Best way to drain a gas tank?

[zopperman]

So i made a bit of blunder :facepalm:

I was trying to flush out my gas tank with water first to get all the old gas out, then I was going to use EZorb or dry gas or something to prevent the rest of teh water from doing any engine damage... but I realized my fatal flaw was that now I have a tnak full of water. I left it out a week in the sun and tried to evaporate it, but that didn't work. ANy ideas how I can get the water out?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Siphon it out, then blow it dry with a leaf blower?...Just an idea....

 

[zopperman]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

I don't have a siphone or anything... I tried using my gear lube pump but that would take forever. I also tried to rig a bilge pump to suction it all out. I'm thinking I might have to use the engine crane to pull the tank (it's filled with ~25 gallons of water) and then dump it and let it air and dry out for a few weekswith some dry gas or something.. any thoughts?

 

[capslock118]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

you can always get a fuel/water separator...lots of them? :-D

for all seriousness, I don't understand what you mean when you say you don't have a siphon. Does that mean you don't have a hose? because that's all you need. I can mail you one if that would help...

 

[zopperman]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

I have plenty of hose length, but I don't want to suck it out.. there's old gas and disgusting things in there. I need to rig it with some type of pump was more what I was getting at...

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Zopperman: You cannot just take any kind of pump to a tank full of greasy water/gas. The stuff is dangerous.

You don't have to suck on a hose to get it siphoning. Go to WallyWorld or auto parts store and buy a siphon hose that has a bulb built in. Squeezing the bulb will start the siphoning.

You might get better answers if you'd explain what kind of tank you're talking about. Plastic? Metal? Built in? Can the tank be removed?

Most people would have originally put Stabil fuel stabilizer (or comparable treatments) in the gas to turn any water into alcohol. Then, siphon the gas out, and blow out the tank. If the tank can be removed, turn it upside down and drain out any remaining fluid. Then, leave it in the sun, and any gasoline will evaporate promptly.

If the tank is really rusted and deteriorated, you might have to replace it. They're not really that expensive. It's not worth fouling your engine's fuel system with contaminated gasoline.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Stick one of those old plastic grey hand bilge pumps in the fuel tank sender hole. It will take a couple of minutes to pump the tank mostly dry. Now shove in some rags to soak up the rest of the liquid. Finally a rinse of denatured alcohol, sucked out with the bilge pump and rags to get the last of the water.

 

[Grandad]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

I have plenty of hose length, but I don't want to suck it out.. there's old gas and disgusting things in there. I need to rig it with some type of pump was more what I was getting at...

Starting a siphon hose is not difficult. Assuming the boat is on land, put your empty siphon hose into the tank with the other end at ground level. Use a garden hose at grade level to fill your siphon hose with water. Some more water may enter the gas tank, but only a small amount. Remove the garden hose and the siphon should start itself naturally.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

I've also seen rotary pumps that operate via garden hose power. Forget where I saw that, though.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

It's an aluminum tank -- it's pretty NOT corroded for a 40 year old tank. I'm gonna just pull it out I think and try to drain it and evaporate the old gross gas-water mixture.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

I use a drill driven pump from Home depot....about 6 bucks

 

[zopperman]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Rick I have to get it emptied for your pressure tester!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Drill powered pumps spark a lot. If you are pumping any kind of flammable liquid, it will catch fire or explode. Use some sort of air powered pump or hand pump.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Dunno if you can fit this into a fuel filler neck, but here's a pump powered by a garden hose:
http://www.plumbingstore.com/submersible_water_pump.html

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Disconnect the fuel line from the engine. Remove the antisiphon valve it has one. Use the primer bulb to start the siphon. Add additional hose if necessary.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Just to be clear, you have 25 gallons of water in your tank??

If this water is mixed with gas you can not simply pump it out. You can not pump it into a storm drain because of the gas. I doubt you have a means to store 25 gallons of anything. pump it onto the ground and you will kill all of your weeds (and grass).

I Personally would just start the siphon the old fashioned way, but where to put the water?? After the water is out the rags are a good idea.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

I doubt you have a means to store 25 gallons of anything.

I guess no one has 4 6 gallon gas cans???? Funny I have 6 of them.........

 

[zopperman]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Just to be clear, you have 25 gallons of water in your tank??

If this water is mixed with gas you can not simply pump it out. You can not pump it into a storm drain because of the gas. I doubt you have a means to store 25 gallons of anything. pump it onto the ground and you will kill all of your weeds (and grass).

I Personally would just start the siphon the old fashioned way, but where to put the water?? After the water is out the rags are a good idea.

I have a 55 gallon drum begging for some gross liquid!
It's a mixture of gas and water, But I think the idea of using the primer bulb should work. I just need it to be light enough to lift out of the boat.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

It sounds like you have a good plan. I guess I am the only one who does not have 25 gallons of containers around.

Earlier this year I had to siphon around 6 to 7 gallons of stale gas out of my boat. I only had gas cans for 5.5 gallons. Since I siphoned off of the bottom I got the water and sediment out. The remaining gallon or so was mixed with 19 gallons of fresh gas and all is right with the world. I have been starting some mean fires in the fire pit without the need for kindling this year.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Best way to drain a gas tank?

Good plan for the excess! HOw did you manage to get out all the gunk and sediment and water?