Plastic pipe as a fuel tank

[anontrolus]

Not sure if this is the right place (searches for the term "fuel tank" indicated that this might be), but I was curious to know if anyone knew of a source of polyethylene piping that can be safely cut to length and capped for use as a diesel fuel tank. I've got a boat that doesn't have a lot of interior space (narrow) and I'll probably need to use a long tank to achieve a useful amount of volume (I'm thinking of a pipe about 10" in diameter and about 10' long, which should give me about 40 gallons).

Has anyone done this before?

Thanks...

[justwaiting]

Have you considered the issue of baffels. When such a "tank" is not full they may present a problem in fuel pickup as well as the hydrolic pressue as the fuel sloshes around.

[noelex 77]

Good thought, but I would be concerned diesel will attack the plastic, it's good at effecting many types of rubber in the long term.
Someone is bound to know for sure.

[Pete7]

I would also be concerned about the fuel sloshing about in a choppy sea, and god help you if it leaked.

I have been aboard a mono hull yacht (Sigma 33) that had a fuel tank leak over the winter and the owner wasn't on board. The shallow bilge meant 20 gallons of diesel went everywhere and soaked into the plywood bulkheads. I walked away from buying that one because I didn't think you would ever get rid of the smell.

So what to do? well how about having a custom made tank to fit what space you do have? Okay not cheap but its a job that you do once and that's it for ever.

Have a look at this, it's a UK company but there must be other in Japan.

Tek Tanks cut down - YouTube

[justwaiting]

There are a lot of things that you need to consider the following link may be of some use to you

Replace Diesel Tank

[GordMay]

The Plastics Pipe Institute represents manufacturers & distributors of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pipe.

Member links ➥ PPI Members : PlasticPipe.org

[stevec195]

Innovative idea! I would think that if you stacked the tubing in rows parallel to one another that you would only need to baffle the bottom tubes(s). Of course, the whole concept opens up the aspect of crud forming in the various angles and joints that would present themselves in this type installation, and you would have to factor in a method to transfer and balance fuel from side to side unless they are mounted along the center line--but hey, i'll be interested in your progress--and pictures!

[Mr B]

Just arrange them on an angle so one end is about 3 inches higher then the other,
It reduces the need for baffles and the pick up in the lower end never runs out of fuel,

Get them made out of stainless steel pipe and just weld caps on them, The top end with a filler and the other end with a ferrel to screw in your pick up,

If it gets water or crap in the tank,
you can screw in a valve before the pick up line so you just unscrew the line and dump the crap into a bucket, as the crap is always at the bottom,

[David M]

Just make sure that whichever pipe material you use that it is chemically compatible with Diesel.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance

http://www.harringtonplastics.com/chemGuide.cfm

http://nalgenecontainers.nuncbrand.c...t%20Detail.pdf

[Anzo]

Since aluminum is readily available and pretty cheap, with all or most of the fittings already attached, I'm doing my auxiliary tanks in aluminum. Pretty much countless number of lengths, etc, some with baffles.
aluminum fuel tank | eBay