Oil in fresh water tank help

[mvmojo]

TSP does a good job dissolving/suspending oil. You can find it in the paint department of hardware and big box stores. But... make sure you get real TSP and not TSP substitute. Read the label carefully. The real stuff works much better! Dissolve it in how water and add to the tank. Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat ad nauseum until no taste. Drinking trace amounts of oil won't hurt you but it sure does taste bad. A carbon filter on the output of the fresh water pump will help a LOT!

[patrickbarbary]

What kind of oil? Vegetal or engine?

[Red Sky]

Originally Posted by mvmojo

TSP does a good job dissolving/suspending oil. You can find it in the paint department of hardware and big box stores. But... make sure you get real TSP and not TSP substitute. Read the label carefully. The real stuff works much better! Dissolve it in how water and add to the tank. Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat ad nauseum until no taste. Drinking trace amounts of oil won't hurt you but it sure does taste bad. A carbon filter on the output of the fresh water pump will help a LOT!

When I first read this I thought WTF, I use that to clean a wall before painting. I googled it, it’s used as a food additive...who woulda thunk?

Unfortunately it won’t work on motor oil. There’s something called “Sponafication”. Without going down a big rabbit hole, TSP works on non-petrochemical oils like food and animal fats.

[SV__Grace]

How about bilge pads?

These things do an amazing job of letting water through and trapping oil.

Since you only have 25 gallons or so, just run the tap or pump it out into the bilge pad and you can reclaim or dispose of the water.

[a64pilot]

How hard is it to replace the tank?
My Brother pumped some Diesel into his water tank, everything was tried, even hired Pro’s. Never got that smell and taste out, I think it got into the plastic tank itself, so it wasn’t just a cleaning problem.

[Cheechako]

It's going to be very hard to get the oil completely out of a freshwater tank. But yeah, fill it well with water and Joy or Dawn. I prefer Joy for cutting oil. You need it to slosh around a lot making sure the top inside of the tank is cleaned. Scrub any parts you can. Then fill it again. Then finally fill without detergent and flush it. Good luck.

[Red Sky]

Maybe try a final rinse with a good quantity of baking soda and water? Maybe leave it in the tank for a week with a coupe of different “agitations”.

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by Red Sky

Looks like it’s time for some water and Dawn in the tank, take her out and bounce around for a while and then rinse and repeat as necessary. BTW, How much H2O does the tank hold?

That's a good idea - the sloshing should reach everywhere in the tank.

[Sailing August]

"Dawn" dish washing liquid will do a good job in dissolving the oil in your FW tank.

[Lepke]

In the military, officer like thinking got us several 55 gallon drums for fresh water that previously held diesel. Several cycles of use and then recleaning went on with the diesel taste never leaving.
Possibly a strong detergent, allowed to sit, might remove enough oil so a good filter can remove the oil taste.

[Wulf]

How difficult is it to remove the tank? Then have it steam cleaned or take to a radiator shop to have then clean it out.

[mvweebles]

Hot, hot, hot water will help emulsifie the oil. But this is difficult.

Question to the forum: Would a Seagull waterfilter assist at least make the water potable?

Really sorry for the OP's situation. Can happen to any of us.

Peter

[Iron E]

Do not use TSP or Swimming pool cleaners.
I would agree to the Dawn and rinsing suggestions

also, rent a pump. Fill and flush your tank using an oil absorption mat to collect the oil. Buy a water tester from amazon to test your water.

and lastly, after you've done the above, maybe add a 3 stage water filter (if you have enough pumping pressure) if you're really concerned about what chemicals may be in the water. They have very effective filters these days.

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by Capt. Strapfoot

What about trying to use swimming pool cleaner like BIO Dex to remove oils from water.

I don’t think that would have much effect on oil. Dawn with water, just like everyone is saying, then get yourself a charcoal filter with replaceable filters, you might need to replace one or two filters until you get good tasting water again. Taste is going to be your main concern, when it taste good, it is good.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Hot, hot, hot water will help emulsifie the oil. But this is difficult.

Question to the forum: Would a Seagull waterfilter assist at least make the water potable?

Really sorry for the OP's situation. Can happen to any of us.

Peter

It would help, but probably cost more than a new tank.