FUEL TANK TESTING

Issue:
Fuel tanks rust from the inside out. A small amount of water may be present in the delivered fuel. But more likely, as the fuel level is drawn down into the tank, humid air will be drawn into the air relief pipe next to the filler pipe. The humidity in the air may condense on the inside of the tank. The resulting water sinks to the bottom of the tank causing rust. Left long enough, the tank will rust through and fuel will leak out. A visual examination of a fuel tank will not determine how close the tank is to leaking until it is too late! The Maine Department of Environmental Protection considers a fuel tank that is more than 25 years old to be at "high risk" of leakage.

Service:
An ultrasound device measures the thickness of the remaining steel at numerous locations along the bottom of the fuel tank and compares it to the tank's original thickness. The thinner the tank, the greater the risk of leakage. Clean up of spilled fuel can cost tens of thousands of dollars and be highly disruptive if too much of the tank has rusted away. It costs much less money and inconvenience to replace the tank.

Additional Information:
For more information see (page 6):Household Petroleum Liquids Worksheet