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Fuel retriever

Posted by Tony Gould on January 4, 2008, 12:34 pm
Tony Gould

Been looking to buy air operated retriver,about 100 lte unit mainly to remove contaminated fuel, talking to suppliers there is some contradiction in what is deemed as safe?
to create a vacuum some vent petrol vapor to atmosphere (not good),others have a diaphram type pump to prevent this happening.But they all say there unit is safe!
I shall be making more enquiries but any help or advice would be appreciated
Thanks
Regards Tony

Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by Keith Simpson on January 4, 2008, 7:12 pm, in reply to "Fuel retriever"

Tony I have been there mate we ended up with a new 90ltr oil drainer with 8 Suction/Vacuum pipes that works a treat. There is nothing out there that is any better in my oppinion. As for how safe it is well that's another matter. as long as you work in a well ventilated area and use you loaf then all should be OK ????

Keith

Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by lee mackintosh on January 4, 2008, 9:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Fuel retriever"
Lee Mackintosh

we bought one of thsese machines a few years back on the instructions of the insurance company and found it a complete waste of time as it would never recover any fuel from the tank no matter how good of vacuum seal we had.

Quicker and easier to remove fuel pipe and drain out.

Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by aidan birley on January 5, 2008, 2:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Fuel retriever"
Aiden Birley

Hi
We use one with a rotary hand pump from pro sol. not rocket science, but does the job.

Getting access to bottom of tank is often a problem, may need to make up some adapters.

Aidan

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Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by Paul Foster on January 7, 2008, 4:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Fuel retriever"
Paul Foster

We use a Mercedes 190 petrol fuel pump (with heat shrinking on the connections) with normal fuel pipe into 25 ltr plastic barrels. This plugs into the cigar lighter of the vehicle or a battery via an adaptor. We have 'harvested' various fuel pipe unions from a local breakers yard. A bit of common sense and ingenuity usually gets the job done. Most diesels have their own in-tank pumps anyway so we just bypass the relay and pump the fuel out that way. We have done loads for the local RAC Patrols with no problems at all (except Vauxhalls that get air locked!). This is a much faster method than the 'hand pump' type. We give the fuel to a local Military Vehicle enthusiast who runs his 'Duece & a Half' truck on it. He signs for it so I can demostrate the 'waste transfer'. I can't see how any other method is safer. Petrol vehicles use an electric pump anyway!

Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by Tony Gould on January 8, 2008, 10:25 am, in reply to "Re: Fuel retriever"
Tony Gould

Thanks for all replys,I have to talk to a couple more suppliers before making my decision.
Looking at the lack of replies it makes me think that perhaps most garages cobble there own system together?
This i suppose is ok if you use the system yourself ?,If one of your employees blows himself up whilst using it???????????????????? Don't want to go there.
Thanks
Regards Tony

Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by Tom Williams on January 8, 2008, 9:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Fuel retriever"
Tom Williams

Hi all,

The main problem with a home made kit is that should the worst happen, and you, or an employee get burned you may find yourself a) disowned by your insurance company and b) looking at a custodial sentence. The kit you have assembled may be perfectly good and the chance of a fire negligible, but given the 'blame culture' which currently pervades every aspect of modern life you could find yourself in trouble.
It's also worth downloading and printing the advice on fuel handling from the HSE website and getting your employees to read it, and most importantly, sign a note to say that they have.

TW

Re: Fuel retriever

Posted by lee mackintosh on January 8, 2008, 9:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Fuel retriever"
Lee Mackintosh

if i'm thinking of the right fuel retriever unit then how do you goet over the anti-syphun mechanism built into most filler necks these days.

The one we used to have had a pipe you inserted down the filler neck, then it had a large rubber seal that sealed off the filler neck opening then you manually wound the pump hand round to casue a vacuum but it never worked and was a complete waste of money and time.

Electric fuel pumps connected to the fuel supply pipe seems to work or as mentioned bridge out the relevent fuel pump terminals and let the intank pump do the work.

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