How do I get water out of my portable tank?

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
I just noticed that one of my portable 6 gallon tanks (metal) has about half a cup of water in it, along with a small amount of gas. I pumped all I could out with my fuel line, but of course some still remains. How am I supposed to get the water out? I know there must be a simple way to do it...I just can't think of it right now. :)
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Revove the cap and the spring if it has one. Turn it over and dump it out.
 

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

I don't think all of it will come out that way...also there's still some gas in there, can't really dump it on the ground. :)
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

It will all come out. Trust me, you might have to shake it.<br /><br />Can't dump it on the ground! Why not? What are you looking at here, 1/2 gallon. It will be completely evaporated in an hour.
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Try a siphon - might not taste good but it works. Also put in a filter/water seperator if you don't already have one.
 

bubbakat

Captain
Joined
Oct 29, 2002
Messages
3,110
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Put you and old shirt or towel,even news paper on the ground,if you don't want to dump it out. Then shake what you can out and if you have a wet and dry shop vac. Find you a piece of hose and reduce the size down with duct tape and suck the rest of it out.<br />Get you a hair dryer that you can turn the heat off to and dry it out
 

Hooty

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 2, 2001
Messages
4,496
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Young rocket scientist like you oughta be able to figger that one out. Pour everything in the tank out that'll come out. Get yourself a pint bottle of rubbing alchol and pour it in the tank, put the lid on and slosh the alchol around in the tank. Now, pour all that out and leave the tank open for a day. It'll alllllll evaporate out.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty
 

radsrh

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
250
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Some how the thought of using a shop vac with gas would scare the gas out of me!
 

Bass Runner

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 2, 2004
Messages
746
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Rubbing alcahol has water in it too, just dump all out that you can get out then take a air hose and force air through it for half an hour that will dry it out,if you can tip the tank and still see a little in there tip the tank up on end and take a coat hanger and attach a cloth to the end that will fit through the lid and soak up any you can see, a motor will burn a very small amount of water,(problem solved) :D
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,862
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Dump out what you can.<br />Then place a rag or old towel into the hole.<br />Turn the tank upside down and balance it on a bucket or pan.<br />The rag will soak up the remaining fuel and water, and siphon itself out and drip into the bucket.<br /><br />Kindof like leaving a dishrag hang over between the two kitchen sinks.
 

Hooty

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 2, 2001
Messages
4,496
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Yep, 25-30%, but it has room for plenty more. It latches up with the water and when it evaporates, it takes the water with it. Don't take my word for it though, try it.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty
 

bubbakat

Captain
Joined
Oct 29, 2002
Messages
3,110
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Hooty you old dog I had forgot about the old alcohol trick. Thanks for refreshing my memory.<br />
Some how the thought of using a shop vac with gas would scare the gas out of me
:D :D <br />That is why I suggested a wet and dry shop vac.They have a completely sealed sparkles power unit.<br /> I like hooty's ideal
 

wayne h

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 29, 2003
Messages
862
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

DONT SUCK IT OUT WITH A SHOP VAC. KABOOOM. u will be vacumming vapor out of the tank though the vac motor that has brushes that make sparks. u will risk the chance of an explosion doing that.very dangerous
 

ZmOz

Captain
Joined
Aug 13, 2003
Messages
3,949
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Alright, it finally stopped raining long enough to try and dry out my tank. Ther is a lip inside the fill hole about 3/4" tall. I cannot pour the gas out because of this. There is about a pint of liquid, about half water half gas. If I put enough rubbing alcohol in there to do any good, it would take forever to evaporate, and in that time more water and dirt would get in. (I am in Oregon :) )
 

BF

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 8, 2003
Messages
1,489
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Hiya,<br /><br />How bout add another gallon or two, put something under tank to tilt it (to make one corner low), wait for water to settle to bottom, then siphon from the low spot. Water should come out first. <br /><br />I know what you mean about tanks... I can never get the last couple cups worth out of my OMC tanks.<br /><br />Brent
 

BF

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 8, 2003
Messages
1,489
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

that gallon or two that you add should be gas of course :)
 

Hooty

Rear Admiral
Joined
Oct 2, 2001
Messages
4,496
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

I quit.<br /> I don't know why I bother replying to ZmOz when I know "it ain't gonna work". As smart as you are, why even bother with this forum.<br /><br />Hooty
 

alcan

Commander
Joined
Dec 14, 2001
Messages
2,505
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Hooty's method is sound and will work where ever you live. You obviously can not leave a tank out in the rain with the cover of. How about a car port or lean to. When you have a combination of machinery,fuel,boats and water sooner or later they are going to mix to one extent or another. You need to learn the trick of dewatering. Alcohol.
 

outboardguy

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
262
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

Why not just use Hooty's suggestion and add alcohol then pour out as much as you can get out.After that the remaining water will be molecularly attached to the alcohol and will burn with the gas as it passes through the system.<br /><br />California tried adding MTBE to our fuel only to find out what bad it does.Since then they have gone to fuel with more alcohol content.I can take a pure sample of gas in a gatorade bottle and leave it on the dock for twenty minutes.When I come back the sample will be milky from all the alcohol in the fuel pulling the moisture from the air. <br />Dude trust Hooty. Why would he lie to you . :)
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: How do I get water out of my portable tank?

OK, how many iboats experts does it take to empty a can?<br /><br />I'm thinking somewhere around 5000.<br /><br />Come on, just tip it over.- geez!
 
Top