#2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

[levittownnick]

The oil company said that an above-Ground Tank storing heating oil in cold weather needs a Tank Heater or Fuel Conditioner.
This is on Long Island in New York. The trend is to remove the underground Oil Tank and replace them with Above Ground Tanks for environmental concerns. Now the Service People from the Oil Company says that the cold weather is causing the filter to clog and that the oil has to be conditioned. Long Island gets a few days near zero F but nothing like the colder parts of the Nation. Am I being given a "Line" or is there some things that I need to do? I haven't been able to find much on this subject so I'm turning to my Experts.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[oldjeep]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Sounds reasonable if they are not putting any anti-gelling additives in the fuel you are buying. (maybe that is what they mean by conditioner) #2 fuel oil is basically the same thing as diesel fuel, so it tends to thicken up when cold.

 

[rbh]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Try going to the truck stop or napa and buying some winter diesel fuel conditioner, also it may be a good time to change out your filter.
This time of the year ice crystals build up in the tank as well as the filter, Is the filter a water separator type, or just general filter?

 

[levittownnick]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Try going to the truck stop or napa and buying some winter diesel fuel conditioner, also it may be a good time to change out your filter.
This time of the year ice crystals build up in the tank as well as the filter, Is the filter a water separator type, or just general filter?

The system is maintained by the oil co. via a service contract, therefore I have no information on the filter that they use.

Thanks for your reply.
Nick

 

[dingbat]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Our fuel is delivered with fuel conditioner in it.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

That's exactly what fuel oil is, either #1 or #2 diesel. #1 is used in cold weather. 10? is getting to the point to switch to #1 if your weather was consistently cold like around here. At the very least I would make sure you use fuel conditioner to keep it from gelling. Also, guys have used a combination of #1 and #2 fuel..............

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Put a few gallons of K-1 in tank.

 

[tazrig]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

The oil company said that an above-Ground Tank storing heating oil in cold weather needs a Tank Heater or Fuel Conditioner.
This is on Long Island in New York. The trend is to remove the underground Oil Tank and replace them with Above Ground Tanks for environmental concerns. Now the Service People from the Oil Company says that the cold weather is causing the filter to clog and that the oil has to be conditioned. Long Island gets a few days near zero F but nothing like the colder parts of the Nation. Am I being given a "Line" or is there some things that I need to do? I haven't been able to find much on this subject so I'm turning to my Experts.

Thanks,
Nick

No you're not being sold a bill of goods. Home heating fuel is basically the same thing as boat diesel and it will gell at colder temps. You either need to put in an additive to thin the oil or some type of heating coil to keep it above a certain temp. Even though you may only get a few real cold nights the fuel will clog the filter when it gets that cold because it thickens up. Then you have to re-prime the system once you clear the clog.

 

[HANGEYE]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

I wonder if those magnetic engine block heaters attached to the bottom of your tank would solve your problem? Just a thought.

 

[Bondo]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Put a few gallons of K-1 in tank.

Ayuh,.... Exactly,.... 'round here, usin' K-1 is SoP for outdoor tanks,....

It ain't so much Ice in the #2 fuel, but it gells, 'n the waxes in the fuel clog the filters...

Years ago, Winter Diesel was nothin' but a 60/ 40 mix of #2 fuel, with #1 fuel...

 

[aspeck]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Yep, when in a bind here, instead of the cold weather additive we put in several gallons of K-1 per tankful. Usually the start of winter the K-1 is used. Then after the first cold weather tank is delivered (blended and the anti-gel added) there is no need to worry. I have that arrangement with the oil company.

 

[rbh]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Fixing a jelled up line/filter is a pain in the BUTT for sure!!

The ice thing was something I ran into a couple of times, when your outside tank is above ground with the filter on the side and the truck comes and fills the tank, all the condensation that has built up inside gets hung up/suspended in the fresh fuel.
Pickup draws the fuel/water in and waters trapped in the filter and freezes up.


This usually happens at 2 am and the wife kicks you in bed and asks, "why is it cold in the house"??

 

[BruceDeuce]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

I use Kerosene, never have a problem!

 

[levittownnick]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Lots of good information here. I want to give my most sincere thanks to every one. I will be having a conversation with the oil company and may be change suppliers.
Sincerely,
Nick

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

the wife kicks you in bed and asks, "why is it cold in the house"??

That's nightly around here......... lol

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

When I was in the oil business, we always installed the filters inside the home beside the furnace. Kept them warm and free flowing. The only thing installed at the tank outlet was a ball valve.

 

[NYBo]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Wrap heat tape around the feed line before the filter.

 

[JoLin]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Lived on Long Island all my life- going on 60 years. Never heard of a homeowner needing to add a tank heater or dump an additive into the tank. Never thought about it before, but I would think that if an additive is needed it's already blended into the fuel. It's not like the individual companies refine the oil they deliver- they're all buying from a few local distribution centers. I've also never seen a filter that wasn't right next to the furnace for ease of service... and that would mean that the fuel coming into the filter is warmer than what's outside.

My BIL delivers for Petro Oil- if I get a chance I'll ask him about this.

I take it you have an inground tank now? I'm well aware of the trend to remove them. When I bought my West Babylon house in 2000, I had to call 4 insurance companies before I found one to underwrite the homeowners policy for that very reason. I took that as a bad sign- the next year I had the old tank 'abandoned' and a new one installed in the basement. Unfortunately, if you live in a 'Levitt' house (built on a slab- no basement or crawlspace) that isn't possible for you.

Honestly, I'd make a few more calls. Try here- the Long Island Oil Heat Institute:

Oil Heat Institute of Long Island Promotes Clean Energy

I've used Marran Oil for about 20 years- you could try calling them, too.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Lived on Long Island all my life- going on 60 years. Never heard of a homeowner needing to add a tank heater or dump an additive into the tank. Never thought about it before, but I would think that if an additive is needed it's already blended into the fuel. It's not like the individual companies refine the oil they deliver- they're all buying from a few local distribution centers. I've also never seen a filter that wasn't right next to the furnace for ease of service... and that would mean that the fuel coming into the filter is warmer than what's outside.

My BIL delivers for Petro Oil- if I get a chance I'll ask him about this.

I take it you have an inground tank now? I'm well aware of the trend to remove them. When I bought my West Babylon house in 2000, I had to call 4 insurance companies before I found one to underwrite the homeowners policy for that very reason. I took that as a bad sign- the next year I had the old tank 'abandoned' and a new one installed in the basement. Unfortunately, if you live in a 'Levitt' house (built on a slab- no basement or crawlspace) that isn't possible for you.

Honestly, I'd make a few more calls. Try here- the Long Island Oil Heat Institute:

Oil Heat Institute of Long Island Promotes Clean Energy

I've used Marran Oil for about 20 years- you could try calling them, too.

+1 - The only difference here in Ontario is that inside tanks as well as inground tanks are forbidden. You simply won't be able to get insurance. All new installs dictate that the tank must be installed outside on a concrete slab, then must be TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) inspected and certified. I have been away from residential for some years now but I believe the tanks must be inspected every 5 years. Also here, winter additives are added at the refinery.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: #2 Heating Oil + 10 Deg F Weather above Ground Tank

Thanks again for all the replies.
The oil tank is outside above ground against the garage. There is about 20 feet of oil line buried before it enters the house and then about 12 feet inside the house before it connects to the oil filter. The oil burner and filter is located in the space under the stairs. This space is always warm from the operation of the burner, usually about 80 degrees F. (Because there are no basements in the Levitt homes, this space is in the midst of the living area.)
The expedient thing to do was to add conditioner, which was done. For now at least, the problem is solved, but I am strongly of the opinion that any required additives should be part of the formulation of the fuel.

Thanks to all respondents for your valuable advice,
Nick