Water got into our oil furnace tank...what to do??

[Dawg]

My dad has an old oil furnace for the garage. It runs off of #2 diesel heating oil. The filler cap for the tank fill up was accidently left open and it is believed that some rain has entered the tank.

We've seen the "HEET" and other additives sold in stores to prevent gas line freeze up on gasoline and regular diesel powered vehicles. However we are unable to find an additive to prevent the water in the heating oil from freezing up and thus causing the furnace to not operate due to ice blockage.

Therefore I'm wondering if anyone knows of a fuel drier that is compatible with this type of fuel to prevent freeze up? Thanks.

[LazyPup]

The methods of resolving your problem would really depend upon the amount of water that actually got into the tank.

In normal operation humid air condensates inside fuel storage tanks, which produces a small amount of water so heating systems are supposed to be equiped with fuel filters that can separate the water from the oil before it gets to the burner. In a worst case scenario the excess water will foul the fuel filter and cause the burner to shutdown, but no appreciable amount of water should reach the burner.

Most residential oil fillers are mounted on the wall a good distance above grade and under the eave of the house so it is doubtful if any great amount of water got into the tank during a normal light rain.

There is a product called "Water finding paste" that is commonly used by gas stations and fuel companies to check the amount of water in the tanks. The paste is in a tube like toothpaste, and a strip of it is applied on the end of the measuring stick when they stick the tanks to measure their fuel level. The paste is normally brown or gray and will turn red or green when it contacts water. In that manner you can determine the actual level of water in a tank, then make a decision as to how to handle the problem. It may just require changing your filters more often, adding a water dispersing agaent or in a worst case, pumping the tank.

If you know anyone who manages a filling station they may give you enough water finding paste to stick your tank. Once you know the actual level of water you could call your oil supplier and discuss the problem with them as they deal with this problem continually.

[HayZee518]

Any fuel additive which is compatible with diesel fuel will work - it emusifies the water with the diesel to "burn" - I use similar products in my kerosine which fires a monitor heater which heats my home fulltime so I can't afford freeze ups

[imeduc]

First where is the tank inground or above. If above Id just pull the filter and let some oil out to see if there was water. If so just let it run till all the water is out. This is why we pitch a above ground tank to the bottom outlet. So any and all water will go to the burner are in the filter, not stay in the tank and rust out the bottom. Some water now and then will just go in to the pump and burner .You wont know it. Now on inground tanks and on all the tanks on boats. like said paste on a dip stick will tell you for sure. If you do have some waterthere. We just use that cheap drill pump on a drill. Drop a line down to the bottom of the tank and turn the drill on.This also is why we bend the pickup line to the burner at a 90o.So it will be right on the bottom of that tank and keep the water and yuckout of the bottom of that tank.

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[Dawg]

This is an above ground tank.....it's one of the oval shaped ones. Not sure how many gallons it holds. I guess my dad was thinking you could dump some sort of diesel oil drier in the tank and it would dry up the water so it wouldn't freeze and then block up the hole for the line that supplies the fuel to the furnace.