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How do YOU empty a gas tank?

66354dream

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Aug 1, 2013
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1,003
Location
Southern California
When I used to be a tech we had one of these gas siphoning/pumping tanks at the shop http://www.handyindustries.com/products/gc-30-gas-caddy and worked really good to siphon and refill fuel tanks, I got lucky enough to find one on Craigslist for dirt cheap ( same brand ) but have been a little low on cash and have thought about selling it. I know if I sell it sooner or later I will need to drain and fill a fuel tank, do you guys have any tips on how to do that?
 
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lakeroadster

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Jan 19, 2015
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Central Colorado
What I did on my '65 C10: Bought a gas syphon (hand pump - bulb type from Walmart). The clear hose is just the right size to thread some hex nuts onto for weight. Jacked up the truck on the passenger side so the fuel in the tank drains to the driver side, tossed the syphon hose in via the gas filler neck and syphoned out the gas.

Easy peazy.. :thumbup:
 

Gerald O

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Mar 5, 2013
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NC
Put the car up on jack stands, unbolt and drop the tank, then tip it over and pour it out.





What.........?
 

CJM8515

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Mar 8, 2014
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NJ
If the vehicle is able to run, then hose to the fuel line and out. If not I have one of those cheapy pump type siphons. If you oil the hose where it goes into the pump it makes a good enough seal
 

zmaxmotorsports

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South of omaha
@ pieces of rubber hose shoved down the filler neck on older style stuff anyway,and a rag shoved in filler neck to fill the gaps.
Take a blower on an air line from compressor and blow in one hose,gas comes out the other to get it started.;)
 

59 wagon man

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Oct 25, 2010
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Location
hollywood fla
had to drill in my tank to install an electronic high pressure fuel pump in my 59 chevy
1- ran it low on gas
2- put it on the lift and removed tank
3- tipped it on the side and drain it
4- overflowed it with water
5- drained it and air dryed it before drilling the hole
6- after drilling the hole it was easy to stick my hand in and clean all the water
 

JohnMcD348

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Apr 27, 2009
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614
Location
Lakeland, FL
I give my wife the keys to the car and when I get in it a few days later, ****!, the tank is empty.........

Other than that, I'm kinda old school. Length of hose, **** till you see gas, dip it into the tank and let it run till that can is full. If it needs more, use another can until it stops flowing. It helps if I can park on an incline or slight angle.

44 years, I've never sucked gas into my mouth. Always had enough hose to see it coming.
 

Platonic Solid

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Nov 29, 2014
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Location
CT-USA
My 72 Mustang has no tank, just a hose from the fuel line to a 5 gallon can in the trunk. Real easy to empty and if I run out of gas, I've already got a handy can to fill.
 

ADSR

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Jan 12, 2013
Messages
10,713
Drill hole, drain and plug with this...

90180WS.png
 

justme-

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May 24, 2014
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Boston suburbs
I've got a small electric fuel pump that works great for these things - hose down the filler pipe and other into a can. Drained several tanks that way.
 
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MadMechMaster

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Frankfort, IL
This is dangerous if you smoke, but it hasn't been mentioned yet: I have used a length of rubber fuel line pushed down the filler neck, and used an air gun to blow across the open end of the hose. This sets up a venturi and draws the gas up and starts a siphon.

Just watch out for a cloud of gas, that's when you stop with the air.
 

jimindm

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Oct 29, 2011
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Location
Des Moines, Iowa
If it is a fuel injected vehicle, there may not be enough fuel to run, but the pump still works. I use the pressure gauge and a hose.

For the vehicles that are not fuel injected or the pump just will not run, I use an electric fuel pump. The type that is frame mounted. I just put a filter on each end.

I have some of the 15 gallon barrel type containers from the car wash. New they came with soap or what ever in them, but it is usually water based. A few quick rinses of water through them, and they are good as new.

I fill them up with the fuel that comes out of the vehicle. I can use my electric fuel pump to put the fuel back in when done.
 

kbs2244

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Nov 11, 2006
Messages
14,065
If you want to siphion I keep gas out of my mouth by useing an outboard motor gas line with a promer bulb.
It has a one way valve so it will **** the gas up and out.
 

larry_g

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Apr 28, 2007
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oregon
Pour in a cup of water and wait for a hole to rust into the bottom of the tank. ;)

lg
no neat sig line
 

Davefr

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Jan 7, 2010
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11,819
Location
OR
How do you siphon? I thought most modern vehicles had anti siphon traps so you can't even get into the main tank with a hose thru the filler??

I'd love to be able to get emergency generator gas from the tanks of my vehicles but haven't found an easy/safe method.
 

Rod N

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Jul 21, 2011
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Keswick, Ontario
Whatever you do do not use one of those siphon pumps you put on the end of your drill.

Fumes, drill motor sparks. Go boom.
 

Anarius

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Jan 15, 2015
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Location
SE Michigan
@ pieces of rubber hose shoved down the filler neck on older style stuff anyway,and a rag shoved in filler neck to fill the gaps.
Take a blower on an air line from compressor and blow in one hose,gas comes out the other to get it started.;)

This. Or, if the fuel pump works, jump the relay after disconnecting the fuel line from the rail or the filter.
 

justme-

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May 24, 2014
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Boston suburbs
How do you siphon? I thought most modern vehicles had anti siphon traps so you can't even get into the main tank with a hose thru the filler??

I'd love to be able to get emergency generator gas from the tanks of my vehicles but haven't found an easy/safe method.

if you have an anti-syphon/roll over valve in the filler it's possible to dislodge it into the tank in most cases with a good push - a dowel that fits in for example, can be used to push the ball into the tank.

another option is disconnect the fuel line above the tank - on my truck it's as simple as sitting under the truck with my upper body in the quarter to see the tank top.
 

KCarGuy

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Feb 5, 2009
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2,075
Location
50 miles outside Chicago, illinois
My Nephew was involved in a Bad accident with his Volvo, He had the Car towed to my house to remove the stereo and a few parts.
The Gas Tank was over 3/4 full, so I grabbed an extra battery, took about 5 minutes to put together a light switch to run from the + side of the battery and plugged into the + side of the Fuel pump (access panel in trunk).
(also ground wire to frame)
Disconnect the Fuel line and simply filled 5 Gallon gas can by turning on the switch.
Once filled, turned off switch.
(filled it several times...and added the fuel to the Family Mini Van)
Of course, that provided your Vehicle has an electric fuel pump.
 

MadMechMaster

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Sep 5, 2008
Messages
779
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Frankfort, IL
That's a check ball. You place that end in the fluid and jerk the hose in and out. Each time, a little fluid enters and is trapped. Eventually a siphon starts.
 

QwikKotaTx

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Aug 10, 2013
Messages
967
Location
Seabrook, TX
This is dangerous if you smoke, but it hasn't been mentioned yet: I have used a length of rubber fuel line pushed down the filler neck, and used an air gun to blow across the open end of the hose. This sets up a venturi and draws the gas up and starts a siphon.

Just watch out for a cloud of gas, that's when you stop with the air.

You mean I can't do that at the same time as I chain smoke some Marlboros?

That's a check ball. You place that end in the fluid and jerk the hose in and out. Each time, a little fluid enters and is trapped. Eventually a siphon starts.

I need to get one of those for my wife...
 

LLave

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Oct 21, 2013
Messages
47
I have used a few different methods. Most dramatic is smashing it on a rock while attempting a near vertical hill climb at speed.
 

Bigblue&Goldie

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Mar 12, 2009
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10,670
Location
AZ
It's kind of ironic, my buddy called me today saying I need to fill the fuel cell in my race car and drain it to find the actual capacity. My ******* asked him how I was supposed to drain it.............pull the fuel line and turn on the ignition. Duh. I felt like a dipshit.
 

Big Barn

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Jul 2, 2013
Messages
33
Related question. What do you guys do with the gas once it's out? My FIL passed away and we must have 4 5 gal cans full of old gas that I need to dispose of and I have no idea how one goes about that.
 

404

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Aug 23, 2014
Messages
3,463
Location
Mass
Related question. What do you guys do with the gas once it's out? My FIL passed away and we must have 4 5 gal cans full of old gas that I need to dispose of and I have no idea how one goes about that.

Put some in the car just before each fill up. It burns fine.
 

theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,106
Location
SE MI
@ pieces of rubber hose shoved down the filler neck on older style stuff anyway,and a rag shoved in filler neck to fill the gaps.
Take a blower on an air line from compressor and blow in one hose,gas comes out the other to get it started.;)
I saw that on YouTube ! Worked great. I'll never remember it when I need it :(
 
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