Yair . . . Karl Robbers
Diesel is not volatile like petrol and will present no hazard, particularly if a jigsaw or similar is used for the cutting, an angle grinder will be no problem either.
I believe that to be an irresponsible statement . . . and I don't care if do it for a living, you'll probably do it once too often and you won't be.
Diesel tanks can blow and I am not going into details of how I know . . . I suggest moderators remove the #17 post.
Cheers and stay safe all.
Diesel is most definitely not volatile and takes substantial heat to reach its spontaneous ignition temperature. To quote the dictionary:
vol·a·tile (vl-tl, -tl)
adj.
1. Chemistry
a. Evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures.
b. That can be readily vaporized.
2.
a. Tending to vary often or widely, as in price: the ups and downs of volatile stocks.
b. Inconstant; fickle: a flirt's volatile affections.
c. Lighthearted; flighty: in a volatile mood.
d. Ephemeral; fleeting.
3. Tending to violence; explosive: a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation.
4. Flying or capable of flying; volant.
Diesel does none of these.
The only way that a diesel tank will blow as you put it is if there has been significant heat input, hence my noting of the plasma or oxy cutting processes in my post. The tank on that dozer will be 3mm at best and there will be insufficient heat input from even an angle grinder to cause an issue.
How do you think road going tankers are prepared if repairs are required? I can assure you that filling with water is not part of the process.
In fact, there was a fatal explosion near my place of work that killed 2 workers, the cause was filling a tank, (not diesel, but a waste tank that had held a multitude of contents), with water before work commenced. This concentrated whatever fumes were present and the resulting explosion killed the two men outright and grinder was found on the roof of an adjacent building around 75 yards away.
The method I outlined is the standard operating procedure at my place of work for tanks such as described. Collectively we would have welded 5-600 tanks in the last 10 years, of varying sizes from outboard motors to semi tankers so maybe, just maybe we might know our stuff.
I can assure you that i have no desire to meet my maker prematurely and take all steps to ensure this doesn't happen.
Cheers, and stay safe yourself.