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fuel weights
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 2:13 pm
by clarence oveur
Just wondering if anyone can tell me what the weight of car gas and jet fuel is. Curious so I'll know how much 45 gallon drums weigh. And is a 45 gallon drum U.S. gallons or imperial? Thanks.
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 4:35 pm
by just curious
Jet Fuel: 30 pound drum (Modern lightweight one) 208L/45IMP/55USG=416 LBS at start of fuel haul, 1500 lbs at end of the week.
AVgas, Dunno, my airplane's diesel.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:31 pm
by Tholl
6lbs/gallon av fuel
-Tholl
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:57 pm
by Donald
Just a small correction, most of our 45's are 205L not 208.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:10 pm
by Cat Driver
Av gas is 6 pounds per US gallon and 7.2 pounds per Imperial gallon.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:28 pm
by just curious
Just a small correction, most of our 45's are 205L not 208
True, but we get in the extr three litres, ullage be damned. In the otter world, it's called the "Haffey Fill"

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:52 am
by 350TT
A Canadian TSB report mentioned a 45 gallon drum being IMPERIAL gallons and being that I have not dealt with such weight and balance issues as of yet I assume this 45 gallon drum to be the norm.
Also I found this info:
For aviation fuel, which is similar to automobile fuel, the weight is 6 pounds per gallon. Jet A fuel, which is closer to kerosene, is 6.84 pounds. These weights are based on averages that will vary with temperature and additives due to weather.
(from
http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-2617.html)
Still the answer is not for sure as the quote is from "Midpac" whoever that is...
I wanted to know this answer for myself as some operators may ask it in an interview (not a fair question in my opinion if one has never worked with Jet A or any drums beforehand)
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:18 am
by Tree
Not a fare question? Does it have to anything to do with the job you may be hired to do? If so I think it is more than a fare question.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:13 pm
by 350TT
It is stuff that will be taught on the job and one should not be EXPECTED to know it. So basically the interviewer is just gauging how resourceful a person is in finding out answers beforehand if they are a 200 hour wonder.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:54 pm
by Tree
Perhaps...
However the question may be used to see if the person can reason.
Knowing the exact weight of fuel may not be the point, having an idea or understanding that it is 400 to 500 lbs may be the point.
Just my take on the matter.
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:58 pm
by just curious
So basically the interviewer is just gauging how resourceful a person is in finding out answers beforehand if they are a 200 hour wonder.
350TT
Three fifty is quite right. Sadly, an astonishing number of people approach their job search with a minimal effort. Many companies, in fact most never see a fuel drum in their machines let alone consume them at an outpost.
Yet, for companies that see more drums than humans in their machines, it'd be a no-brainer that a wannabe would ask somebody in the know the basics of:
- How do you know what this stuff weighs?
- How does it get into the aircraft?
- How does it get into the tanks?
- How does it get stacked in those orderly piles?
- How does someone who is not roughly the same weight and shape of a fuel drum move it around?
Fortunately for the ones who are working really hard at gaining employment, not many people do.

Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:02 pm
by just curious
Of course, by asking these sorts of questions and learning from them, 350tt may have to consider changing her user name.
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:16 pm
by 350TT
pray tell, what should I consider as a new name ?
By the way Just Curious, those are some of the questions I have had in my head. Now I need to find someone to answer them... maybe not on this forum but somehow I will find out. The thing is, an employer will always find questions that you don't have the answers to and trying to BS your way to a reasonable answer is not what I consider knowing your stuff and being a safe pilot.
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:29 pm
by . ._
Let's not forget about the temperature of the fuel, or oil.
Their weights can be found in the GENERAL section at the front of the CFS.
(You can also see what a string bog looks like on a VNC there.)
-istp
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:30 pm
by just curious
850TT, 2250TT, As required annually.
Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:11 pm
by bd
So if we haul fuel in 45 or 25 Imperial gal drums why do we usually calculate avgas at 6lb/US gal? Probably a dumb question, is the answer because fuel tanks of airplanes made in the States are done in US gal while drums are made at a world wide standard imperial gallon size?