold threaded holes. Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), July 09, 1999.