Whats the best way to clear the fuel line to the tank? and drain tank?

[Lord Warlock]

I had my car stored for several years, and can't trust the 3-4 year old gas in the tank anymore so need to siphon it out of the tank, (I don't feel like taking the tank off to drain it properly)-before the last storage I had it stored for 10 years so took the tank off, drained it and rinsed it out several times to get rid of old scale, so I'm pretty sure the tank itself is in pretty good shape, but the gas in the tank now is just too old to trust running it thru the fuel filter/carb.

Someone with experience storing cars said to run compressed air thru the fuel line back into the tank to clear it of any old fuel, is this a viable option?  We got the car running by running a fresh 5 gallon can to the inlet side of the fuel pump, so the pump itself is fine, the carb is fine, but I want to clear the fuel line running from the pump to the tank itself, and then get the gas out of the tank, it only has about 5 gallons total in the tank.  What is the easiest way to drain the tank without taking the tank off the car? 

I anticipate buying a replacement fuel line eventually, but hate to replace anything on the car that isn't stock since it is mostly original still. 

Lord Warlock

[Chryco Psycho]

compressed air will clear the fuel line
no easy way to drain the tank fully , siphon out as much as possible & dilute it with 17 gals of new fuel or drop the tank

[original72]

agreed compressed air will clean out the line well just make sure you pop the gas cap first.... as for emptying the gas... best bet is disconnect the fuel line at the tank and hook up a 12 volt fuel pump to the line with a filter between it and suck out as much as possible

[Lord Warlock]

I don't have an electric fuel pump, ...yet...  I'm hoping to clear the line back into the tank itself, then use the cleared line to drain the gas in the tank, I may try to disconnect the fuel line from the tank itself, but from the previous tank removal, it is really more than a 1 man job to get it back into place afterwards, and I don't have that many enthusiasts around to assist these days.  I have an electric sump pump for pumping water out of a waterbed, but Im not sure if trying to run fuel thru it would be safe or not. 

[Ghoste]

I don't know that I'd personally want to try the electric water pump.  If the car is high enough and you have already unhooked it at the engine to run fresh fuel to it, I'd run a siphon from that end.  It's going to take a while if you have a lot of fuel left in the tank but it may be easier.

[Wakko]

I have an old Purolator electric fuel pump that I use.  You need to be safe safe safe as you're dealing with fuel fumes and electricity but if you're careful it's easy.  What I did was to run a four foot (or so) line into the tank and placed the pump in the trunk.  Then I ran about five feet of line into a gas can (make sure you use clamps so it doesn't seep into your trunk).  I used wire nuts on the wires and ran it to a jump box for power and ran the pump till the can was nearly full then swapped the can out.  The jump box was about five feet away from the gas can to prevent any spark from igniting but I still had an extinguisher and garden hose nearby just in case.

Did it twice, super easy.

[dodge freak]

Water is no good for a gas fire all it do is spread the gas out-and the fire-. That pump -well the motor- could spark. Use a hand pump, Sure nothing most likely happen but one spark and kaboom you have a major fire going. Don't believe me take just a few OZ of gas pour it on cement or a BBQ pit and throw a match in from 20 feet away. After you see it burn you never take chances with gas again--Unless you are nuts.

[Wakko]

The pump is designed for fuel, I'm not worried about it sparking.  I AM worried about the connection to the jump box sparking, hence me leaving it five feet away from the fuel vapors.  I think we're all familiar with how well gasoline burns. 

[dodge freak]

Well these new cars do use 12 volt pumps in the gas tanks so maybe it not that risky but what good would a garden hose be for a gas fire ?

[Wakko]

Flush any fuel on the ground away from the underside of the car and let it burn at the foot of the driveway instead.  Plus if something lights as a result of the fuel fire you're as prepared as you can be. 

[dodge freak]

I am sure your local fire dept. and the EPA would love having gas going down the sewers if you have them by your house.

Hopefully that never will happen, sounds like you are careful

[Lord Warlock]

I don't drain gas onto the ground, that is what the extra gas cans are for.  I wouldn't pour it down the sewer anyway, I'd rather dig a hole and pour it in there and poison the water table instead.  But I only do that for small quantities such as a gallon or less.  5 gallons is too much to do that with.  I'll end up taking it to a reclamation point in town or try running it in the lawnmower instead.  We have a septic tank in our yard and if that doesn't poison the ground I doubt a little gas would harm it much. 

[dodge freak]

Well people use to clear weeds by pouring gas on them and lighting it, but now of days. Those old gas station tanks leak all of the time about 10 years ago they all had to go but before then ? Oil comes from the ground anyways.

5 gallons is alot, its too bad you can't just burn it. My trash guys won't even take empty paint cans.

[Shakey]

Just dump it on the driveway and light it on fire.  A bit smokey with the ashphalt but who cares.

Sometimes, just for kicks, I'll get on my bike with a 5 gallon jug, open it up and ride down the street emptying it as I go.  When the jug is empty, I light it with a match and watch the long line of gas burn up the street.  The best time to do this is either at 3:30 PM, when all the kids are getting out of school (they really think the show is cool) or at night when it is pitch black.   

[4402tuff4u]

What ever you do, don't even think of using compressed oxygen from like a torch set up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!         I know allot of people know this, but there is always the ones that might not know and I'm just mentioning it as a precaution. I knew a mechanic that when he started in the mechanic business was left alone to clean a crane and clean the grease lines for all the gears, etc...............well needless to say he hooked up an oxygen tank to the line to blow the caked up grease from the line. He figured "2,000 psi should do it". The next thing he knew, he was in the hospital with serveral fingers nearly taken off from the blast. Oxygen will ignite with the slight friction and petroleum base compound.

[Lord Warlock]

I hope you live in a rural area, because if i saw a kid on a bike lighting the street on fire, I'd probably call the cops.  Thats a serious lack of judgment dsplayed.  It may be ok for aspiring pyromaniacs but for old farts, we usually try to maintain a low profile. 

[4402tuff4u]

I hope you live in a rural area, because if i saw a kid on a bike lighting the street on fire, I'd probably call the cops.  Thats a serious lack of judgment dsplayed.  It may be ok for aspiring pyromaniacs but for old farts, we usually try to maintain a low profile. 

I think you just fell in Shakey's trap!! Your response is what he was looking for.

[Wakko]

I have no sewers...but I'm not talking about gallons of fuel anyway.   I don't know about other folks' areas but here we have a place that will take old paint, fuel, tires and such. 

If you have an old beater you could add small amounts to the fuel until it burns away.   A half gallon of old gas in a 15 gallon tank won't do anything.   In the future, put some treatment in there .