How to drain a fuel tank

Most cars on the road today use internal combustion engines that use gasoline or diesel as fuel, and they store that fuel in a gas tank. Most gas tanks are located on the bottom of the car and are designed for ...

Most cars on the road today use internal combustion engines that use gasoline or diesel as fuel, and they store that fuel in a gas tank. Most gas tanks are located at the bottom of the car and are designed to prevent fuel from leaking out of the tank after it has been filled. However, there are times when it is necessary to drain the fuel from the tank, for example, when replacing the fuel pump, cleaning the tank, or if you accidentally filled it with the wrong type of fuel. In this guide, we will look at two methods for draining fuel from a tank. Both methods require minimal hand tools and are relatively easy to perform.

• A warning: Gasoline is flammable and its vapors are dangerous to breathe. So make sure you work in as well ventilated as possible and always keep electronics, sparks and open flames away from the vehicle.

Method 1 of 2: Emptying the gas tank with a siphon pump

The first method we'll look at involves using a simple hand-held siphon pump to transfer fuel from the tank to a storage canister.

Necessary materials

• Fuel storage can
• Long thin screwdriver
• Siphon hand pump
• Shop rag (to wipe up any possible spills)

Step 1: Drive the vehicle until the fuel level is at its lowest.. This will reduce the amount of drainage that will need to be done.

In some cases this will not be possible, for example when the fuel pump has failed or when the wrong fuel has been pumped into the tank. In these scenarios, you should be aware that the fuel tanks on some vehicles can hold up to eighteen gallons, and some even more, so if you need to drain that amount of fuel, make sure you have enough fuel storage tanks.

Step 2: Insert the siphon pump tube into the fuel tank.. When you're ready to start, open the fuel door, remove the fuel tank cap, and begin feeding one end of the siphon pump tube down through the fuel filler neck into the fuel tank.

If you notice that your fuel door won't close or open, be sure to call a professional mechanic from AvtoTachki for example, have a look at it.

• Functions: it can be a little tricky to feed the tubing into the tank as it is likely to be very flexible and can kink; a good technique is to apply it in very small portions, a little at a time, until the tube is as deep into the reservoir as possible.

• Functions: Many vehicles also have a small metal door or valve that can prevent the tubing from entering the tank. If so, use a screwdriver to pry open the small metal door and then continue to insert the tube into the tank.

Step 3: Pump fuel into the fuel tank.. Once one end of the siphon pump tube is inserted into the vehicle's tank, insert the other end into the fuel storage tank and pump with the hand pump until you see fuel flowing through the tube.

Continue pumping the hand pump until all fuel is drained and you can no longer see fuel flowing down the tube. This may take some time, depending on the amount of fuel that needs to be drained.

Step 4: Dispose of or store fuel. After all the fuel has been drained, properly dispose of or store the fuel and repair or refuel the vehicle with the correct type of fuel.

Method 2 of 2: Draining the gas tank using the fuel tank drain plug

Necessary materials

• Basic set of hand tools
• Pallet
• Jack and Jack stand
• Safety glasses
• Shop rag (to wipe up any possible spills)

• Wooden blocks or wheel chocks

• Attention Not all vehicles have a drain plug on the fuel tank. Before you begin, be sure to research your specific vehicle to make sure it actually has a drain plug.

Step 1: Drive the vehicle until the fuel level is at its lowest.. As with method 1, step 1, this will reduce the amount of drainage that will need to be done, saving time and energy.

If this is not possible, make sure you have enough pans to collect the fuel that needs to be drained from the vehicle.

Step 2: Raise one of the car's rear wheels and secure it to a jack or jack stands.. Be sure to raise the vehicle so that there is room for maneuvering underneath.

Engage the parking brake and place wedges or blocks of wood under the wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling.

Step 3: Find the drain plug. After lifting the car, put on goggles and find the drain plug on the bottom of the car; it should be somewhere at the bottom of the fuel tank.

Step 4: Loosen the drain plug. When you're ready, place a drain pan under the plug and loosen the plug.

Most fuel tank drain plugs are little different from regular oil drain plugs, and can usually be loosened with a ratchet and a properly sized socket.

Step 5: Drain the fuel from the tank. After loosening the drain plug, remove it completely by hand. Let the fuel drain until the tank is empty.

• A warning: Take precautions as the fuel will pour out at full strength once the drain plug is completely removed. Have towels or rags nearby to wipe up any spills.

Step 6: Replace drain plug and discard or save fuel.. When the fuel is completely drained, replace the drain plug and dispose of or store the drained fuel properly. Move forward with any repairs or services that need to be done.

For most vehicles, draining a fuel tank is a fairly simple procedure that can be completed with a minimum of tools or specialist knowledge. As always, use caution when handling fuel as it is highly flammable and remember to properly dispose of or store drained fuel.