emptying a gas tank

[smokindog]

I'm a bit confused.... Any pump I know of designed for gasoline transfer (your fear of spark is well founded) is going to be expensive. If your only goal is to empty the tank to change out the fuel, the only two cost effective options seem to be siphon or pay someone who already has the equipment for rapid extraction and disposal!!!

By the time you make your trip to the store to find something, you could siphon it (if you have someplace to put it which you would require even with the pump).

I have to think you've got something else in mind I'm missing Like maybe in the water and no way to hoist/trailer..... I just reread everything and don't see anything about location/logistics for the boat!!!! If that is the case, I'll mention one last nudge for compressed air. My tank/fuel system was a closed system. Using a compressed air tank to pressurize the gas tank via the breather forced the gas out of the fuel line, to the last drop!!!!! I certainly wouldn't run the compressor around doing this but using a portable tank works.... without having to have gravity on the side of the outlet!

Good luck!

I like it-but I'm pumping gas not diesel and am a bit leery of that "spark" factor. Think I'll take a trip to tractor supply later on today.

 

[REM 3200]

Or buy a cheap elec 7GPM pump take a battery & some fuel hose done.

This is what I did. Pumped it in two 55 gal. drums and took them to the family farm to use there.

 

[wbraswell]

But what do you do with a lot of bad gasoline? I've been wondering this. I have a car that has been sitting and I need to drain the tank.

 

[Jessie]

The old stuff makes a great weed killer....
And far cheaper than the commercial kind. But of course, I wouldn't use it in such an environmentally unfriendly way, nope, not me.

 

[Rule3]

I like it-but I'm pumping gas not diesel and am a bit leery of that "spark" factor. Think I'll take a trip to tractor supply later on today.

Still not sure if the boat is in the water or what enforcement you have around you.

Here a drop of oil or fuel that makes a tiny tiny slick on the water is an instant fine, and major trouble for the boat owner!!

Sometimes it is just better to "pay the man" and as mentioned have a company come and drain it and haul it away.

I never cleaned my own septic tank!

 

[vytoland]

this video gives you detailed instructions on how the professionals drain a gas tank..............watch & learn...............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ccAx792uoI

 

[Franklin]

I need to empty a 56 gal tank in my boat.

This is what I did, Pumped it in two 55 gal. drums

How did you make 110 gallons out of 56? I would like to double my gas mileage!

 

[Rule3]

I need to empty a 56 gal tank in my boat.

This is what I did, Pumped it in two 55 gal. drums

How did you make 110 gallons out of 56? I would like to double my gas mileage!

Well at around 6 lbs per gal it is a lot easier to move 2 half full containers than one full one. Plus 56 gal will not go into 55

 

[REM 3200]

I need to empty a 56 gal tank in my boat.

This is what I did, Pumped it in two 55 gal. drums

How did you make 110 gallons out of 56? I would like to double my gas mileage!

If you are looking at my post, my boat had a 100 gal. fuel tank.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Boat on the hard behind my office-I like the idea of a kerosine pump-think I'll go that a way.

 

[bgrafsr]

Sometimes it is just better to "pay the man" and as mentioned have a company come and drain it and haul it away.!/QUOTE]

Aw c'mon now, Caj is an Attorney, and you should know how cheap they are. Pay someone????????Funny stuff right there.

 

[don5]

I would use a good Rubber hand held pump. I have one that I got from an Auto store. It can be used for oil or gasoline. You pump it a couple of times until the liquid starts to flow and you are done. Just make sure you have a large enough container.

BTW- Did you tell she who must be obeyed that you really need to take a vacation and use that boat instead? This would not happen if you had more time off to use the boat. Just sayin...

 

[rwsmith]

They make zillions......

They make zillions of hand pumps that will handle gas. If it's made for a drum you might have to shorten the dip tube. Google it and be surprised. I was about to recommend a Jabsco flexible impeller pump that is run by a drill motor, but it may be incompatible with gas and a fire hazard to boot, but it's good to know these things are out there.

 

[bgrone]

Contaminated fuel

Caj, I just had a similar task; a lawn care company had a diesel pickup that an employee had mistakenly filled with gasoline. I used an electric fuel pump from a GM pickup added longer wires with clamps to attach to battery (long enough to be safe distance from pump when connecting) fashioned nipples to connect at flexible fuel line under the hood and an outlet line to reach a 55 gal drum. From the size of your tank I surmise that your boat is such that there is a flex connection near the engine that you can connect to a pump. The late GM pickup fuel pump is a magnetic pulse pump so spark risk is eliminated, a local salvage yard should be able to supply you with one at a reasonable cost and you will have a portable transfer pumps you can use in the future. Most of the 12v pumps available at Tractor Supply etc., in the lower price ranges are designed for diesel fuel only.

PM me if you want more details.

Jim in Iowa

 

[amazingflapjack]

Could/should be a drain in the bottom of the tank somewhere, but if not, I would treat the gas with denatured alcohol or some other additive. If possible, I would manually siphon (enjoy the flavor) a small amount with thin plastic hose, and "test" it in a lawn mower or other small engine while adding some "dry gas" to see if it will improve to the point where it is usable, and then add the same proportion to the boat tank; if you can't just suck it out.

 

[nawilson]

Caj... surely some of your clients have experience in the logistics of relocating petroleum products from one container to another...

 

[Frank46]

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.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Fill it full of whipped cream. Oh forget it.

 

[bhayles]

Amazon has a bunch of cheap siphon pumps

A "cheap siphon pump" will get you killed or burned bad when trying to siphon gas. A fire safe pump, much like you see on equipment fueling tanks on job sites or in the back of the super's pickup, is all you should use...and they ain't cheap.

Got any friends with heavy equipment? They should have an appropriate pump you could borrow.

On the other hand, "got any friends" may not apply. After all, you ARE a lawyer...

 

[doublesharp]

I had about 10 gallon to pump out of a bass boat. The way I did it was to disconnect the fuel line just past the bulb and then squeeze the bulb and direct the fuel into a gas can. It was a tedious job but I found it went faster if I daydreamed about Dolly.

I had a 2000 chevy with a 5.3 at the time and I mixed the old gas in a couple gallons at a time until it was gone. No problems. Lately I've been treating my gas with Stabil marine and then adding an oz of Seafoam per gallon as well.