Store gasoline in cornelius keg

[NitroTurkey]

I want a stainless steel fuel tank for my little boat, and I can't find anything available for this purpose. I am considering buying one of the short little 2.5 gallon cornies, and "converting" it for fuel use.

I found a new one for 100 bucks
http://morebeer.com/view_product/18197/103708/Corny_Keg_-_NEW_25_gallona_aid=billybrew

You can remove the "posts" on that right? Ideally I could replace the gas-in post with a vent valve, and the liquid out with a hose barb to run to my motor. Anyone know if they use common NPT threads?

Do you expect I could get correct sized gaskets that will hold up to gasoline exposure? Any info on the sizes of the gaskets?

I will definitely permanently mark it to keep it from accidentally being converted back and used for beverages.

Your input would be appreciated!

 

[nukebrewer]

You probably could have picked a better forum to post this in, but to answer your question, while I don't see anything preventing you from doing what you propose, I feel like it would be a waste of a perfectly good keg. What's wrong with a regular rigid plastic tank? My dad used one of those as an aux tank on his boat for several years without issue.

 

[kh54s10]

That seems an awfully expensive way to get a gas tank. I doubt the seals would stand up to gasoline.

Curious? Why do you need a stainless steel tank for $100 + the cost of converting it instead of a plastic tank for about $50 complete?

 

[SavoryChef]

This has to be the best first post by someone ever.

 

[Obliviousbrew]

I´m out. Later

 

[Golddiggie]

Check on ebay and Craigslist for OLD (stainless) kegs that would be fine for converting. I wouldn't use a corny keg for it. Use the corny for BEER, not gas.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

???

 

[NitroTurkey]

I figured you guy would know about the thread sizes and such, on a boat forum most users would be as clueless as me. As far as a plastic tank goes, I really hate recurring expenses and it would be worth a couple hundred to me to have a life-long tank. Ive had bad experiences with the plastic tanks so far; gasoline seeping where the fuel connection mates with the tanks, one had bad molding and eventually leaked at the "seams", the sun damages them so they shouldn't be left outside indefinitely etc.

 

[Gear101]

That seems an awfully expensive way to get a gas tank. I doubt the seals would stand up to gasoline.

Curious? Why do you need a stainless steel tank for $100 + the cost of converting it instead of a plastic tank for about $50 complete?

I would agree with that and add you could buy two normal boat fuel cells, having one at the dock (or aboard), for a back up for that cost. Which then you would not have to pay dock prices for fuel on a busy weekend.

 

[Pratzie]

I really can't see the seals standing up to the fuel on those. if u could find heavy duty (for lack of a better word) fuel rings, possibly... But most of the rings that are gonna fit that keg tightly are food grade and will melt like an ice cup holding boiling water. Again i'd have to think that ur better off with a plastic tank. When it comes to gas, especially for a vehicle (boat/car/truck/etc), skimping on either price or safety are playing with fire. I see where ur coming from with wanting to save the $$$ but I don't think this is ur best option.

 

[jeepinjeepin]

I figured you guy would know about the thread sizes and such, on a boat forum most users would be as clueless as me. As far as a plastic tank goes, I really hate recurring expenses and it would be worth a couple hundred to me to have a life-long tank. Ive had bad experiences with the plastic tanks so far; gasoline seeping where the fuel connection mates with the tanks, one had bad molding and eventually leaked at the "seams", the sun damages them so they shouldn't be left outside indefinitely etc.

Ok, in that case, I would take the keg and a stainless fuel fitting to a welder and have them TIG the dip tube in and the fitting over top of it. You could do the same thing for the vent if you wanted but it would be fine to just remove the poppet and adapt a vent filter with a piece of hose. I'm not sure about oring material.

 

[meadmazer]

I think McMaster Carr lists what oring material is good for what purpose. I think it would work fine, other tanks are made of stainless, and use a gasket where the intank fuel pump goes, I dont see how this is really any different. Might have to get parts for the quick connects that would hold up to fuel. I saw a keg being used for a fuel tank my last online search for used kegs.

 

[NitroTurkey]

By following the links in the Kegging FAQ thread I found the o-ring for the lid is a Dash No. 417, and the dip tubes use a dash # 109. Both of these sizes are available made of Viton, which is rated by the folks at Marco Rubber as "Excellent" for use with gasoline ( interestingly, they do not have a suitability rating for use of this material with "gasohol" - luckily I am still able to buy unadulterated gasoline at a couple stations in my city ).

I really need to figure out if I can easily pull those poppits off and adapt whatever weird thread they use to NPT before I purchase the keg. I would really prefer to use a fitting to adapt as opposed to paying a welder to make it work. I sent an inquiry to morebeer about what kind of threads that keg has, any of you folks know about the "Italian" kegs and what parts they use? Under the posts are male threads which are part of the tank, right?

 

[acidrain]

I'm a boater, and a brewer... worst idea ever.
The corny's "seal" with pressure... no pressure- no seal.
The shape is horrible... who wants a tall, skinny, round fuel tank tipping over and rolling around?
Why pay $100 and then have to adapt it to work?
How will you vent it? Boat motors like a certain amount of resistance in the fuel draw. They (for the most part) don't like wide-open vents. They like a needle valve that opens just enough to allow fuel draw.

Sorry, but it just seems you want to re-invent the wheel.
Plastic fuel tanks are the best thing since beer.

 

[Dan]

Wouldn't a steel gas can, retangular be more fitting. It could be secured, wouldn't roll around if it got knocked over and is cheaper than a 2.5g new corny. I doubt many mods would need made.

Check this out. http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Briggs-and-Stratton-85043/p6034.html

 

[Yooper]

I'm a boater, and a brewer... worst idea ever.
.

We have a metal gas tank for our boat/boats.

Like this: http://compare.ebay.com/like/251052436037?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

And this: http://greatlakesskipper.com/produc...vented-marine-boat-gas-tank-w-fuel-gauge.html

Ours are older, and heavy duty, but the basic style is the same.

 

[Junkster]

Hmmmm...... Corny Keg and gasoline - gives me an idea for a home-brewed flamethrower!

 

[jeepinjeepin]

Hmmmm...... Corny Keg and gasoline - gives me an idea for a home-brewed flamethrower!

Just remember to push it with bottled O2 so it will blow up right away instead of leaving you wondering when it will.

 

[mattd2]

What size boat do you have - 10 ltrs seems like it would be a small runabout, makes sense since you talk about sun damage, etc. which you would not be able to avoid in a boat that size. I would put my +1000 in for using a good quality plastic tank, and remove it from the boat to store out of the sun, cover when in use. Really a corny is a bad idea due to the seal issue. If you are set on a keg I would use a pony sanke with the tap attachment removed and a RJT/DIN fitting welded in place. This would be more stable and have a move secure connection, but you would need to get someone to weld on the RJT/DIN fitting and fabricate a balck with a diptube, vent and fuel return fitting.