Storing gasoline

[mhorowit]

There is a good possibility I will relocate the beast to a grass strip with a hanger, sometime in the early summer. This is a strip without any facilities, so I'll need to bring in my own fuel.

I'm looking for the safest way to store gasoline.

In the hanger, outside the hanger, in one large containor, multiple small ones?

What do you do? - Mike

[jgerard]

Re: Storing gasoline

I keep a few 7 gal plastic cans of fuel at the "Farm strip" The plane sits in an open hangar and the cans are basicaly in the open. No problems yet. I use a special funnel that will not let water pass through the screen. I never get more than a few drops of water out of the sump on preflight, and only when the plane has been sitting for a week with 1/2 tank or less. My biggest headache is overfilling the tank, but that's all my fault.

I would ask the owner of the grass strip if anyone is storing fuel there, and how they store it. You may have to keep it in a fire proof cabinet to meet "code" Not a bad idea anyway because then you can lock it up along with other chemicals.

Jason
N43643

[selje]

Re: Storing gasoline

I store my gasoline in 2 1/2 gallon metal gasoline cans (good size for lifting and pouring). A metal funnel from a tractor store will fit in the tank and lock in place just like the gas cap. A grounding wire with an alligator clip on each end is used to ground the can and funnel.

[AlvinMcIver]

Re: Storing gasoline

In the March, 2003, issue of Light Plane Maintenance there is an article on "Fueling Safety" with a description of a "Y" grounding cord. I made one with three lines (16g braided, each about 5' in length) with an aligator clip on one end of each of the three lines and the other end of the three lines joining to one (14g braided, about 10' in length) with a old clip from a battery charger at the far end. Clip the one single line to a grounding point, clip one of the three to the gas can, one to the funnel and one to the wing tank. I use plastic cans and put one of those metal sock strainers used on washing machine discharge hoses on the spout of the can (snap tied on) to which I clip the grounding wire. I tested it all to make sure that it was grounded before use. When I go to the airport, I stop on the way and fill my 5 gal can (I may switch to 2 three gal cans as the 5 gal can is getting harder to handle), fly, and transfer the 5 gals to the empty wing tank. Since 1 out of 3 or 1 out of 4 times I fill with 100LL, my tanks stay full and I don't end up storing gas any except in the plane. The plane is hangared and I have never had any water (or alcohol) in the fuel. If anyone would like a copy of the article, I could scan and email it.

[mhorowit]

Re: Storing gasoline

Thanks for mentioning the grounding.
Anyone know how/if I'll get a build up of static while using plastic storage tanks? - Mike

[paulnuss]

Re: Storing gasoline

Plastic gas cans will build up a significant static charge when pouring, and can be dangerous. Perhaps someone can remember (I can't) where there was an article not too long ago in an aviation magazine about this practice, and some recommendations they made.

[AlvinMcIver]

Re: Storing gasoline

See Article in March 2003 Light Plane Maintenance about plastic containers, static electricity and grounding.

[mhorowit]

Re: Storing gasoline

I did find this on the web, using your search terms:

Do all kinds of containers have to be bonded or grounded?

You only need to bond those containers that conduct electricity, such as those made from metal or special, conductive plastics.

If a container is made from a material that does not conduct electricity, such as polyethylene plastic or glass, bonding or grounding is not necessary: in fact grounding the container will not have any effect .

[AlvinMcIver]

Re: Storing gasoline

Electricity is a mystery to me, however, I believe that while some things won't conduct electricity, they can be a party to a shocking time. For example, leather and wool (neither of which conduct electricity well) when rubbed create a heck of a spark (think shuffling shoes across a carpet).

The article I referenced states, " Gasoline is an electrically insulating fluid that will absorb a surface static charge from the fluid motion through a plastic or metal funnel. . . . When a sufficient charge potential exists between the flowing gasoline and ground, the discharge can create a 2,000-degree F spark. . . . plastics are insulators (nonconductors) and because they are difficult to ground, the randomness of static discharge fires has become less random and infinitely more risky."

The article goes on to say that "Stuffing metal screen material inside the plastic containers and the funnel neck will allow the "Y" ground connections to be made, but understand that this is an imperfect situation and random discharges are always possible."

It seems as though one wants to ground everything when fueling. After re-reading it, I believe that I will go out and buy a metal funnel and some metal 3 gal cans if I can find them.

[mhorowit]

Re: Storing gasoline

[QUOTE=AlvinMcIver] I use plastic cans and put one of those metal sock strainers used on washing machine discharge hoses on the spout of the can (snap tied on) to which I clip the grounding wire.

So the metal sock slips over the plastic spout like a condom, right?
You say "snap tied on" - not familiar with that phrase. Please explain - Mike

[WLT]

Re: Storing gasoline

Deleted 6/18/05

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Storing gasoline

As you quoted Alan,gas is an electrically insulating fluid.However,when the fumes or a spray or a splash of gas is given an ample supply of oxygen and add a low humidity situation,you have a recipe for disaster.

I use plastic cans along with the "Super Siphon",a ten dollar piece of vynl hose with a check valve that allows fuel to move only one way. A few dunks in the gas can and fuel flows from the gas can to the bottom of my fuel tank. Soon the gas is flowing and the siphon submerged at both ends. There is no surface static charge to be built up now because the refueling is submerged and the fuel is insulated from static!? Correct me if I am wrong...anyone! You now have no splashing from fuel running into a funnel or through a pump nozzle filler neck that splashes fuel into a fuel tank with fumes. There is still the possibility of creating a spark by friction from your clothing brushing the aircraft I know. One way to lessen the chance of static discharge is to stay in contact with it during the refueling process Nothing is fool proof I know. I suppose an anti-static spray and or anti-static cloths would be smart,especially when the "static dampening"effect of humidity is low such as the case in cold dry winters or hot dry deserts.

I guess we hijacked the thread huh Mike? Important subject and I know of cases of loss of life and property as a result of static discharge induced fires and explosions. I think input from others would be invaluable. Please share your information folks.

As to your question Mike...I store my fuel outside in a 300 gallon tank along with five gallon containers. I avoid storing fuel inside if possible. some times I have a five in the garage though. I should not.

Jim

The article I referenced states, " Gasoline is an electrically insulating fluid that will absorb a surface static charge from the fluid motion through a plastic or metal funnel. . . . When a sufficient charge potential exists between the flowing gasoline and ground, the discharge can create a 2,000-degree F spark. . . . plastics are insulators (nonconductors) and because they are difficult to ground, the randomness of static discharge fires has become less random and infinitely more risky."

[NC95842]

Re: Storing gasoline

One of the difficulties I always seem to have is that if I leave an empty can in my car and the day gets hot my car fills with fumes. Then not only am I flying a little “high” but I am driving “high” too.

This should put a little fear in all of us: not to long ago after a long run up I put the power on and started down the runway. Just before take off speed the motor started to spuder and cut off completely. I had to hop out and push the plane back halfway down the runway just to find that the screen had filled with water. I had drained it from the bottom but over time some water made it into the screen. Now every week or two I open the gasalator just to have a look.

I was thinking of buying a racing fuel cell and a small pump so maybe I could fill with a little more control and I would not be driving a bomb around town.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Storing gasoline

What I did, was I took an aluminum tent pole section, ( the kind that three sections telescope together ), and slide the smaller diameter section into the plastic nozzle on the plastic tank. The tent pole section is then clamped with the grounding strap.

[AlvinMcIver]

Re: Storing gasoline

"Like a condom" - that's correct for the spout of the gas can; I also put one inside the funnell and then ran a copper wire which was soldered to the metal sock up out of the funnel and wrapped it around the lip of the funnel in order to have something to ground. With all that work and the concerns raised, it seems as though it would be easier to just use a metal funnel and cans and ground those.

"Snap tie" - wire tie; those nylon strip thingies that thread back through themselves. Snap tie must be a local term, like "crick" for creek and "racer's tape" for duct tape. I scanned the article on fueling safety -- which seems to agree (in a bit more technical manner) with all that has been said. If anyone wants a copy, I can email it to them.