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Kerosene from Ground Tanks
It's getting harder and harder to buy Jet A around here due to the increased scrutiny airports are receiving from TSA and DHS. I can get kerosene in 5-gallon cans from the hardware store for $9 per gallon, or I can buy it from the pump at a local convenience store for $3.79 per gallon. I've never gone the latter route because I'm afraid of contaminants in the ground tank, especially this time of year when the kerosene in the ground has probably been there for months.
Am I being silly? Anyone out there routinely use kerosene from ground tanks without problems? |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
I did have a problem once with getting Kero from an oil company with inground tanks.
I use 2 funnels when I filter my Kero into my flight jug. A fine fine mesh screen in a funnel and the Mr. Funnel. It had cloged both so many times with crap that I ended up just dumping the 5 gallons. I now get it from the Local hardware store that has an above ground 250 gallon tank. I have no problems with them for the last year or two. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Nothing wrong with going to the corner gas station and getting Kero from the underground tanks, been doing that for 8 years now...... I use a filter on my pick up line in side my blue fuel jug. Never a problem..
Mark |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
You never know. I had a problem once 4-5 years ago with kero from a local hardware store that has an above ground tank. After that I bought a Mr. Funnel and add algaeside to each batch I buy.
I now buy from a local gas station that has a pretty high volume business. I always buy from the same station and have yet to find any contamination in the Mr Funnel. The best advise is to get a Mr. Funnel and always buy it from the same station (unless you have a bad experience there). Joe |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
I purchase most of my Kero from a local service station that has an in ground tank and regular fuel pump on the drive next to the gas pumps. I do tripple filter it, pumping first into a 6 gallon can that has it's own pump. From there the oil is mixed and then pumped through two filters into my line can. One more filter here as it goes into the jet tank. No problems so far.
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Never had a problem from Pump Kero;)
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
been getting kero from hess in ny/nj for years never had a proplem
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
I am thinking about using Kero since Its easier to get and its cleaner to burn. I use coffee filters on everything as I pour it in the jug
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: trioval00 Nothing wrong with going to the corner gas station and getting Kero from the underground tanks, been doing that for 8 years now...... I use a filter on my pick up line in side my blue fuel jug. Never a problem.. Mark My experience as well. There is nothing inherent in an "in ground" tank. I used to be a retailer if "In Ground" fuel. Most fuel at most airports is, in fact, "In ground" fuel!! It's stored in ground and then pumped into a truck for dispensing into aircraft. It's about the volume of sales and how well any tank is maintained/sumped, whether above or in ground. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
I personally would be more worried about an above ground tank due to the changing temp above ground could cause more condensation in the tank . I have always bought kero from the gas station with a in ground tank . Never a problem for me .
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
> It's about the volume of sales and how well any tank is maintained/sumped, whether above or in ground
That's what bothers me. The convenience store that has the kero has been around for 30 or more years. I suspect the tank has been in the ground that long, too, and I doubt if they ever sump it, check it for water, etc. I'd hate to lose a jet over it, but the $9 a gallon they get at Home Depot is outrageous. I think it's time to try the convenience store, be diligent about filtering, and see how it goes. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Not sure about the state of TN, but many states in the past 10 years, all gas stations had to remove the old metal tanks and go with the new fiberglass leak proof tanks...... again, NEVER had an issue with below grade tanks....
Mark |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: Jeffpro > It's about the volume of sales and how well any tank is maintained/sumped, whether above or in ground That's what bothers me. The convenience store that has the kero has been around for 30 or more years. I suspect the tank has been in the ground that long, too, and I doubt if they ever sump it, check it for water, etc. I'd hate to lose a jet over it, but the $9 a gallon they get at Home Depot is outrageous. I think it's time to try the convenience store, be diligent about filtering, and see how it goes. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Not sure about the state of TN, but many states in the past 10 years, all gas stations had to remove the old metal tanks and go with the new fiberglass leak proof tanks...... again, NEVER had an issue with below grade tanks.... When I was selling the stuff tho (owned/operated an FBO) the tanks had been in the ground for 20 years or more and there simply wasn't an issue. YMMV, even with an above ground tank. It's all about the care taken by the vendor. Don. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
The convenience store that has the kero has been around for 30 or more years. I suspect the tank has been in the ground that long, too, and I doubt if they ever sump it, check it for water, etc. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
fresh kero,,? im using kero i bought 10 years ago. i truked fuel to airports for over 12 years,,,jet fuel is filtered when ever it moves from on tank to another. kero is a highly refined fuel. just not filtered like jet. you can put your kero in a gal glass jug and let it sit over-night and look for crap. then pour it slowley into you flying contanier though a coffee filter in a funnel. you should have a filter in your aircraft too. dont get too anal.
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Hey guys,
You mention a device called "Mr Funnel", where do you get it from? I looked online at Lowes, Home Depot, Advance Auto, Pep Boys, etc and the only place I could find it was through online purchase. I would rather buy it local if I can. In reference to Kero, most of the convenience stores in my area have it so I have a choice (3 out of every 5 stores). 95% of it is the red dyed non taxable stuff that is not suppose to hurt the turbine but I take a 12 mile trip to a Hess station that carries the clear stuff for a few pennies more ($3.79 per gallon instead of $3.65). Thanks in advance for the Mr Funnel info. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_6iu6d5ys8k_e
http://www.mrfunnel.com/Mr._Funnel/Models.html I used these for my ultralights,, even found water in the gas once. Good Funnel Tim |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
You Guys are lucky that you have that option. Living in AZ there is no Kero sold at Gas Stations. About the only place we can buy Kero is at ACE or any of the large hardware stores. Very expensive. Not much avaliable in the summer for obvious reasons.
I have been using JetA when I can get some. Stan |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Misster tuscon, i am finnaly found you. How come you never tel me price of Tudor plane that you by ? And no more making funs with my name, yes.
Eduardo |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Nearly 13 years using Kero from the local Kiwi Sak without any problems.[8D]
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Another option, if you can legally store it, is the 55 gal drum.
I used to buy kero from the hardware store in the 5 gal jugs. Then the prices started to go throughout the roof, i mean $50 for 5 gal, com'on. Then I started getting the 55 gal drum delivered to my work. It is WAY cheaper and actually is a lot more convenient. I have a special room to store it in, but not sure my homeowners insurance would cover me in a fire if I kept it at home. Billy |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: Billy Another option, if you can legally store it, is the 55 gal drum. I used to buy kero from the hardware store in the 5 gal jugs. Then the prices started to go throughout the roof, i mean $50 for 5 gal, com'on. Then I started getting the 55 gal drum delivered to my work. It is WAY cheaper and actually is a lot more convenient. I have a special room to store it in, but not sure my homeowners insurance would cover me in a fire if I kept it at home. Billy Stan |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
I've only bought ground kero once & it was contaminated, some gritty looking residue that was fine enough to slip through my filtering material & it always looked cloudy with this crap. I ended up giving it away to a guy to wash greasy parts with but wasted my oil which I put in the drum previously.
For the Aussie readers the servo was the Liberty on the corner of Gilba & Targo roads, Pendle Hill in NSW - avoid it! Looks like you US guys have better luck, kero is just about extinct in OZ except in little bottles from the hardware store. - John. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Thanks Tim,
I found the same links online, still looking for a local purchase place such as Walmart, Target or ???? If I have to I will order one online later this week. Thanks v/r Ken |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
First of all Turbines will run on kero, white spirit, diesel, cooking oil !! you cant really have bad kero only snag will be how clean and free from water it is, 30year old kero filtered through a MR Funnel will run fine.
Buy your kero where you can get it the cheapest, after you buy it, filter it through a Mr Funnel into another container and add the oil. Then filter the mixed fuel again through the Mr Funnel each time you fill up your Fuelling station. You should also have a filter in your fuelling station line, and we also fit one now on board the aircraft in the fill line before the tank. If you follow this you wont have any problems as the Mr.Funnel WILL remove all contaminates and any water from any fuel bought anywhere. as you Americans say PERIOD! |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: tucson You Guys are lucky that you have that option. Living in AZ there is no Kero sold at Gas Stations. About the only place we can buy Kero is at ACE or any of the large hardware stores. Very expensive. Not much avaliable in the summer for obvious reasons. I have been using JetA when I can get some. Stan We have a station here in Phoenix called supreme oil co. They sell fuel wholesale and retail and have kero. All of us jet guys go there with 5 gal cans and fuel up. Maybe you can find a place like this in tucson or even make a run up here with a bunch of cans, it would be worth it. The kero is 1/2 the cost of the Ace hardware stuff. There is a variety of scenarios where kero can be contaminated either at the station or from the wholesale level. I would prefer above ground if i had the choice.The most consistent fuel is going to be the stuff at ace, home depot etc. I have been buying kero at the place stated in this post with zero problems, i believe they have an above ground tank farm there. I do not use any special filtering, just an automotive fram filter on my fuel can. Find a good reliable source and stay with that same station. Vin... |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: Vincent ORIGINAL: tucson You Guys are lucky that you have that option. Living in AZ there is no Kero sold at Gas Stations. About the only place we can buy Kero is at ACE or any of the large hardware stores. Very expensive. Not much avaliable in the summer for obvious reasons. I have been using JetA when I can get some. Stan We have a station here in Phoenix called supreme oil co. They sell fuel wholesale and retail and have kero. All of us jet guys go there with 5 gal cans and fuel up. Maybe you can find a place like this in tucson or even make a run up here with a bunch of cans, it would be worth it. The kero is 1/2 the cost of the Ace hardware stuff. There is a variety of scenarios where kero can be contaminated either at the station or from the wholesale level. I would prefer above ground if i had the choice.The most consistent fuel is going to be the stuff at ace, home depot etc. I have been buying kero at the place stated in this post with zero problems, i believe they have an above ground tank farm there. I do not use any special filtering, just an automotive fram filter on my fuel can. Find a good reliable source and stay with that same station. Vin... I did hear about that one. They have a place in Tucson but do not sell by the gallon. Only in Phoenix. We have a Son and grandchildren that have just moved to Phoenix, my Wife informs me that we will be making grandchildren runs. I have my Empty 5 gallon cans ready to go:) Stan |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: KXH121 Thanks Tim, I found the same links online, still looking for a local purchase place such as Walmart, Target or ???? If I have to I will order one online later this week. Thanks v/r Ken Try the Boating/Marine Supply stores in your area. Joe |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Try this dealer locator: http://www.mrfunnel.com/Mr._Funnel/Dealer_Locator.html
Got mine from a local Harbor Freight store but they don't show them on their website anymore... |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: Jeffpro > I'd hate to lose a jet over it, but the $9 a gallon they get at Home Depot is outrageous. I think it's time to try the convenience store, be diligent about filtering, and see how it goes. |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
Thanks Joe and RamFlyer,
I ended up buying the 3.2 GPM model online since the closest source seems to be 79 miles away from me. I don't need it right away so I can wait for Ms. UPS or Mrs. USPS to deliver Mr. Funnel. v/r Ken |
RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
I get mine on the way to the flying field. Mapco has it 3.99/gal. It is an above ground tank. I've never had an issue but, in some years during the summer months, they stopped selling it. I guess if they run out around June, they're not in a big hurry to restock. I'd say we're the only ones buying kero in the summer around here. I've never used the Mr funnel, but it sounds like a good idea.
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RE: Kerosene from Ground Tanks
ORIGINAL: daisy shoot ORIGINAL: Jeffpro > I'd hate to lose a jet over it, but the $9 a gallon they get at Home Depot is outrageous. I think it's time to try the convenience store, be diligent about filtering, and see how it goes. |
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