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| Easy way to drain gas tank? (Page 1/2) |
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Trekker
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MAY 05, 09:26 AM
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My brother recently aquired an '86 coupe and I am helping him restore it. The gas in the tank is just RANCID (about 1/2 full now since he thought more gas would help). Is there a quick and easy way to empty the tank without dropping it out?
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dobey
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MAY 05, 09:33 AM
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You can use the pump (at risk of damaging it with gummed up fuel from the bottom of the tank), by disconnecting the feed line at the filter and pumping into a can.
Another option is to use a hand pump you can buy at Harbor Freight or similar for about $5, and shove the feed hose for that down the filler neck, then use the hand pump to pump it out through the fill neck.
If there's old fuel that's turned to gummed up junk in the bottom of the tank though, you will need to drop it to clean the tank out.
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theogre
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MAY 05, 04:32 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by dobey:
You can use the pump (at risk of damaging it with gummed up fuel from the bottom of the tank), by disconnecting the feed line at the filter and pumping into a can.
Another option is to use a hand pump you can buy at Harbor Freight or similar for about $5, and shove the feed hose for that down the filler neck, then use the hand pump to pump it out through the fill neck. |
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Fiero is hard to siphon etc using fill tube. The 90° bend at tank is why most times. You can carefully remove the big hose at tank fairly easy and siphon/pump at that point.
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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)
The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)
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css9450
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MAY 05, 05:01 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by theogre:
Fiero is hard to siphon etc using fill tube. The 90° bend at tank is why most times. You can carefully remove the big hose at tank fairly easy and siphon/pump at that point.
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I couldn't get the hose past that 90 degree bend either.
On mine I removed the fill hose and pressurized the tank with my Motive brake pressure bleeder. I used a second hose to drain the gas down into a big plastic gas can under the car. Actually, I removed both the fill and vent hoses so I could use rags to plug up the openings. Worked like a charm too; drained an entirely full tank this way. Of course, mine was easier since the tank was almost completely full so I didn't have to pressurize it very much to get it going at the start. I think a half-full tank would take a LOT of pumping to pressurize it.
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Patrick
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MAY 05, 07:43 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Trekker:
The gas in the tank is just RANCID (about 1/2 full now since he thought more gas would help). Is there a quick and easy way to empty the tank without dropping it out?
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Wimp.  Just disconnect everything and carefully drop the tank while you're lying under the car and supporting the tank with your feet and chest etc. Nothing to it, and the gas fumes will make the whole experience a little trippy.  And don't light a match.[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-05-2015).]
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Csjag
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MAY 06, 06:59 AM
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I would drop the tank, the fuel pump should be replaced and the tank needs to be cleaned. I would also replace the rubber filler hose and the other rubber tank hoses. All that is part of a restoration. I've done it several times on 2 different Fiero's. I drove the car on car ramps and then jacked up the other end and put car jacks under that end. Pump out most of the gas with the fuel pump and then replace the pump with a new Bosch pump.
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weloveour86se
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MAY 06, 08:47 AM
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Do the work and drop the tank...
This is what our gas looked like. Then you might have to address the fuel lines and fuel filter. It will be TONS easier with the tank and other stuff out.
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2.5
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MAY 06, 10:21 AM
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I agree its worth seeing whats in the tank and every Fiero I have had i replaced the fuel pump once. Easiest drain is to power the pump and let it pump it out of a line into a container.
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2.5
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MAY 06, 10:22 AM
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I agree drop the tank so you can see whats in there and replace the pump, that way you wont have to drop it again soon. Easiest way to drain it in the car is power teh pump and let it pump it out a line into a container.
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Patrick
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MAY 06, 04:04 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Trekker:
My brother recently aquired an '86 coupe and I am helping him restore it. The gas in the tank is just RANCID (about 1/2 full now since he thought more gas would help). Is there a quick and easy way to empty the tank without dropping it out?
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Although earlier in this thread I called you a "wimp" for wanting to drain the tank before dropping it , I actually do have a serious question for you... Why do you wish to drop the tank? Is the fuel pump not working?
I've resurrected at least three Fieros that had been sitting for years with stale gas in their tanks, and my experience was that as long as the fuel pressure is good, I simply filled the tanks with fresh gas and carried on.
Perhaps I was fortunate that in every case, the tanks were not full of crud, but I just wanted to make it clear that a couple gallons of stale gas is not necessarily going to give you problems.
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