fuel transfer pump

Zelatore · Dec 7, 2011

I need to pump about 200 gallons of old gas out of a boat. I plan to run it through a Racor to filter it then burn it off a little at a time in the truck, lawn mower, log splitter, etc...

The question is, what's the best way to pump it out? Since the tank isn't easily accessible, I need to draw off the existing pick-up. That also makes it easy to run though the on-board Racor filter to get rid of water.

I see a variety of 12v transfer pumps on the market, but at $150+ this is a one-time use; hate to spend that sort of money for a pump I won't likely use again. I see cheaper ones, but they seem to be diesel only, not gas.

I suppose a hand pump might be an option, but I haven't seen one that could hook to an existing 3/8" fuel line and I don't know if they have the suction to draw through the filter. Plus that would be a heck of a work-out!

The cheapest thing I can think of is a simple low-pressure cube fuel pump, but they only move a few gallons per hour and would take all day to empty the tank.

Anybody got any good suggestions?

RodneyPierce · Dec 7, 2011

I think your last option if the best one.

ishiboo · Dec 7, 2011

Zelatore said:
I need to pump about 200 gallons of old gas out of a boat. I plan to run it through a Racor to filter it then burn it off a little at a time in the truck, lawn mower, log splitter, etc...

The question is, what's the best way to pump it out? Since the tank isn't easily accessible, I need to draw off the existing pick-up. That also makes it easy to run though the on-board Racor filter to get rid of water.

I see a variety of 12v transfer pumps on the market, but at $150+ this is a one-time use; hate to spend that sort of money for a pump I won't likely use again. I see cheaper ones, but they seem to be diesel only, not gas.

I suppose a hand pump might be an option, but I haven't seen one that could hook to an existing 3/8" fuel line and I don't know if they have the suction to draw through the filter. Plus that would be a heck of a work-out!

The cheapest thing I can think of is a simple low-pressure cube fuel pump, but they only move a few gallons per hour and would take all day to empty the tank.

Anybody got any good suggestions?

KISS.

Boats are easy to remove fuel from unless they're in the water... a simple siphon with some cheap translucent blue fuel line (will not cause a spark like cheap clear tubing, but its far less expensive than typical fuel hose) will empty 200 gallons in no-time.

If you have to go "up", the $30 or $40 generic fuel pump at your local auto parts store will work, but it will be SLOW.

Siphon is really the way to go.

rlitman · Dec 7, 2011

The 12v transfer pumps out there are not rated for gasoline use. Just diesel.
That goes for the $150 ones, just as much as the cheap ones.

The reason, is that Gasoline is a DOT Class 3 Flammable Liquid, but diesel fuel is a Class 9 Combustible Liquid. Because of that, gasoline cannot be transported in containers over 8 gallons (but for your purposes, a 5 gallon container is really the limit) without falling under Hazmat regulations, so there isn't much call for a gasoline transfer pump if there's no way to use it on a bulk container legally.

As said above, a siphon is by far the best way to go.

fivespdcat · Dec 7, 2011

Siphon is good, you can also wire up a used inline fuel pump. They can be bought cheap and run of 12v dc.

Daedalus · Dec 7, 2011

^Yeah, that. Look for someone selling a used but working fuel pump off their car on craigs. Lots of guys parting cars out, and some of use more proactive types actually replace pumps before they fail. That's what I use--an old pump I replaced simply because it started making more noise and I didn't want to get stranded.
200 gallons "mixed in" with normal fills is going to take a long time to use up!

Wideopentuning · Dec 7, 2011

I've got an old Porsche turbo fuel pump that moves a pretty good amount of fuel. I could ship it to you USPS flat rate box if you want to borrow it for the task.

mossyboy6 · Dec 8, 2011

here is how you do it,

Get ten feet of garden hose, and then use the same principal as a home made soda blaster to start a siphon.

ishiboo · Dec 8, 2011

mossyboy6 said:
here is how you do it,

Get ten feet of garden hose, and then use the same principal as a home made soda blaster to start a siphon.

b00m

Zelatore · Dec 8, 2011

thanks for the input. Siphon won't work - the tank is lower than the dock, plus it probably wouldn't draw through the filter. The porsche pump would do the job, but I need to get on this Friday so shipping wouldn't be very reasonable. Probable best to hit craigslist and look for a used hi flow pump cheap.

Off to craigslist I go.....

mossyboy6 · Dec 8, 2011

Oh, boats still in the water?

bummer

Danglerb · Dec 8, 2011

Use a lot of caution, gas is not forgiving.

No fuel pump on the boat?

How stale is the gas?

Zelatore · Dec 8, 2011

Yes, the boat is still in the water. Short of a travel lift, it's a little hard to take it out...32' Carver. I live in CA - we don't haul our boats for winter here.

The on-board pumps are mechanical as it's powered by old Crusader 454s w/carbs.

Gas is still usable somewhat, but it's about a year old. More than anything, I need to pump it through a good fuel/water seperator. (Boats love to collect water in the fuel tanks) Easy enough, the boat has Racors installed. I'll probalby end up changing the elements a couple times, but I can handle that. Aside from running the fuel through a Racor filter on the way out of the tank, I'll probaly run it through a second time to polish it when I put it into the various things I'll burn it in.

I've actually got an old 'cube' generic fuel pump laying around at the house that I can use in a pinch, but it's such low volume it will take forever to empty the tank. I've been looking at Craigslist trying to find an old Carter or Holley (or similar) 12v pump but haven't found one. Lots of in-tank pumps from later model cars, but it may be hard to plumb one of those to simple 3/8" hose.

Davefr · Dec 8, 2011

So how are you going to haul off and transport 200 gallons of gas from dockside? 5 gallon jugs or do you have a Gas Caddy?

Is your marina OK with your idea? I'm not sure they'd be too thrilled with 200 gallons of gasoline being transported from the dock.

If it were me I'd try and use most of the gas in the boat and replenish it with fresh fuel. Those 200 gallons will get consumed pretty quickly with a 454. Either that or I'd find someone that does this as a service for marinas.

Fuel spills and fire risk could turn this into an ugly situation.

Danglerb · Dec 8, 2011

A year old is NOT gas I would want to run through anything fuel injected or expensive to replace the fuel system on. All the stuff that makes gas nice, have reasonable octane ratings, etc is more volatile and tends to **** after a few months, certainly by a year.

I "think" the diesel on all the pumps is related to added danger with gas and nobody wanting a piece of that, so maybe something like this could work?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DZJWMI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Pretty sure bet, NOBODY official is going to be happy with this going on.

ctb · Dec 8, 2011

Could you not hook up a vacuum pump to get the gas flowing? Something like bleeding brake lines?

diesel research · Dec 8, 2011

That also makes it easy to run though the on-board Racor filter to get rid of water.

...
I suppose a hand pump might be an option, but I haven't seen one that could hook to an existing 3/8" fuel line and I don't know if they have the suction to draw through the filter.p

Forget about any of the porsche or other electric fuel pumps. Most will burn up, they do not like restriction on the suction side, will often cavitate fuel, creating bubbles/vapor which do not cool the pump well.

It is pretty easy to "boil" gasoline when you put a vacuum on it.

Zelatore · Dec 10, 2011

Pumped about 35 gallons off yesterday; will do the rest today. I ended up just using a cheap low volume 'ticker' cube-type pump I had laying around. slower than dirt, but it gets the job done. Total cost so far: 10' of 3/8" fuel line.

As for the marina...we own it, so I don't have to worry about complaints. didn't spill a drop.

I have a couple of old fuel caddies at the shop that will recieve the bulk of the fuel, and a bunch of 5 gallon jugs as well.

And yes, the fuel is pretty crappy at this point. I could pay a haz-mat company to come collect it, but I'm just going to burn it off a little at a time. 5 gallons of the old stuff (after having gone through the Racor twice to eliminate water) mixed into a fresh 30 gallon truck tank isn't a problem (already did one). I'll mix a little in here and there with other vehicles, but after the boat is up and running correctly I'll start adding it back to it's tanks. It burns about 20 gph at cruise, so I won't have much trouble burning it off over time.

The next question will be what shape is the carb in on the boat. Hopefully it's not full of crud. I hate rebuilding carbs.

fuel transfer pump

Zelatore

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RodneyPierce

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ishiboo

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rlitman

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fivespdcat

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Daedalus

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ishiboo

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Zelatore

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