Wet/dry vac on an oil line

[bennythedip]

Just wondering has anyone ever used their wet/dry vac to suck water from an oil line? Have customer whose tank is buried in the ground. Went to him before Christmas as burner not running. Tiger loop full of water so I got barrel pump and pumped out about 20 litres of water from bottom of tank. Cleaned out tiger loop etc and got burner running. Ran ok till yesterday, had a look and water/scum in tiger loop again. Pumped out bottom of tank but kero was clear. Used hand pump on oil line but not really clearing line. I was wondering if anyone had tried attaching wet/dry vac to a line to clear it out? Will it kill the vac? Thanks for any help.

 

[SimonG]

I use my foot pump with an adaptor. Stick pipe at other end into a container and pump like mad 🙂

 

[Geyser]

I use a little submersible 12v pump to get water out of tank and a suction pump or compressed air to clear lines. I wouldnt use wet vac directly.

 

[Chalked]

They really need the tank clearing by a specialist company. This can then be disposed of properly.
You will keep getting water out. As the dip tube is probably about 100mm from the bottom of the tank, you wil only get water kerosine mix until the water is removed. No amount of bleeding will remove the water, as it will always be on the bottom.
As a short term measure you could shorten the dip tube ( depending on the installation). You should then be back into the kerosene.

 

[bennythedip]

I use my foot pump with an adaptor. Stick pipe at other end into a container and pump like mad 🙂

Can you get a foot pump that will suck instead of blow?

 

[SimonG]

hwos do a manual suction pump. mate of mine uses it, very good.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Can you get a foot pump that will suck instead of blow?

There's a very crude joke in there somewhere... 🙂

 

[Roger Welton]

The problem is getting rid of it when you've removed it as it is classed as oily waste, personally i pass such jobs on to a local chap that only deals with tanks.

 

[Best]

I have the German made hand pump that has a tee off hose and you just keep drawing oil through the pump & it keeps coming out of the hose.
I never use it tbh.
Plumbcentre do them I believe

 

[Roger Welton]

The GOK one? I found them a bit of a pain and upgraded to the one oftec do with built in reservoir, makes it much less messy

Ultimate Oil Suction Pump

 

[bennythedip]

The problem is getting rid of it when you've removed it as it is classed as oily waste, personally i pass such jobs on to a local chap that only deals with tanks.

I'm afraid I'm living in an area that would be referred to as 'the sticks' and there's nobody round here that provides that kind of service. I asked a local council officer one time about disposing of it and he more or less said to throw it into a field!

 

[Best]

The GOK one? I found them a bit of a pain and upgraded to the one oftec do with built in reservoir, makes it much less messy

Yes, mine is the GOK pump, - I couldn't remember it.
That OFTEC pump from your link does seem more sensible.
I might be better improving mine using a container linked to it

 

[bennythedip]

There's a very crude joke in there somewhere... 🙂

Was thinking that when I wrote it but couldn't think of any other way of putting it:hand:

 

[Best]

I'm afraid I'm living in an area that would be referred to as 'the sticks' and there's nobody round here that provides that kind of service. I asked a local council officer one time about disposing of it and he more or less said to throw it into a field!

I let any water & dirt contaminated Kerosine settle out in 20 litre drums. The semi clear drums are handy to show the clean kerosine level.

 

[bennythedip]

The GOK one? I found them a bit of a pain and upgraded to the one oftec do with built in reservoir, makes it much less messy

Ultimate Oil Suction Pump

I was actually using that pump but I think I would have been there half the day using it as the tank is buried in the garden a few metres away down the hill. That's why I thought of chancing the wet/dry vac and wanted to check if anybody had tried it. Might invest in one of those oftec ones.

 

[bennythedip]

I let any water & dirt contaminated Kerosine settle out in 20 litre drums. The semi clear drums are handy to show the clean kerosine level.

That's what I do as well. I've three drums sitting outside. Going to pour them through a pair of tights and try and get as much kero out as possible. The water/gunk tends to sit on the outside of the tights and the kero goes through

 

[lame plumber]

I let any water & dirt contaminated Kerosine settle out in 20 litre drums. The semi clear drums are handy to show the clean kerosine level.

I have borrowed the green wheelie bin on occasion and let it settle out in there, skim kero off top for my use, and the rest tips in to the garden 🙂

 

[Best]

I have borrowed the green wheelie bin on occasion and let it settle out in there, skim kero off top for my use, and the rest tips in to the garden 🙂

It is surprising how pure the water is taken from a settled water/dirt to Kerosine mix.
I like to skim the Kerosine off it also. Means some free fuel for me and a proper way to recycle it. I think the biggest problem with contaminating the ground is if it is concentrated on one area. I better not say anything else on open forum. :smile:

 

[magicno1]

I've used my Charles on many occasions and it's fine!
I stole the waste in a large container and take it to my local oil supplier.....they take care of it for a small charge.

 

[zzzjim]

My cheapie does a nice Water-mist spray when things go wrong , so I say "NO Benny"
unless you want a Flaming Good Xmas , ( ignited by whatever you did not spot till after !)

 

[Sparkgap]

I use a little submersible 12v pump to get water out of tank and a suction pump or compressed air to clear lines. I wouldnt use wet vac directly.

Bod I know had to get a load of contaminated oil out of some steam engine sumps. Used a heavy duty vac into an old milk churn: made two pipe connections into the lid of the churn, one which was at top and other dipped in about 6". Attached vac to the top connection and used a hose off the other to suck all the gunk from the sump. No problem!

 

[tapsworcester]

Aaa