My son's 50 year-old oil tank appears to have a sludge buildup which is
clogging the filter & furnace feed-line. The tank, although old, appears to
be in good shape [per the oil service guy].

Googling the web reveals a number of 'potions' which claim to dissolve the
sludge. I'm hoping that some from this group might have some experiences
they can share - with use of the products and / or other sludge-removal
methods.

thanks,

--
Mark
Pepperell, MA

Mark wrote:
My son's 50 year-old oil tank appears to have a sludge buildup which is
clogging the filter & furnace feed-line. The tank, although old, appears to
be in good shape [per the oil service guy].

Googling the web reveals a number of 'potions' which claim to dissolve the
sludge. I'm hoping that some from this group might have some experiences
they can share - with use of the products and / or other sludge-removal
methods.

thanks,


Leave the sludge where it is and fit your tank with a Scully Snorkel,
part way down this page:

http://www.smithfieldsupply.com/scully_products.htm

Happy Holidays,

Jeff (Who happens to have invented that thing when he was the CE at
Scully about 35 years ago.G)

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

I had my tank replaced 3 years ago for $900.00 Also had it relocated
to a different place in my basement so there was re piping involved.

The old tank had patches on the bottom so I decided to get it
replaced.

When the technicians took out the old tank, they basically cut the
tank in half right out on the side walk in front of my house. When
they opened the tank, there was some sludge but not as much as I would
have expected. Also, the tank replacement company was required by
state law to have the job inspected.

The local fire dept (Wakefield MA) came out an inspected all of the
work.


Having your tank replaced is a good way to:
(1) avoid the sludge problem
(2) avoid the costly casualty of a ruptured tank. (The EPA would
basically demand you pay to clean up the soil etc.
(3) have piece of mind

You never know how good a 50 year old tank is.
My tank was about that age and may have leaked 25 or more years ago
because of the plugs that I obseverd on the outside bottom of the
tank.
I bought my house 25 years ago and I have never seen any traces of a
leak. The plugs (patches) were there when I bought the house.

Also, when they opened the tank, there was a concrete like substances
on the bottom. This was probably another attempt to repair a leaky
tank.


Also, if you do replace your tank, wait until your tank is low and
have the tank company discard the remaining oil even thogh it is very
expensive these days) . Do not ask them to pump into a holding tank
and then put it back in the new tank. I had them do that for me and
they oil that they pumped back was filthy. I had to have the brand new
filter replaced after about a week.

This is my saga of the old oil tank. Hope it helps

Robert




On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 11:14:20 -0500, Jeff Wisnia
wrote:

Mark wrote:
My son's 50 year-old oil tank appears to have a sludge buildup which is
clogging the filter & furnace feed-line. The tank, although old, appears to
be in good shape [per the oil service guy].

Googling the web reveals a number of 'potions' which claim to dissolve the
sludge. I'm hoping that some from this group might have some experiences
they can share - with use of the products and / or other sludge-removal
methods.

thanks,


Leave the sludge where it is and fit your tank with a Scully Snorkel,
part way down this page:

http://www.smithfieldsupply.com/scully_products.htm

Happy Holidays,

Jeff (Who happens to have invented that thing when he was the CE at
Scully about 35 years ago.G)

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
news
Mark wrote:
My son's 50 year-old oil tank appears to have a sludge buildup which is
clogging the filter & furnace feed-line. The tank, although old, appears
to
be in good shape [per the oil service guy].

Googling the web reveals a number of 'potions' which claim to dissolve
the
sludge. I'm hoping that some from this group might have some experiences
they can share - with use of the products and / or other sludge-removal
methods.

thanks,


Leave the sludge where it is and fit your tank with a Scully Snorkel,
part way down this page:

http://www.smithfieldsupply.com/scully_products.htm

Happy Holidays,

Jeff (Who happens to have invented that thing when he was the CE at
Scully about 35 years ago.G)

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

Thanks, Jeff - that's an interesting solution! I assume it requires a
different pump - one with a return line - to operate, as opposed to gravity
feed.


--
Mark (AB1X)
Pepperell, MA

Thanks for the info & tips, Robert.


--
Mark
Pepperell, MA



"Finite Guy" wrote in message
...
I had my tank replaced 3 years ago for $900.00 Also had it relocated
to a different place in my basement so there was re piping involved.

The old tank had patches on the bottom so I decided to get it
replaced.

When the technicians took out the old tank, they basically cut the
tank in half right out on the side walk in front of my house. When
they opened the tank, there was some sludge but not as much as I would
have expected. Also, the tank replacement company was required by
state law to have the job inspected.

The local fire dept (Wakefield MA) came out an inspected all of the
work.


Having your tank replaced is a good way to:
(1) avoid the sludge problem
(2) avoid the costly casualty of a ruptured tank. (The EPA would
basically demand you pay to clean up the soil etc.
(3) have piece of mind

You never know how good a 50 year old tank is.
My tank was about that age and may have leaked 25 or more years ago
because of the plugs that I obseverd on the outside bottom of the
tank.
I bought my house 25 years ago and I have never seen any traces of a
leak. The plugs (patches) were there when I bought the house.

Also, when they opened the tank, there was a concrete like substances
on the bottom. This was probably another attempt to repair a leaky
tank.


Also, if you do replace your tank, wait until your tank is low and
have the tank company discard the remaining oil even thogh it is very
expensive these days) . Do not ask them to pump into a holding tank
and then put it back in the new tank. I had them do that for me and
they oil that they pumped back was filthy. I had to have the brand new
filter replaced after about a week.

This is my saga of the old oil tank. Hope it helps

Robert

Mark wrote:

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
news
Mark wrote:

My son's 50 year-old oil tank appears to have a sludge buildup which is
clogging the filter & furnace feed-line. The tank, although old, appears

to

be in good shape [per the oil service guy].

Googling the web reveals a number of 'potions' which claim to dissolve

the

sludge. I'm hoping that some from this group might have some experiences
they can share - with use of the products and / or other sludge-removal
methods.

thanks,


Leave the sludge where it is and fit your tank with a Scully Snorkel,
part way down this page:

http://www.smithfieldsupply.com/scully_products.htm

Happy Holidays,

Jeff (Who happens to have invented that thing when he was the CE at
Scully about 35 years ago.G)

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"


Thanks, Jeff - that's an interesting solution! I assume it requires a
different pump - one with a return line - to operate, as opposed to gravity
feed.



No, if you don't have a return line from the oil burner pump now, you
wouldn't need one with a Snorkel. Your oil burner's pump develops plenty
of suction to lift fuel oil the height of a tank even on an initial "dry
line start". After that the line is a syphon 'yknow.

Happy Holidays,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

SNIP

Thanks, Jeff - that's an interesting solution! I assume it requires a
different pump - one with a return line - to operate, as opposed to
gravity
feed.



No, if you don't have a return line from the oil burner pump now, you
wouldn't need one with a Snorkel. Your oil burner's pump develops plenty
of suction to lift fuel oil the height of a tank even on an initial "dry
line start". After that the line is a syphon 'yknow.

Happy Holidays,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

Got it - thanks again!

mark