Can I store gasoline in a 55 gallon steel drum

Q: Can I store gasoline in a metal drum?

The steel doesnt react with the fuel in the same way that plastic does, and steel drums can be used to store fuel for several years at a time if needed.

Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum

by Bruce Fenstermacher » Wed May 04, 2011 12:39 pm

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Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum
Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum
Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum
Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum
Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum
Can I store gasoline in a metal drum?
How long can gas be stored in 55 gallon drum?
Can I store gas in a steel tank?
Can you put gasoline in a metal container?

Our airport authority does not allow storage of fuel in the hangers. What's the difference between a drum of fuel and that wheeled fuel caddy holding 50 gallons we call an airplane I don't know but it's not allowed. Environmental and fire hazards are the stated reason.

You may want to check with your airport manager, ....or you may not.

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Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
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Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum

by GAHorn » Wed May 04, 2011 2:23 pm

I don't think the container should be tightly sealed ...it should be vented sufficiently to allow for temp changes, just like your aircraft tanks are vented. Obviously it should be kept away from electrical equipment and keep in mind that gasoline fumes settle towards the floor. (I presume no electrical equipment/pilot lights/etc in the hanger?)

You might wish to check with your insurance underwriter, as fuel stored in a vehicle is considered differently than fuel stored in a drum (and the latter may violate local fire regulations which could make for an interesting day in court should anything happen.)

I recently went thru the same dilemna when I overhauled my fuel selector valve. I owned six 5-gallon gas-cans...but they were full already. (I buy avgas at a nearby airport but don't like to fly just for gas fillups.) I went thru all the puzzles of whether to find a 55-gal drum... convert a 150 gal propane tank (future BBQ cooker) I already owned .... I even have 25' of brand-new fuel-delivery-hose and a nozzle I could make into a genuine avgas trailer...

....Lucky that my neighbor on the next ranch had 8 empty ones (he fuels his farm equipment from them) and I borrowed them for a couple of days.

If you don't have 5 or 6 five-gallon gas-cans... now is a great excuse to buy them. Not much you can do with that 55-gal drum when you're finished with it...and it's not convenient to get the fuel back out of it without an expensive gasoline pump.

'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
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Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum

by Flyfshr » Thu May 05, 2011 3:01 am

This may sound stupid but after all this time it really hasn't dawned on me just how much fuel 37 gallons really is until your faced with having to drain it safely somewhere. I'm fortunate to have comparatively inexpensive avgas at my little airport but wondered about the logistics of basing the plane at a closer strip with no services available. The more I think about it the more I understand why legit fuel tanks are priced the way they are.

The guy at the oil company I bought my drum from reminded me that storing it directly on concrete can have disastrous results as well. Moisture that is absorbed into the concrete, even in an enclosed hangar, will corrode the bottoms of these drums and will eventually cause a leak. Apparently a local guy in town who was into race cars found that out with pretty spectacular results.

Flyfshr Posts: 45Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 2:03 amLocation: Davis, CA

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Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum

by hilltop170 » Thu May 05, 2011 5:36 am

I have been hauling avgas (and lots of leaded regular mogas when it was available) in my pick-up for going on 30 years. I designed a 75gal welded steel tank with slosh baffles, vent and drain taps, and fill and pump nozzles on top. Greer Tank in Anchorage charged by the gallon for fabbing the tank to my specs at the same rate as their pre-fab tanks that would not fit my truck very well.

I use a red 12v 15gpm Fill-Rite transfer pump from the Chinese Tool Store, a commercial paper element particulate filter, an aviation go-no-go water separator filter, a battery operated fuel flow meter, and two 20' lengths of grounded hose with a cheap nozzle with no auto-cutoff.

It has worked perfectly the whole time having pumped thousands of gallons of gas into my plane which is mostly at an airport with no facilities. I just fill it up in town at the jobber or at the big airport if I'm in a bind. I have never given a second thought to keeping gas in a drum in the hangar. The truck mounted tank is too convenient.

On the other hand, I wouldn't hesitate to drain the 170 tanks into a drum for a short-term repair job, as long as the drum is absolutely clean. Otherwise, I would take George's suggestion and buy some 5gal plastic cans.

Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
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hilltop170 Posts: 3453Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pmLocation: Retired in Alaska and the Texas hill country

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Re: Storing fuel in 55 gal drum

by 170C » Thu May 05, 2011 2:11 pm

Most of my life I have heard how hazardous a one gallon can with just a little gasoline in it (mostly fumes) can be. I don't recall exactly how powerful it is, but something like equal to a stick of dynamite

Of course its the obvious, but if a repair is going to require draining the fuel tanks and you have the opportunity to do so, fly the plane until one tank is completely empty, then the other one until it is 1/4 full or so. That way there won't be but around 5-6 gallons to be drained and after the repair that is enough fuel to likely get you to a source to top off if the source is reasonably close by. That is what I did although I ended up with about 8-9 gallons to be drained into two plastic gas containers.

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Can I store gasoline in a metal drum?

The steel doesn't react with the fuel in the same way that plastic does, and steel drums can be used to store fuel for several years at a time if needed.

How long can gas be stored in 55 gallon drum?

Though it naturally degrades and loses combustibility over time due to oxidation and evaporation of its volatile compounds, gasoline usually lasts 3 to 6 months when properly stored in a tightly sealed gas can or metal tank that's within the capacity limits recommended by your local fire department (usually no more ...

Can I store gas in a steel tank?

Gasoline must be stored in firmly sealed aluminum, high-carbon steel, hard plastic, or fiberglass storage tanks labeled “gasoline.” For long-term storage, diesel fuel tanks are the best bet!