Fuel Transfer Pump Recommendations

[Chris]

Wondering if anyone has any recommendations on a fuel transfer pump? I'm thinking about something that can transfer fuel from one fuel tank to another, or a fuel can (i.e. NATO can) to another.

Ideally I'd be able to power it with an extension cord (so I could plug it into my solar battery power station) or a DeWalt lithium battery.

Anyone have any recommendations on something they personally use?

 

[StG58]

I can tell you what NOT to use.
A bunch of years ago I went to NAPA Auto and purchased a high volume 12v fuel pump, tubing, wire, switches, alligator clips & etc. All that was rigged up on a small piece of plywood from under the work bench.

Worked great.

BUT, it was only a matter of time before I blew something up or set it on fire.

BTW - a grounding strap is mandatory to prevent sparks.

Ask your local farm store guy about fuel transfer pumps. I bet he can set you right up.

 

[Rubeyu]

I use one of these to transfer fuel. It's way simpler than those Eco friendly fill spouts.

 

[B1Toad]

I've heard some people say the Harbor Freight battery powered one works good. Some diesel owners use it for pumping DEF.

https://www.harborfreight.com/battery-operated-liquid-transfer-pump-63847.html

 

[Chris]

I can tell you what NOT to use.
A bunch of years ago I went to NAPA Auto and purchased a high volume 12v fuel pump, tubing, wire, switches, alligator clips & etc. All that was rigged up on a small piece of plywood from under the work bench.

Worked great.

BUT, it was only a matter of time before I blew something up or set it on fire.

BTW - a grounding strap is mandatory to prevent sparks.

Ask your local farm store guy about fuel transfer pumps. I bet he can set you right up.

I'm thinking in terms of SHTF situation here.

I've got these NATO cans (the ones you recommended) and I've got this solar battery I usually carry around with me that goes in a faraday bag. My thought is that if I had a fuel transfer pump that I could power with either my DeWalt batteries or a wall plug (that could plug into my solar battery) I'd have an easy way of transferring fuel. I've got one of those pumps you use with your mouth to create the vacuum but that's last resort of course.

Thanks for the advice about the grounding strap, I didn't think about that.

I'm sure if I talk to some of the locals around here they'll have an idea, for sure.

I use one of these to transfer fuel. It's way simpler than those Eco friendly fill spouts.

View attachment 667094

Yep, I carry one of these as well!

I've heard some people say the Harbor Freight battery powered one works good. Some diesel owners use it for pumping DEF.

https://www.harborfreight.com/battery-operated-liquid-transfer-pump-63847.html

For that price I may as well just buy one to try it out!

 

[Jezza]

I use the shaker tube to transfer my Jerrys to the tank. I have also used a click clack pump wired to a laptop charger. Those work okay, but are slow. At the shop we used an old turbo scavenge pump and a 110v to 12v convertor to make a transfer pump. It would move fuel from a 55 gal drum to a 5 gal race can in about 45 seconds.

https://turbowerx.com/Scavenge_Pumps/page1/page1.html

 

[alittleoff]

I've got 2 of those HF pumps. One for gas and the other for diesel. They do work great and only takes 3-4 minutes to empty a 5 gal. can. But my only gripe is that pick-up pipe is not long enough to reach down to the bottom of a 6 gal. can.
I might buy another and take it apart and see if I could make a longer p/u tube for it. That impeller at the end of the pipe is tiny.

Thinking out loud, I wonder if I can just put a 8" piece of clear tubbing on the end of it. Hmm

 

[StG58]

Check this one out @Chris
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSSFS7FD/
...or something like this.

It won't pump from the bottom of a gas station tank. There are similar pumps that will. You need a 30 to 35 foot suction head.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

FYI, From high school physics, 33' is the highest you can draw a liquid through a straw/pipe/hose

 

[BlueC]

If your just using 5 gal cans, what's wrong with a simple funnel? No batteries required, cheap and easily portable. I guess the only downside is you have to be strong enough to lift and hold.

If you're talking 55 gal plus containers, then I like the hand crank rotary pumps, like this one from Fill-Rite. You can also add an inline filter and/or water separator to them.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

I can tell you what NOT to use.
A bunch of years ago I went to NAPA Auto and purchased a high volume 12v fuel pump, tubing, wire, switches, alligator clips & etc. All that was rigged up on a small piece of plywood from under the work bench.

Worked great.

BUT, it was only a matter of time before I blew something up or set it on fire.

BTW - a grounding strap is mandatory to prevent sparks.

Ask your local farm store guy about fuel transfer pumps. I bet he can set you right up.

Man, just had a flashback about ground straps. Back in the 90's, we just finished a steam turbine generator overhaul. We were filling the oil sump from 55 gallon drums. The drum was suspended from a rig on an overhead crane . I got shocked holding the crane controls. It took two attempts before I figured it out.

 

[StG58]

Man, just had a flashback about ground straps. Back in the 90's, we just finished a steam turbine generator overhaul. We were filling the oil sump from 55 gallon drums. The drum was suspended from a rig on an overhead crane . I got shocked holding the crane controls. It took two attempts before I figured it out.

Lol, ya, all our SSTG,s were plumbed into the lube oil system. The 2190 TEP came from a heated bulk tank. The grounding strap wasn't on a PMS card, nor taught in A school. You figured it out.