Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

I have a number of 55 gallon drums that used to have mineral oil in them. These are food grade metal drums with the two holes in the top. And the lid does NOT come off.

Any ideas on how I can clean the drums out and still be able to store water in them?

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

A better use for those oily drums will be HEATING OIL storage.
Find some clean plastic cans for water.

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

If I was further up north, I'd consider that. But I'm in Texas, and we have sub-freeze temps in my area, maybe 3 days out of the year. The rest of the time it is close to 100.

I am planning on storing diesel in some of them.

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

Take them to the car wash and use the magic wand on them. Wear crappy clothes cause you will get nasty!

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

Don't. You'll never get all the oil residue out and it will contaminate the water.

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

If you can obtain a product known as synthropol you can use it to emulsify the oil. It will wash the oil right out.

You can also get a Shaklee product called 'Basic H' which does the same thing and smells just like synthropol. Shacklee recently changed up the marketing of Basic H and now call it 'Basic H2O'.

In fact, the demonstration for Basic H was you'd put a teaspoon glob of axle grease in your hand, add 3 drops of Basic H and rub it in really well, then add water to wash it away. Completely gone.

Here is a link to synthropol http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/2127-AA.shtml

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

Something I stumbled onto at wikipedia:

"Mineral oil is the main fuel used by professional firespinners and firebreathers. It is chosen for its high flashpoint and low burning temperature. As a firebreathing fuel it is ideal because it will not tend to burn as a liquid, due to the high flashpoint, thus preventing blowback."

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

A mixture of biological clothes washing powder "With Enzymes!" and water will get rid of any oil residue if you leave it to sit for a couple of weeks - but then you have to get rid of the washing powder residue. It'll take a LOT of flushing out to get those drums clean.

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

Hmmm. After looking at the problem, I'm thinking of using them for diesel storage.

Would I still need to clean them out completely before putting the diesel in them for storage?

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

No, use maybe a gallon of diesel or kerosene for the lot - slosh it round, then at the end use the sloshed round fuel for lamps (or to light a massive bonfire, which is far more fun).

Re: Cleaning up after mineral oil?
 

a kindred spirit

Cleaning up mineral oil?
 

They are the SAME Product.
Diesel IS heating oil with road tax mixed in.
Same stuff, comes from the same refinery, at the same distillation temperature, travels in the same pipeline, the only difference is TAX.
OFF road diesel = JET-A = number 1 heating oil.
ADD road tax and you have Diesel.
Even the so called low sulfur is the same stuff now, comes out of the same pipe. different label on the pump, only difference is the price.

Re: Cleaning up mineral oil?
 

I did not know that. Learn something new every day.

Seeing as I have a LOT of 55 gallon drums to fill, it would be nice to fill them for less FRN's.