How often does a tanker truck crossdrop a load?

[JohnnyG]

So do they run different product in compartment load to load? Ie could it be diesel this trip and gasoline next trip in the same compartment?

Yes, they do. every load is different in most cases.

 

[JohnnyG]

My “Why didn’t it blow us all to Hell?” Story is from an airport. 100 degree day, I am at the fuel island gassing up. The sound of an airplane engine firing up with an open throttle is followed almost instantly by the sound of mechanical carnage. The fuel attendant and I both run in the direction of the sound.
As soon as I turned towards the sound there was a huge puff of vapor that dissipated instantly.
An airplane had a dead battery and the pilot attempted to start it by “Propping” it. He didn’t keep it tied down so when it fired off it taxied into the airplane directly across from it and the prop cut into the wing tank instantly vaporizing 25 gallons of 100LL.
Given the air temperature and the huge fan mixing the gas with the air the ground wasn’t even damp. But for a second or so, the perfect vapor bomb had an excellent chance to blow a big assed hole in the ground, taking a few planes with it. That pilot was extremely lucky.

Probably too rich at the ignition point, or there was no spark/ignition. All in all, pretty lucky.

 

[JohnnyG]

I have no idea. Probably mostly very fine sediment. Anything else would go back to the bottom. I'm sure there is all kind of stuff in those tanks. Rust particles, sand, rubber pieces from hoses, an ex's wedding ring, some guys bubble gum that fell into the tank. No telling

That pretty much sums it up. Tanks at the storage facilities can accumulate a little rust, but precautions are taken to avoid loading it at the rack. Problem tanks can also have their floors coated with a special epoxy to prevent rust.
It also can happen in steel underground tanks, but those are not generally used anymore. Most stations have upgraded to fiberglass storage tanks. I have seen steel underground tanks coated with epoxy as well.
How would you like THAT job?

 

[The motor guy]

Yes, they do. every load is different in most cases.

What happens when they stick the tank and they don't have enough room?

 

[JohnnyG]

What happens when they stick the tank and they don't have enough room?

It goes back to the loading facility, OR the trucking company dispatcher finds another load that will "cover" the remainder without contamination or mixing. It usually take a while to set up a pump off, back to the storage tanks, No profitable for the driver or dilivering company.
But it can be done.
Then there's the paperwork issue. Corrected BOL, credit issued, etc.

 

[facility1]

don't the fuel pumps have a filter on them still, I have seen the old pumps have a filter resembling a oil filter to filter the gas.

 

[tc1446]

A bit off topic, but my own gasoline tanker story....

One summer during my high school years I was working day shift at a large Texaco station with 12 pumps. That afternoon we got a fuel drop. We had a regular driver, a guy named Rudy. Rudy was an older guy but he was always nice to us. We liked him and he liked us. Rudy parked the tanker and setup up the hoses. I wasn’t paying any attention because it was just another day. Remember, these were the days of full service. You got your tank filled, oil checked, windows washed, tires checked if they asked. We weren’t simply collecting money.

There were no customers in the station at the time so I leaned back against the shelf in the dog house (a small building near the pumps) and watched the cars drive by. I noticed the Sky Chief pump on the island in front of me start to leak something out of the top, near where the hose nozzle is parked when the pump is not in use. Curious, I walked over to the pump to see what was going on. As I walked out I noticed that clear liquids were shooting out of the same area on all the Sky Chief pumps. I quickly realized it was gasoline! What the heck?!

I turned back towards the tanker. Rudy was sitting in the cab, his head back and his mouth hanging open, sound asleep. The connection where the hose attached to the underground tank was spewing huge amounts gasoline, spraying it 10 or 12 feet into the air! He miscalculated and was overfilling the tanks! I ran over and woke up Rudy. He leaped into action and shut off thevalves on the tanker.

But by now there was gasoline everywhere. All three islands had raw fuel spreading all over the concrete surfaces. The gasoline spill by the hose connection was 20 or 30 feet in diameter and a quarter inch deep. I ran into the main office and told the station manager. He immediately called the fire department. One small spark and half the block would have blown up.

We cordoned everything off to keep customers away. The fire department arrived and hosed all the gasoline down the storm sewers! Can you imagine that? And, oh, BTW, they sprayed down our street side Texaco sign because it was dusty and dirty. This is a very good example of just how different things were back then. If that happened today the entire surrounding area would have been evacuated and the EPA called in to clean up the spill.

Scott

How did Rudy make out?

 

[vwmaniaman]

I once grabbed the wrong gas can to fill my riding mower. It still had some gas in the tank but I filled it with diesel fuel. I mowed grass 2 times on that B&S 19.5 hp riding mower. Had to choke it to start but when it warmed up it ran just fine. The can is marked better now.

 

[slo town]

How did Rudy make out?

It's been too long to remember that detail. I don't remember if we ever saw him again.

Scott

 

[4wheeldog]

Probably too rich at the ignition point, or there was no spark/ignition. All in all, pretty lucky.

As we know, combustion in a cylinder needs a nearly stoichiometric mixture. But any mixture will blow up your garage.

 

[Sumboodie]

A bit off topic, but my own gasoline tanker story....

One summer during my high school years I was working day shift at a large Texaco station with 12 pumps. That afternoon we got a fuel drop. We had a regular driver, a guy named Rudy. Rudy was an older guy but he was always nice to us. We liked him and he liked us. Rudy parked the tanker and setup up the hoses. I wasn’t paying any attention because it was just another day. Remember, these were the days of full service. You got your tank filled, oil checked, windows washed, tires checked if they asked. We weren’t simply collecting money.

There were no customers in the station at the time so I leaned back against the shelf in the dog house (a small building near the pumps) and watched the cars drive by. I noticed the Sky Chief pump on the island in front of me start to leak something out of the top, near where the hose nozzle is parked when the pump is not in use. Curious, I walked over to the pump to see what was going on. As I walked out I noticed that clear liquids were shooting out of the same area on all the Sky Chief pumps. I quickly realized it was gasoline! What the heck?!

I turned back towards the tanker. Rudy was sitting in the cab, his head back and his mouth hanging open, sound asleep. The connection where the hose attached to the underground tank was spewing huge amounts gasoline, spraying it 10 or 12 feet into the air! He miscalculated and was overfilling the tanks! I ran over and woke up Rudy. He leaped into action and shut off thevalves on the tanker.

But by now there was gasoline everywhere. All three islands had raw fuel spreading all over the concrete surfaces. The gasoline spill by the hose connection was 20 or 30 feet in diameter and a quarter inch deep. I ran into the main office and told the station manager. He immediately called the fire department. One small spark and half the block would have blown up.

We cordoned everything off to keep customers away. The fire department arrived and hosed all the gasoline down the storm sewers! Can you imagine that? And, oh, BTW, they sprayed down our street side Texaco sign because it was dusty and dirty. This is a very good example of just how different things were back then. If that happened today the entire surrounding area would have been evacuated and the EPA called in to clean up the spill.

Scott

For sure, because we've learned in the last 50-60 years that doing stuff like that can cause decades and decades of consequences. Cancer, undrinkable water, birth defects, etc, etc.

At work we are supposed to report ANY spill. Even a few teaspoons.

Place I worked at, at one point did battery and transformer collection of some type... in the 60s-70s I'm told.
Just off Campbell Creek in Anchorage.
It's on the EPA toxic land list.

Buildings were torn down this summer, not sure if it ever be delisted and something built. It was for sale for almost 2 million before being torn down.
Old run down shop with multiple additions.