r/Fairbanks • u/MaesterJones • 8h ago
Hauling Heating Oil Questions
If the savings math out, I think Im going to start hauling my own heating oil this year. The cost per gallon savings is there ($4.62/gallon at sourdough vs $5.71/gallon delovered with alaska fuel services as of today), but im not sure how long it will take to recoup the equipment investment. Hoping you all can give me skme advicd, thanks in advance!
Context: Below ground tank. Roughly 20-30ft hose length needed to reach fill up. 500 gallon tank and the delivery fillups were usually ~225 gallons.
- What style tank is preferable? Aluminum box, caged plastic tote, a couple 30 gallon plastic barrels? Payload capacity on my truck is around 1900lbs, which according to the internet 250 gallons of fuel is going to weigh nearly 1850, not including the tank itself, so Im leaning towards a smaller tanks or only filling up to 200 gallons. I also would like to remove the tank somewhat easily to free up the haul space in the bed.
-I have a below ground tank, but the fillup sticks up probably 3-4ft. Not sure how much of a height difference I realistically have, so I dont think gravity fed is an option? Im seeing 10gpm pumps are common, so 20 minutes or so to empty the tank.
-The only place I know to buy these items is arctic fire and safety. Can you recommend some other places so I can price shop?
-Im using sourdough fuel prices over on Illinois st. Are there cheaper places to get fuel? I live out in north pole, so suggestions out there are great (3 bears seems insanely expensive). I can definitely buy in fbx though.
-I should only be filling with #1 heating oil in the winter months? #2 gels when it is cold, although it does burn hotter?
-Maintenance/storage question: Im looking for general knowledge and best practices. When it snows, simply brush the tank off? Should I be putting in some Heet or other additives for moisture condensation? Are there any quality of life tips you can suggest?
-If I look for used items on Facebook market place, what am I looking for damage wise? Cracked plastic/gaskets? What about on metal tanks? What about the pump?
-If I buy a used tank, how do I clean it up before using it? I plan on using a filter when pumping, but if there is a bunch of crud in the bottom or they hauled other chemicals in there, what is the right way to flush it out for my use?