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Tips on siphoning gas.

FuzzyDunlop

FuzzyDunlop

Diamond Member
Im in the middle of my engine swap, ready to drop the gas tank to replace the fuel pump, and I just realized that the tank is HALF full of gas. There is no drain on the bottom of the tank.
I have never siphoned gas before... how do I get it out?
 
Use a blow torch to cut a hole in the bottom.

Or, head to your local automotive shop and pick a siphoning pump. I bought one for around $20 to remove the gas from my snow blower in the summer.
 
cheap way: you could use a garden hose, suck the gas into your mouth, then put the end into a gas can on the ground...

better way: use an auto-siphon on siphon pump ... (like DaTT suggested)
 
Or find your fuel pressure test port and trip your fuel pump fuses or pull the fuel line off into a bucket and turn ignition on (not start).
 
DaTT said:
Use a blow torch to cut a hole in the bottom.
Click to expand...

LOL....😀 Or use a match to see how much is in the tank for sure...?

Or the idea for the using the car's fuel pump is good but unless the engine is running the fuel pump control will time out and it will cut off (safety feature)... Not sure by what was said as "trip your fuel pump fuses" ? But the other option is to find the fuel pump relay and jumper it so the fuel pump control is taken out of the system and the pump will run as long as you keep it jumpered...

Also most newer cars/trucks have an anti siphon device in the filler neck which makes it pretty hard to use the old "Georgia credit card"...
 
Last edited:
1. Buy a DeLorean
2. Install flux capacitor
3. Go 88mph to before you pulled the engine
4. Drive car until nearly empty
5. Go forward in time
6. Easily remove lighter gas tank
 
Ferzerp said:
1. Buy a DeLorean
2. Install flux capacitor
3. Go 88mph to before you pulled the engine
4. Remember that car didnt run before dropping the engine due to a broken rod.
5. Go forward in time
6. Create post on Anandtech about how to Siphon Gas.
Click to expand...

fixed
 
DaTT said:
Wouldn't a half tank of gas take forever to drain that way? But yes, I never thought of that and it would be quite easy to do.
Click to expand...

Depends on the fuel pump, but no it wouldn't take that long.

Even if the pump is only capable of 1GPM it'd still only take x minutes.

That's why your car has a fuel return 🙂
 
Bartman39 said:
Also most newer cars/trucks have an anti siphon device in the filler neck which makes it pretty hard to use the old "Georgia credit card"...
Click to expand...

I would assume mechanics have either special tools or tricks for this when they are faced with a gas tank replacement when the customer just filled up.

On a side note, my Dad's new truck doesn't even have a gas cap (which I assume is common now) and you need a special adapter to use a plastic gas tank to put gas in if you happen to run out of gas on the side of the road.
 
DaTT said:
I would assume mechanics have either special tools or tricks for this when they are faced with a gas tank replacement when the customer just filled up.
Click to expand...

Special tools not really but I do have a setup that works quite well its 2 pieces of 3/8th fuel hose 1 is about 6ft long the other about 2ft... Also in this setup is a 3/8th inline electric fuel pump with a long cord with 2 battery clips on the ends (neg & positive)... With the 3/8th fuel hose it is small enough to push down in the filler neck and twist till it makes it way into the tank past the anti-siphon device... Also since the hose has a small inner diameter the electric fuel pump draws and pumps the fuel pretty quick Vs plain siphoning...

Also a cut piece of plywood secured to a floor jack work good to lower a tank that cannot be drained for whatever reason (be prepared for a mess and NO SMOKING 😀)... But in some cases you can remove the filler neck at the tank and siphon from there...
 
Mechanics probably will just pop open the fuel pump access cover and siphon from there with a pump.

Many would probably just reach down in the fuel with gloves (or not as well).
 
BurnItDwn said:
cheap way: you could use a garden hose, suck the gas into your mouth, then put the end into a gas can on the ground...

better way: use an auto-siphon on siphon pump ... (like DaTT suggested)
Click to expand...

Ha ha, when siphoning you dont suck, you blow. Create positive pressure in the tank and the fuel will be pushed out.
 
Ferzerp said:
So just go back a little more, and tell yourself don't fill the tank that last time 😉
Click to expand...
LOL! and again fail because I bought the car with a broken rod. 😀
anyways
i just bought a hand pump. $10. Easy and quick.
IMGP3940.jpg
 
You don't need to suck anything. Get a long enough hose, fill it up with gasoline and cover one end with your finger to create a vacuum, stick the other end in the tank and lower the hose into your catch can, until it's below the tank level, let go of your finger and gravity will do the trick.

If you don't have gasoline available, you may still siphon your tank without sucking with your mouth, and that is by simulating a suction pump action with your finger (opening and closing at one end of the tube) and push/pulling action on the hose. This might take you a while to master, but I think you should know how to manipulate a tube in that manner, eh? Get to it.
 
DaTT said:
Use a blow torch to cut a hole in the bottom.
Click to expand...

I quickly exited this thread after reading the OP but not before reading your 1st response... and was like... wait WHAT?! I had to click the back button to see if I read it right.
 
If the fuel pump still work, disconnect the fuel hose at the rail, put it in the gas container, and jump 12v to the pump.

Or drop the tank with the fuel still in it. Get the fuel out later.
 
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