whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

[KevinKay]

I have a mercrusiser 3.0L GM 4 cylinder engine. i pulled the carb off and thought with the key turned it would operate the gas pump, but it only runs when the engine is cranking?? I want to empty the tank without pulling up the floor.
Thanks!

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Good Ol'fashion siphon ?

 

[blifsey]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

WOT

Never tried siphoning gas from tank but have read some boats have a valve type thing in place to keep a siphon hose from reaching tank.

 

[arks]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Good Ol'fashion siphon ?

Yeah, a siphon would be easiest if the boat is out of the water. If you have trouble getting a siphon tube down the fill then you'll have to get to the top of the tank. The boat should have an access port in the floor above the sending unit. Remove the sending unit and siphon from there. A couple years ago I siphoned 60 gallons out of my Silverton when she was hauled for the winter. It was easy after I figured out how to hold the suction end of the hose to the bottom of the tank.

You could also use a manual or 12V electric fuel pump (rated for GAS) and pull it out, which doesn't require the boat tank to be higher than the destination tank.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

If you can get to your sending unit there's your entry point for your siphon tube. That is if you cant stick it down the fill tube.

 

[Beefer]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Turn it over! Sorry...

But seriously, fastest way would be to get a 12v fuel pump, and make an electrical siphon. You should be able to siphon through the fuel fill if you absolutely can't access the sending unit or the pick up.

The safest (IMO) is with a manual siphon pump. I picked one up at my local auto parts store for $12, and it took about an hour (maybe more) to siphon out 40+ gals.

If you can't access the sending unit or pick up, try tapping into a fuel line, maybe at the pump ball, and siphon from there.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

well in my experience all I have to do is THINK about turning my ignition keys and there goes my gas.....

A cheap inline electric pump from your local auto parts store works well but remember safety.... Connect it to a battery that is outside the boat and away from any gas fumes...... Those pumps also work fairly well for changing your oil

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

attach a longer hose to the output which the fuel will come out of ,block off the fuel fill with a wet rag and pressurize the vent line with air from a compressor . fuel will come out

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Howdy,



If you have never removed gas from that tank before, siphoning through the gage sender hole is probably best.

Use 3/4" clear hose and put a piece of PVC pipe on the end that goes in the tank.

Get enough hose so you don't have to use your mouth to get the siphon started. (you can pour gas into the hose to fill it first. then raise the filled hose to clear the bubble)

Also get a small PVC ball-valve with another piece of PVC pipe on the other end so your helper can shut off the flow and not lose the siphon while changing containers as they fill up. (so none is spilled)

With the short length of PVC pipe on the "tank-end" you can vacuum out any water or debris in the tank. (jack the bow up so the water will run to the back where the sender is)


DO THIS OUTSIDE away from the house (um.......NO SMOKING!!)



Regards,


Rick

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Just gimme the keys and a 12 pack

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Drive it like you stole it!!!!!

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

How does a guy actually clean the tank to get all the debris and crap out after all of the gas is removed?? Hypathetically...

 

[searay175snyder]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

i used a shop vac

 

[searay175snyder]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

took off the fuel line threw the tank and waited till it dried about 30 or so min and vac it out got it all i had bad gas and dirt in there for two years and did not know

 

[Doryboy]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

There's two ways to get that fuel, now that you have the carb off. You can hook the fuel line that went to the carb to the inlet side of an electric pump, and pump the fuel into a bunch of gas cans, or you can hook a long piece of hose up to the same line and siphon the fuel out. If you're going to siphon it, the boat should be out of the water. Otherwise, to get the output end of the siphon lower than the input you'll be underwater. And that's not very comfortable this time of year.

 

[wvstriper]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

How does a guy actually clean the tank to get all the debris and crap out after all of the gas is removed?? Hypathetically...

Put ethanol blended gas in your tank

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

i used a shop vac

WOW !!! And your still alive to tell us about it ! Amazing!

 

[CHAWK46]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

paultjohnson's right. Air flowing through a plastic hose creates static electricity. That's why cabinate shops use metal pipes for their dust vac systems. Plastic can cause dust explosions.

 

[Droopy]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

Can't believe no one has gotten this right yet...

Easiest (and fastest) way to empty gas tank?



A match!



John

(Disclaimer, probably not the safest way and the boat may not be reusable... But should be exciting!)

 

[fishrdan]

Re: whats the easiest way to empty gas tank?

i used a shop vac