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Question about old heating oil tank Logic316 10-31-2008
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Posted by Logic316 on October 31, 2008, 11:48 pm

My heating oil tank is pretty old, and is located in my basement. I have no
idea how much rust might be inside it. Is there any way to gauge it's
structural integrity and approximate remaining lifespan? And should it
spring a leak one day, is there any trick for quickly patching an oil leak
just until a new tank can be installed? They say that with leaky automobile
gas tanks, you can rub a bar of soap into the hole and it would hold for a
while, would that work?

- Logic316


"Science is not a sacred cow. Science is a horse. Don't worship it. Feed
it."



Posted by z on November 1, 2008, 12:46 am
> My heating oil tank is pretty old, and is located in my basement. I have =
no
> idea how much rust might be inside it. Is there any way to gauge it's
> structural integrity and approximate remaining lifespan? And should it
> spring a leak one day, is there any trick for quickly patching an oil lea=
k
> just until a new tank can be installed? They say that with leaky automobi=
le
> gas tanks, you can rub a bar of soap into the hole and it would hold for =
a
> while, would that work?
> - Logic316
> "Science is not a sacred cow. Science is a horse. Don't worship it. Feed
> it."

they sell plastic pans that fit under the tank to catch leaks; you're
supposed to eyeball it frequently enough, i guess. i presume any leak
from rust will start out slowly, rather than just blow.

i note that commercial buildings around here which install new oil
tanks outside now put them in a large concrete bathtub which would
hold the entire tank contents.

Posted by on November 1, 2008, 1:09 am
On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:48:52 -0400, "Logic316"

>My heating oil tank is pretty old, and is located in my basement. I have no
>idea how much rust might be inside it. Is there any way to gauge it's
>structural integrity and approximate remaining lifespan? And should it
>spring a leak one day, is there any trick for quickly patching an oil leak
>just until a new tank can be installed? They say that with leaky automobile
>gas tanks, you can rub a bar of soap into the hole and it would hold for a
>while, would that work?

        Dump a cup or two or very fine sawdust in it.

>- Logic316
>"Science is not a sacred cow. Science is a horse. Don't worship it. Feed
>it."

--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
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Posted by Logic316 on November 1, 2008, 5:03 pm

> On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:48:52 -0400, "Logic316"
>>My heating oil tank is pretty old, and is located in my basement. I have
>>no
>>idea how much rust might be inside it. Is there any way to gauge it's
>>structural integrity and approximate remaining lifespan? And should it
>>spring a leak one day, is there any trick for quickly patching an oil leak
>>just until a new tank can be installed? They say that with leaky
>>automobile
>>gas tanks, you can rub a bar of soap into the hole and it would hold for a
>>while, would that work?
> Dump a cup or two or very fine sawdust in it.

Oh yeah, I forgot all about my jar of fine sawdust oil coagulant, it's in my
garage right next to the box of muffler bearings and the quart of blinker
fluid.

- Logic316

Logic: n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the
limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding.
-- Ambrose Bierce



Posted by on November 1, 2008, 6:29 pm
On Sat, 1 Nov 2008 17:03:17 -0400, "Logic316"

>> On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:48:52 -0400, "Logic316"
>>>My heating oil tank is pretty old, and is located in my basement. I have
>>>no
>>>idea how much rust might be inside it. Is there any way to gauge it's
>>>structural integrity and approximate remaining lifespan? And should it
>>>spring a leak one day, is there any trick for quickly patching an oil leak
>>>just until a new tank can be installed? They say that with leaky
>>>automobile
>>>gas tanks, you can rub a bar of soap into the hole and it would hold for a
>>>while, would that work?
>> Dump a cup or two or very fine sawdust in it.
>Oh yeah, I forgot all about my jar of fine sawdust oil coagulant, it's in my
>garage right next to the box of muffler bearings and the quart of blinker
>fluid.

        And don't forget to put the winter air in your tires, it's
getting cold out :-)


--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo online at www.pmilligan.net/palm/
Free 'People finder' program now at www.pmilligan.net/finder.htm

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