Hello all,

I have several old drums I want to store gas in. They did have hydraulic fluid in them. How do I clean them so I don't contaminate my gas?

Thanks

-- Stacia (ClassyCwgl@aol.com), September 27, 1999

Answers

Rent a steam cleaner from an equipment rental firm.

-- A. Hambley (a.hambley@usa.net), September 27, 1999.

A steam cleaner won't help much as long as the hyd fluid was heavy petroleum. Rinsing several times with a reasonable quantity of gas would be the only way I could think of. particularly as you would have to remove whatever detergent you used if you considered the steam cleaner. the only drawback is you have to dispose of the gas you use responsibly and that could be a BIG problem.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 27, 1999.

i distribute for a company that sells enzyme-stuff that eats petroleum products. e-mail me your address; i will send you a brochure or something. (if you want, don't feel pressured.)

-- sarah (qubr@aol.com), September 27, 1999.

If it's red-pigmented, oil-based, hydraulic fluid (MIL-SPEC 5606) you're going to need some sort of solvent to cut through. And then you're going to have a disposal problem for the used solvents.

If you've got drums used for the newer fire-resistant, vegeteble-oil based (MIL-SPEC 83232) hydraulic fluid, then your clean-out might be able to be done with a steam cleaner. But again, you will need to be concerned about waste disposal. However you might be able to find a local business which can handle such a clean-out job for you.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), September 27, 1999.