With today's fuel prices is a seperate fuel tank for the generator worthwhile?

[belfert]

My generator could burn off-road diesel to save the road taxes.  I'll be lucky to put on 100 hours a year.  Is a seperate tank to save on fuel worth it?

I have no idea what a fuel tank might cost.

Brian Elfert

[NCbob]

It's uncanny tht you should ask that question Brian,  because I am wrestling with almost a similar problem....in that whoever installed the diesel generator in my bus didn't put the pickup tube down far enough in the main tank and I run out of fuel for the generator at about 2/3rds of a tank (100 gallons).  I'm thinking about installing a day tank for the genset which would allow me to either use 'off road' fuel or allow a gravity feed from the main tank.  Since it's a major operation to remove the fuel tank from an MC5 I can't help but think that...for me...that's the way to go.

FWIW

NCbob

[belfert]

It's uncanny tht you should ask that question Brian,  because I am wrestling with almost a similar problem....in that whoever installed the diesel generator in my bus didn't put the pickup tube down far enough in the main tank and I run out of fuel for the generator at about 2/3rds of a tank (100 gallons).  I'm thinking about installing a day tank for the genset which would allow me to either use 'off road' fuel or allow a gravity feed from the main tank.  Since it's a major operation to remove the fuel tank from an MC5 I can't help but think that...for me...that's the way to go.

If the only reason for an extra tank would be because the pickup isn't long enough in the main tank, why not just make sure you have enough fuel in the main tank?  Surely you can't be using 50 to 100 gallons for the generator at one stop.

2/3 does seems a little short.  I'm thinking 3/4 of the tank for the generator if I use the main tank.

Brian Elfert

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hello Brian,

Another reason to think about a seprete tank, About a month ago on a trip to western P.A., I was running my gen. through the night and it was a constent
thought about how much fuel I would burn. Well, Upon our departure, my fuel guage was below 1/4. The gen used about a 1/4 tank the whole weekend,
about 29hrs running. Boy, I wished my gen was running a seperste tank the weekend! Because I was about 45mi's to the nearest fuel stop.
I would rather run dry in a gen tank, than have an option to transfur more from the main tank if needed. I know I made my pick up tube 2inches shorter
than the engine pick up but, that still doesn't tell me whats left! So, Thats on my to do list Too!

Nick-

[DrivingMissLazy]

I think you might find it difficult to find off road fuel. I know I have never seen it available in my part of the country. The only way the oil drillers get it is to have bulk delivery to the drilling rigs.
Richard

[belfert]

I think you might find it difficult to find off road fuel. I know I have never seen it available in my part of the country. The only way the oil drillers get it is to have bulk delivery to the drilling rigs.

I can get off road diesel down the street.  There is a fuel distributor with a retail station there.  The retail station has racing gas, off road diesel, and kerosene plus maybe some other stuff.  I think I could fill up at home and have plenty of diesel for the generator.

Brian elfert

[Kristinsgrandpa]

Only you know the fuel consumption per hour, the difference in the price of off road as compared to road use taxed in your state, and only you know how much you use your genset.

One thing for sure, off road fuel is cheaper and sooner or later you will get your money back.
I didn't intend to use it but with the price of fuel, I'm going to now.

Off road fuel is available everywhere as # 2 home heating oil, it's the same as # 2 diesel. I've been using it for years.

Ed.

[DrDave]

Offroad today was $2.70 a gallon and On Road was $3.06 a gallon.
the clerk said I was lucky getting mine today because by tuesday it goes up
again by another $0.15 a gallon. (Valero )

I found another station with $2.90 a gallon but conveniently the bus won't fit into
the parking lot. Must be some of that "Premium Diesel" I did top off my Isuzu NPR
and found out that I get 18 mpg with that amazingly ugly box truck.( Citgo )

This was at a Valero station west of Daytona. ( Valero is also a refinery ).

My trips are usually 2 to 4 days and within 150 miles one way. even with the generator
running for most of 3 days I still usually burn a combined 70 gallons or so out of the 140 that the tank holds.
I shut down the generator usually if I am going to be out of the bus for a while. A quart here and there saved
is better than none...

I used 58 gallons doing the Brooksville Rally round trip and generator. It was still hard to part with that $180 anyway...

[rv_safetyman]

I built a 40 gallon tank to run the generator and AquaHot.  The two major reasons for doing that have been mentioned above (no problems with main tank usage, and the ability to use off road.  I also have it plumbed so that it can be a supply tank to engine in an emergency (electric fuel pump installed in the system).  One last reason for the tank is the ability to keep good fuel mileage information and to use the electronic fuel consumption data from the engine ECM in place of the non-working fuel gauge.

In our area, the off road is about $.25 cheaper as I recall.  I have a source a few miles from the house.  I am not sure I can get the bus into the pump, but that is not a problem, as I can use portable containers.

Now that the bus is running, and all of the water lines are charged, I will have to keep the bus temperature above freezing all year.  With all of the water filters, fridge ice maker, and washing machine, there is no way to winterize the unit -- besides we will be using it quite a bit in the winter.

While that AquaHot has an AC heating source, I don't think it will have enough heating capacity in very cold temperatures.  I hope to have some heating in place for the shop by next winter, but I will still have to run the AquaHot on diesel part of the time and the red fuel will help a bit on the cost.

Bottom line, I think an auxiliary fuel tank is the only way to go!

[DrivingMissLazy]

Only you know the fuel consumption per hour, the difference in the price of off road as compared to road use taxed in your state, and only you know how much you use your genset.

One thing for sure, off road fuel is cheaper and sooner or later you will get your money back.
I didn't intend to use it but with the price of fuel, I'm going to now.

Off road fuel is available everywhere as # 2 home heating oil, it's the same as # 2 diesel. I've been using it for years.

Ed.

I do not know where you live Ed, but home heating oil is not available here (WV) to the best of my knowledge. Everybody uses natural gas if available, otherwise propane. Number 2 diesel may be available in some areas, but I have never seen it. It really does not get cold enough here to require it.
Richard

[Danny]

In Tennessee we have farm use fuel that is not taxed as road usage.  However, I am not aware of just "off-road" use different.  You have to sign a form stating you are using the fuel for farm use.

Danny

[belfert]

Any ideas how much an second fuel tank would cost?  I suppose it depends on how fancy I want to go.

It probably wouldn't be worth it at much over $100.  $100 would take 400 gallons or so to break even.

Brian Elfert

[kyle4501]

My suburban has a 42 gallon gas tank & fits between the frame rails behind the rear axle. If you can locate one at a salvage yard, you may get a good tank for cheap with the fittings & fuel gauge built in. Mount it to the bay ceiling for the gravity feed & enclose it to make it purty.

Just a thought,
kyle4501

[Ace]

Here you can see that I used a fuel tank from a Peterbuilt truck that started out being too big as it was for my waste tank. I cut it down to fit my bay and thought it would be a shame to waste the short piece that was cut off so I made it a fuel tank used exclusively for my generator. As for off road fuel? The only place I have seen it near by is when we travel into Alabama but due to the size of my tank, I never need it when I'm there! Go figure!

Yes these are the Aluminum tanks that caused all the controversy about a year or so ago when I fabricated  and installed them and to this day they have worked flawlessly. No Rotting, No leaks, and the hanging installation I did has yet to break loose and bounce them down the interstate killing innocent people. To add, the aluminum was easy to work with and they saved a lot of weight over mild steel! My fresh water tanks are plastic which are housed in plywood, FWIW!

Ace

[DrivingMissLazy]

Here you can see that I used a fuel tank from a Peterbuilt truck that started out being too big as it was for my waste tank. I cut it down to fit my bay and thought it would be a shame to waste the short piece that was cut off so I made it a fuel tank used exclusively for my generator. As for off road fuel? The only place I have seen it near by is when we travel into Alabama but due to the size of my tank, I never need it when I'm there! Go figure!

Yes these are the Aluminum tanks that caused all the controversy about a year or so ago when I fabricated and installed them and to this day they have worked flawlessly. No Rotting, No leaks, and the hanging installation I did has yet to break loose and bounce them down the interstate killing innocent people. To add, the aluminum was easy to work with and they saved a lot of weight over mild steel! My fresh water tanks are plastic which are housed in plywood, FWIW!

Ace

I'm surprised you didn't polish them Ace!
Richard