Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - guaging level in an in-ground oil tank

Hi. How can we tell how much oil is in our underground tank. We think that it is a 595 gallon tank but do not know the shape or angle of the tank? Is there any accurate way to guage Thanks! :o

As far as I know there is no 595 gallon tank. There are 500, 550, & 1000 gallon tanks of different configurations. One of the easiest ways to determine tank size is to measure the inches of oil in the tank, have a predetermined amount of fuel delivered, & stick the tank again. There are tank charts available for all different sizes of tanks. Just find one which matches your measurements.

Grady, thanks for your help. I actually meant that I had a 550 gallon tank not 595. But nonetheless my question remains. How do I know which tank chart to buy if I don't know the shape of the tank? What do I stick in it, and is there really a way to know how much oil is in there? Thanks! :)

I use a folding carpenters rule to measure tanks. You can determine the diameter of the tank by measuring to the bottom from the top of the fill pipe then subtracting the length of the fill pipe. Your oil company would probably be glad to give you a copy of a couple of tank charts. They can also get you an actual gauge stick if you want one. I use the carpenters' rule because I often have to measure basement tanks where I can't use a gauge stick.