Skip To Content

Efficient Inventory Control Of Petroleum Products

McCabe & Sons, Inc. has been developing exceptional products to optimize the accuracy of tank gauging and inventory verification of petroleum and petrochemical products.

Used in tandem, the McCabe Gasoline Level Indicator Paste, and McCabe H2O Plus+ Water Level Indicator Paste are our company’s top-of-the-line products that can make the inventory control of your petroleum products faster and easier!

Why Is Inventory Control Important?

Generally, an inventory control system entails keeping track of product stock levels and knowing how much inventory is on hand in a warehouse, how much more is coming in, and how much was disposed of, sold, or delivered to customers.

If your business has tanks that store petroleum products, you may be required by law to perform regular inventory checks to ensure that both your tanks and products are in tip-top condition and there are no tank leaks or any product contamination.

Typically, you need to check the physical inventory of your tanks and petroleum products. In other words, you need to measure or calculate the amount of product you have in storage, add any deliveries, and subtract the amount of product pumped.

Additionally, part of the inventory control is quality check. Since water is a natural element, it may accumulate inside your petroleum storage tank in numerous ways. Not detecting water can cause issues like engine or burner damage, resulting in lower mileage, poor combustibility, and total burner failure. Also, you are paying for water in lieu of the product!

How McCabe’s Level Indicator Pastes Help In Inventory Control Of Petroleum Products

McCabe & Sons, Inc.’s very own fantastic duo, McCabe Gasoline Level Indicator Paste and McCabe H2O Plus+ Water Level Indicator Paste, are innovative solutions that can help expedite the process of inventory control of petroleum products.

McCabe Gasoline Level Indicator Paste

The McCabe Gasoline Level Indicator Paste changes color from light blue to dark blue when immersed in various petroleum products, including light crude oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, ethanol gasoline, heating oil, and jet fuel. While it was primarily intended to be used with light or volatile hydrocarbons, it also works with plant oils and petrochemicals.

The product has a three-year shelf life and should be stored at 45-85°F (7-29°C). It has a thick, toothpaste-like consistency and comes in a 4.0 oz./113 g. Net Wt. jar.

To use it, spread a smooth, even coat of the paste on the bob or gauging device where you expect the product air interface to be located. Leave it immersed for 5 to 10 seconds. The result indicates a straight, sharp demarcation on the gauging device, light blue above and dark blue below.

McCabe H2O Plus+ Water Level Indicator Paste

The McCabe H2O Plus+ Water Level Indicator Paste is a water-finding paste that detects water in numerous petroleum products. It provides a vivid color change from green to dark red when it comes in contact with free water.

The McCabe H2O Plus+ Water Level Indicator Paste has a toothpaste-like consistency and comes in a 3.75 oz/106 g Net Wt. jar. It also has a three-year shelf life and should be stored at 45-85°F (7-29°C).

To use it, apply a smooth, even coat of the paste to the bob or gauging device in the area where free water is expected. Lower the gauging device to the tank’s bottom and leave it there for at least 5 seconds. Note that heavier products or oils may need longer immersion. The color of the water detection paste will change to red in the presence of water. Make a note of a straight and clear dividing line on the gauging device, green above and red below, when reading the results.

When this product is used to test ethanol gasoline, it produces a variety of color indicators depending upon the ethanol to water bottom concentration. Because water will pull ethanol out of ethanol gasoline, the water bottoms are not just free water but a water-ethanol blend. These color changes could be any of the following:

  • Dark red: means containing 0% to 35% alcohol in water/alcohol bottoms
  • Fuschia or light purple: indicates about 50% water and 50% alcohol bottoms.
  • Off-white: means containing about 75% up to 99% alcohol in water/alcohol bottoms

Check out our brochure or watch this video for more product information.

Common Petroleum Products That Work With McCabe’s Indicator Pastes

Petroleum products are fuels derived from crude oil and other hydrocarbons found in natural gas. Here are the common petroleum products used with McCabe’s gasoline and water indicator pastes:

Diesel Fuel

Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is combustible and is commonly used as automotive fuel. Diesel is generally extracted from crude oil fractions that are less volatile than the ones used in gasoline. The heat of air compressed in the cylinder of diesel engines ignites the diesel fuel.

Gasoline

Gasoline, also known as gas or petrol, is a petroleum-derived mixture of volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbons used as fuel in internal-combustion motors. Initially a byproduct of the petrochemical industry, gasoline quickly became the preferred automotive vehicle fuel due to its high combustion energy and ability to mix easily with air in a carburetor.

Kerosene

Kerosene, sometimes referred to as paraffin or paraffin oil, is a flammable hydrocarbon liquid commonly used as a fuel. It has a pleasant distinctive odor and is usually pale yellow or colorless. Kerosene is manufactured from petroleum and is used as an energy source for jet engines and a solvent for insecticides and greases.

Jet Fuel

Jet fuel, also known as aviation turbine fuel (ATF), is a refined kerosene-based, colorless fuel used in aircraft with turbine and jet engines. Jet fuels are typically made by blending and refining various crude oil petroleum distillation products such as gasoline, naphtha, or kerosene in order to meet specific military or commercial specifications.

Ethanol Gasoline

This petroleum product is a blend of ethanol and gasoline and is 30% less powerful than pure gasoline. Ethanol gasoline is considered the most environmentally friendly petroleum product as it produces fewer carbon emissions than regular petrol or diesel vehicles.

Heating oil

Heating oil is mainly used in furnaces or boilers for space heating. It is derived from petroleum distillation as a by-product of crude oil. It’s similar to diesel in terms of properties, but there is variation in chemical composition.

Partner With McCabe For An Efficient Petroleum Inventory Control Solutions!

By applying McCabe H20 Plus+ Water Level Indicator to the bottom of a plumb bob/tape/stick and applying McCabe Gasoline Level Indicator to the portion of the gauging device where you anticipate the product/air interface to be, you can gauge the volume of a petroleum product and determine if water is present at the same time. The color reactions with both pastes are distinctive and very easy to read, expediting your inventory control process.

McCabe & Sons, Inc. manufactures only the highest-quality water and gasoline detection pastes. We’ve been in the industry since the 1930s, and we’ve established an excellent and solid reputation and direct involvement with various sectors, including service stations, petroleum terminals, refining facilities, inspection industry and the barge and shipping industries.

We can help you achieve efficient inventory control of your petroleum products! Get in touch with us for more information on our exceptional indicator pastes!

Translate »