Diesel tanks for farms: how to choose the size, type and setup that suits your property
How to choose diesel tanks for farms: sizing to your harvest, steel or poly, where the tank sits, pumps and filters, and storing AdBlue beside it.
If you run a farm, the diesel tank is easy to forget until it lets you down. A delivery that won't fit, a tanker that can't get close enough, or water in the filters halfway through harvest. If your diesel tanks went in years ago, they may have been sized for a smaller operation or an older header.
The right tank has to do a lot: it holds a full delivery plus your busiest fortnight's use, suits your climate, sits where a tanker can reach it safely, and has a clean pump and filter setup. Liberty Rural supplies and installs bulk fuel tanks for farms. Your nearest depot can talk the setup through with you.
Diesel tanks: size to your delivery load and your busiest fortnight
Two numbers decide the size of a diesel storage tank. The first is a full delivery. Your tank should take a whole load with room to spare, so nothing is left on the truck.
Load sizes depend on your depot and on which truck can get into your property. Before you settle on a size, ask your depot what load they would usually bring out to your place.
The second is your year’s busiest fortnight. Add up what the header, the tractor on the chaser bin and the trucks burn on a long day in peak season. Then multiply by the number of days you want covered between deliveries.
Our harvest season fuel planning guide walks through how to work out harvest demand.
A Liberty Rural tanker on a dairy farm delivery.
If the answer is more than one tank can sensibly hold, a small fuel tank farm, with two tanks in different spots, can work better than one big one. A second tank near the far paddocks or the machinery shed saves running gear back to the yard. You're also not stuck if one tank needs work.
Every property is different, so there's no one right size. Your depot team can help you work it out from your own figures.
Steel or poly: what material suits your climate and your paddock
Steel and poly both make a good farm fuel tank. The right one depends on where it sits and what it has to put up with.
Steel handles knocks from machinery and stock, and it suits a busy yard. Keep an eye on rust, paint and seals, especially where it bakes in the sun all day and cools hard overnight.
Poly doesn't rust and is lighter to move and stand. It's more exposed to impact and long-term sun, so placement and shade matter more.
Climate matters too. If you’re located on hot, inland country, shade helps either type and a poly tank needs to be made for long-term UV. If you’re near the coast, salty air means steel needs closer watching for rust.
Some tanks are self-bunded, which means a second skin is built around the tank to catch a leak. Depending on your state's rules, that can be simpler than building a separate bund. Your depot can talk you through which tank types suit your property.
Tank location is important
A tank in the wrong spot causes trouble on every delivery. Before you pick a site, walk it as if you were driving the tanker.
- A firm, all-weather track in and out, so the truck can get there after rain
- Room to turn around without a long reverse
- Clear of overhead powerlines and low branches
- Close enough for the delivery hose to reach the fill point
- Away from dams, bores, creeks and drainage lines
A Liberty Rural tanker on a farm yard, with room to turn and stand.
Keep the site level and away from anything that drains to water. In NSW, for example, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) advises keeping liquid storage away from stormwater drains, with bunding around tanks to contain leaks and spills.
Rules differ between states and depend on how much you store. Check with your state EPA and work health and safety regulator before you install. Our fuel storage safety guide covers bunding, fire safety and spill kits.
Pumps, filters and water: the parts that stop a harvest
The tank is only half the setup. What comes out of it matters just as much.
Ask your depot what comes with the tank setup they put in, so you know which parts you need to organise yourself.
Pump. A diesel transfer pump needs enough flow to fill your biggest machine without a long wait. Pick a power source that suits the site, whether that's mains, 12-volt off a ute battery or solar. A metered nozzle helps you track what each machine uses.
Filter. A filter on the outlet, ideally one that separates water, catches dirt and water before they reach the injectors.
Water. Water gets in through condensation, worn seals and loose caps. Check breathers and lids, drain the water trap regularly, and test the fuel before harvest rather than after a breakdown.
The pump and fill point on a farm diesel tank.
AdBlue needs its own storage plan
If your newer tractors, headers or trucks run on AdBlue, it needs its own tank, its own pump and its own hoses. AdBlue is a mix of urea and water. Engines with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) spray it into the exhaust to cut emissions. It isn't a fuel additive and it should never mix with diesel.
A few habits keep your AdBlue storage in good shape:
- Keep your AdBlue tank cool and out of direct sun, as heat breaks the fluid down over time
- Use a tank, AdBlue pump and fittings made for AdBlue, usually poly or stainless steel, because it reacts with some metals
- Never put AdBlue in an old diesel drum, jerry can or pump, even after a clean
- Keep the fill point and nozzle clean, since dirt in the fluid can damage the SCR system
The safety data sheet that comes with your AdBlue sets out how to store and handle it, and your depot can talk you through it.
Liberty Rural supplies bulk and packaged AdBlue, so you can order your AdBlue tank top-up alongside your diesel.
Through Liberty Rural you can order:
- Bulk diesel
- Bulk and packaged AdBlue
- Shell lubricants
Ordering it all from one supplier on one account means one call and one account to manage.
Ring your nearest depot before you buy
Before you buy or move a tank, talk to the people who'll be filling it. At Liberty Rural you speak to someone at your nearest depot, not a call centre, and they know the tracks and conditions in your area.
It helps to have this ready when you call:
- Where you want the tank, and how a truck gets there
- What you burn in a normal week and at harvest
- Which machines use AdBlue
- Whether you're replacing a tank or adding one
The depot team will assess your requirements and recommend a tank setup that suits your property.
Find your nearest depot on our locations page, or contact the Liberty Rural team. If you're still weighing up suppliers, read why local people matter when choosing a rural fuel supplier.
The Liberty Rural depot team.
FAQ
What size diesel tank do I need for my farm?
Enough to take a full delivery with room to spare, plus how much you use in your busiest fortnight. Work out what your machines burn on a long harvest day and multiply by the days you want covered. Your depot can help you check the numbers.
Is a steel or poly farm fuel tank better?
Neither is better everywhere. Steel takes knocks well but you’ll need to watch out for rust, while poly doesn't rust but is more exposed to impact and sun. Where the tank sits usually decides which material is better.
Does my diesel storage tank need a bund?
Often, yes, but the rules depend on your state and how much you store. A self-bunded tank can cover it without a separate wall. Check with your state EPA, and see our fuel storage safety guide.
Can I keep AdBlue in an old diesel drum?
No. AdBlue needs its own clean tank, pump and hoses and diesel in it can damage the exhaust system. Use containers made for AdBlue and keep them out of the sun.
How do I keep water out of my diesel tank?
Check seals, caps and breathers and drain the water trap regularly. A water-separating filter on the outlet catches what gets through. Test the fuel before harvest starts.
Can Liberty Rural put a tank in for me?
Yes. Liberty Rural supplies and installs bulk fuel tanks for farms. Ring your nearest depot to talk through the right tank and spot for your property.
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