emptying a gas tank

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Come over to my place and I'll loan you a hand cranked gas pump that I used to pump gas out of a 55 gallon drum for my riding mower and I'll even throw in a 55 gallon drum for free. Can't get any cheaper than that.I'm in new iberia, Frank send me a pm will give you my phone # and address.

Thanks Frank-but I found a guy with a waste oil business who is going to suck it out himself for the gas.
Problem solved and I don't even have to get my hands dirty or sweat

 

[Kinman]

Looks like your problem is solved Caj, I've removed fuel from more than a couple of boats and vehicles and it usually involves spilling a certain amount of fuel even with the best trained hands involved. Im at a stage in life where I usually find its best to let someone else do the dirty work. I was going to mention that if its just old stale gas you do not need to remove all of it, just the majority or at least 3/4 of it. The rest will mix with the fresh and Stabil or whatever you want to add and then get her out and use her and always keep a stabilizer in your fuel if its going to set for even as little as six months. Modern fuel does not last nearly as well as the good old stuff, I store 35 gallons of fuel for home generator use. It is not needed in the summer so gets burned up in the RV, that way I fill them back up and have fresh stabilized fuel to get me through the fall and winter. Part of the reason people have problems with engines starting after sitting for long periods is that the fuel breaks down in the carb or fuel system. Any engine should be started at least once a month and run up to operating temps for at least 15 minutes. The alternative is completely draining the fuel system which then often leads to dried out gaskets that tend to start things leaking. Pay me now or pay me later...

 

[mtgianni]

Caj, for future help, the people I know that have their boats on the water a lot use Sea Foam every fillup.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Caj, for future help, the people I know that have their boats on the water a lot use Sea Foam every fillup.

My problem, and I ought to be horsewhipped for it, is that I just can't seem to find te time to take her out. It has been close to two and a half years since I took the old girl out and I've made the decision to get her running and either start finding time to use her or sell her. My problem-I know-the solution is up to me.
As far as the Sea Foam-I've got a can for the little boat.

 

[Mickey D]

I can tell the outcome will suck.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

Disconnect the line at the engine, add enough line to get into the cans you are putting it in. Remove the filler cap from the gas tank and run an air line from a small compressor down the filler tube a foot or so. Pack a rag around the air line to seal it off. Gently pressurize the fuel tank, and the fuel will be pushed out into the cans at the back of the boat.

Take your time and don't put more than 10-15 lbs of pressure on the tank, as you can blow the seams if you pump it up too much.

Had to take 85 gallons of mixed gas out of mine when I went to a four stroke a few years back. Made my buddy the tree surgeon happy, he ended up with a pile of chainsaw gas!

 

[smokindog]

So now I'll give you the other half of my story on "flushing old gas".

I had just spent 2 of the craziest years of my life working on getting a start up off the ground so the boat saw nothing but the trailer. I DID get out every month or so to at least turn it over and even kept Sta Bil in a full tank.

When I finally got it back in the water, it would idle fine and would run at moderate speed if slowly brought to speed. However, try to yank someone out of the water or otherwise step on the old 302 (bored out, high lift, ...) and it would begin to stutter and stall.

I flushed the old gas, rebuilt the carb, and did all the other things all the collective brains of the "shade tree" mechanics could come up with.

Well I finally had to turn it over to the pros and they found some "fun loving" person had provided me some fuel additive. A small amount of sandy/rocky material was in the bottom of the tank and was just enough to reduce the fuel flow by getting pulled up to the anti-siphon valve such that "high demand" situations starved the engine.

I HOPE you don't have a similar situation. 2 1/2 year old gas should still operate for cruising!!!

My problem, and I ought to be horsewhipped for it, is that I just can't seem to find te time to take her out. It has been close to two and a half years since I took the old girl out and I've made the decision to get her running and either start finding time to use her or sell her. My problem-I know-the solution is up to me.
As far as the Sea Foam-I've got a can for the little boat.

 

[Frank46]

Caj,send him over my way as I have about 5 5 gallon cans with stale gas.
I'll even give him the drum I promised you if he'll come and take it away.Frank

 

[blujax01]

One 5 gallon plastic gas can = $12.

One squeeze bulb siphon hose = $5.

Ten 5 gallon top offs mixed in with 20 gallons of new gas in the truck = problem solved.

Don't over think it.

 

[bgrone]

Good work

Good job Caj! Almost like getting the garbage truck to pay you for your garbage. Some posters advised diluting bad/contaminated fuel to burn it up; that would be alright in a pickup or old car, not something I'd recommend for a boat or a newer fuel injected vehicle. Good luck with the fresh fuel, hope you get time to take the ol' girl out and get some use out of it.
Of course you already know the two happiest days in a boat owner's life

Jim in Iowa