Fuel tanks
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 767
Likes: 132
From: Lynden, WA
Fuel tanks
Can someone tell me the difference between a diesel fuel tank and a gasoline fuel tank. Why do some manufacturers build tanks for diesel trucks but not for gas powered? Is it the testing requirements? Liability concerns?
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
As far as the actual tank is concerned, they are basically the same, except for the venting, I think. Liability is the biggest part. Do you REALLY want an extra 50 to 100 gallons of gasoline right behind your head if you're in a wreck? Also, some states require that much gas to be a placarded load (hazmat). For guys that tow for hire, it is illegal per DOT regs to connect an auxiliary gasoline tank to your fuel sytem in any way. Gasoline is highly combustible, whereas diesel fuel is not, so with an aux. gas tank, you are riding in front of a big bomb. I fyou want extra capacity for a gasser, there are a couple of companies that make a larger capacity replacement fuel tank that goes in the space of your stock tank. That's the safest way to go. 
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 767
Likes: 132
From: Lynden, WA
I actually was considering just that. I find many replacement gas tanks for diesels and a few for gas. I was just trying to find out what the difference was since some companies make them for diesel SD's but not gas powered.
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I just put a 55 gal Aero Tank in my F250. I looked long and hard at both Transfer Flow and Aero Tanks. I went with the Aero Tank because it was about $200 cheaper and 9 gallons bigger. I was VERY disappointed with the finish and look of the aero tank. Then I started to mount it. It is a very tight fit under there and it hangs down just as low as the bottom of the transfer case shield. Instillation was a real pain, you are supposed to drop bolts down through the crossmember under the bed, A friend finally suggested wrapping thin wire around the threads on the end of the bolt and pulling it down through the hole (you have to drill 10 in your frame) as there was no way I was getting my hand in there. If I had it to do over I would go with the Transfer flow, it's smaller and more expensive but I bet it fits better. I would be sure to ask them if it reduces ground clearance.
I will try to post some pics when I have time.
http://www.aerotanks.com/ford.html
http://www.transferflow.com/html/ford_fuel_tank.html
I also think crash testing might have something to do with it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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I will try to post some pics when I have time.
http://www.aerotanks.com/ford.html
http://www.transferflow.com/html/ford_fuel_tank.html
I also think crash testing might have something to do with it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
Likes: 1
From: california
Wayfarer, Funny you mention the Aero tank. I just got a quote from them. $600 + for a 55 gallon tank. They did say that I would need to drill holes in the frame and crossmember. As I was tanking up today, I was thinking about how low it might hang. The application would be for a Crewcab short bed 4x4. I asked a dealer "parts technician" once about getting a larger tank for that truck. He told me I should have ordered the larger tank when I bought it. I informed him that model only came with one size tank. Believe me, I asked about a larger tank since I saw that other models had an option for larger tanks. The "parts technician" could only come up with a part number but could not verify the capacity. I hate taking long trips with the family having to pass up everything but the gas stations.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 610
Likes: 3
I used to be a dealer for transferflow tanks. I never installed them personally, but my installer said they were usually very easy to put in. And they have great customer service. I'm not personallyfamilair with Aero. You got me curious though, I'm going to look into them. As far as why many people don't deal with them, the same as already mentioned, its alot harder to get approvals on gas tanks due to the explosive nature of gas. Diesel will just burn slowly.
