Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

[lakelover]

Anyone know about this? My fuel gauge on a 275 gal oil tank doesn't work and I want to figure out how much oil I have in there. Tank measures 27 x 44 x 60", horizontal.

I put a stick in and measured 14-1/2" of oil; according to one on-line chart I found, that's about 150 gallons. How does that sound? Just seems a lot more than I thought was in there.

 

[rbh]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

The total depth of the tank divided by the depth of fuel?? shouldn't that be a percentage of total fuel?


My math needs some improving.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

Sort of, but you'd need to account for the rounding of the oval shape, which the charts do. I've found other charts that agree on the 150 gal., so maybe that is right.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

Remove the guadge,cap the hole,see whats wrong with the guadge you have. The one at work did not work for years,till I started there. I took it out,found the articulated arm had lost it's rivit where it was supposed to pivot. Replaced rivit with a stainless bolt,and nylock nut,snugged just so it would pivot,good to go! Simple fix. Besides,I'm shure you could buy a new guadge from a fuel tank supplier...
Grub

 

[lakelover]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

The gauge hasn't worked right for a long time, I had repaired it before. But I'm getting rid of the tank and want to know about how many gallons I have so I can try to sell the oil.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

I just happen to have a book in my cabinet for oil tanks - here is a scan

 

[nwcove]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

The total depth of the tank divided by the depth of fuel?? shouldn't that be a percentage of total fuel?


My math needs some improving.

i agree, ( not that your math needs improving! lol) but at that measurement my math adds up to 137g, minus the curve at the bottom of the tank. id guess about 100g of fuel, of which about 80g is available. ( unless your tank dumps from the bottom as opposed to 2" up on the end) jmo

 

[lakelover]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

Thanks for the scan, Bob. I don't know why, but the 70 gallons seems more in line with what I was guessing. I don't get the difference in the charts though, both show the same tank dimensions.

I'll be able to get all of it out because it will either be pumped out, or even if it's drained from the bottom outlet, it is unhooked from the fill & vent pipes, so it can be tipped up and practically all the oil will be accessible.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

Mystery just solved----Ha! I was reading my chart wrong! I was looking at the column for a horizontally installed tank, mine is vertical. I misunderstood how they were using those two terms in relation to the installation. So it does look like about just over 80 gallons.

 

[rbh]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

i agree, ( not that your math needs improving! lol) but at that measurement my math adds up to 137g, minus the curve at the bottom of the tank. id guess about 100g of fuel, of which about 80g is available. ( unless your tank dumps from the bottom as opposed to 2" up on the end) jmo

Sliver tongue (kind words ) east coaster LOL

 

[nwcove]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

Sliver tongue (kind words ) east coaster LOL

been called many things.......but never a sliver tongued east coaster!!!??? :lol: :lol:

 

[rbh]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

been called many things.......but never a sliver tongued east coaster!!!??? :lol: :lol:

OOPs, sliver=silver.

Damn need glasses and math skills BAHAHAHA

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Dipstick-ing a 275 gallon oil tank

My math says ~ 115 USG.
The approximation that I used is that the curved section is nearly semi-circular....radius would be 1/2 of the 27"... so you essentially have a 1/2 cylinder....that just over full....