siphoning fuel

[jisgett]

I am sure this is covered somewhere else, and I have searched the forum fairly well. Just looking for suggestions here:

I know my fuel is old (perhaps really old) and I have two choices: 1) siphon it out 2) run it out.

As far as I can tell (from the manual and reading posts on the forum) siphoning requires me to remove the fuel pump and siphon out through the top of the tank. While I am willing to do this, I am somewhat reluctant based on concerns of jarring the fuel pump or some unforeseen accident resulting in a damaged/broken pump, bad seal, etc.

If I run the fuel out (maybe 4-5 gallons remaining) then I may simply have to wait and hope that it does nothing further to the engine/plugs, etc.

I am leaning toward just running it out and for future reference, how do I prevent this bad fuel situation from occurring again? Best products to buy/additives?

I will continue to search the forum, and hope I haven't missed some obvious posts

Thanks again

 

[Sink]

Absolutely dont try and run it out! Fuel even a few months old can cause problems let along a couple of years. That is unless you want to get intimate with your carbs as in a carb rebuild. Might have to do one anyway. Cant you get a hose into the fuel filler neck? A small hose would take a while but seems like it would be the easiest way to do it.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

I would use a hand pump with a long tube to reach the bottom of tank. Then add some fresh to it, no need to fill it until springtime
Old gas can play havoc with engines.

There is a debate whether to run the tank dry before storing it or leave some in it and add Sta-bil conditioner to it and then start the engine to run it through the system. Then in the spring add fresh gas to it.
In my yard equipment such as shredder,mowers and such I run it dry and add oil to the plug holes. The boat and ski I just leave some in the tank...too hard to run dry if you can't see the tank.

 

[LouDoo]

Here's how I do it. I have an old electric inline fuel pump, disconnect the fuel line at the carb. or inline filter if you have one. Connect the fuel pump to the line, turn the selector switch to reserve, pump the old gas out.

Lou

 

[jisgett]

I am happy to try the hand pump and tube method, but this seems only possible through the fuel pump removal on my '09 RXT. I cannot go through the filler line, since it seems to have an obstruction (prob a filter...?) where it meets the tank. Anyone know if there is any gasket that needs replacing if I remove the pump to get to the tank with a siphon hose?

 

[jisgett]

Here's how I do it. I have an old electric inline fuel pump, disconnect the fuel line at the carb. or inline filter if you have one. Connect the fuel pump to the line, turn the selector switch to reserve, pump the old gas out.

Lou

Lou, will this work on a fuel injected 4 tec, as well? I am guessing I can just remove the line where it meets the fuel rail and do it your way.

 

[LouDoo]

Sorry I didn't notice it was a 4 tek, I should still work but you will need to hook up the fuel pump at the tank, reserve fitting.

Lou

 

[Kozerxp]

there is no reserve line or carbs on your ski you can remove the fuel feed line from the engine and crank the engine over when you put the key on the post the pump will prime and the fuel pump in the tank will pump out the fuel for you that would be the easy way

 

[jisgett]

Koze,

Do i need to keep cranking the ski continually to make it keep pumping fuel out? I thought that when you put the key in it only energized the pump for 2 seconds. I know that is not exactly what you said, but will cranking cause it to suction and then just keep suctioning out?

 

[jisgett]

And would I want to disconnect the connectors to the coils so that no sparks try to get to the cylinders?

 

[Kozerxp]

There's no harm in letting the plugs spark I don't think you can sipion fuel out of the hose cause the fuel pump is in the line you might have to crank it don't crank to long or just keep putting the key on an off and let the prime pump the fuel out don't sound like you have alot of fuel left in the tank shouldnt take long

 

[dbdave]

No need to take your fuel system apart. Disconnect the fuel filler hose from the tank and put your siphon directly in the top of the tank. Works for me.

 

[jisgett]

Dave,

I assume you are talking about the hose I have marked with the pink arrow, the thick filler hose?



This one of course looks the easiest to detach/reattach, but is there not a filter beneath it? I like the idea of this method more than any other, simply because it involves the least amount of messing with pressurized lines, etc., provided once the hose is off it is not obstructed.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[jisgett]

Well, fellas, I am more than a little disappointed and definitely fuming at throwing away money. I went to an auto parts store for a siphon and they sold me a little hand pump bulb job with thin lines. I tried it and there was $5 wasted and an hours worth of time trying it and going to get it. Then I went to Lowe's on a recommendation from a friend to use a drill pump. Bad idea. Even with good tight fittings it never worked. Tried to use a hand pump, but it didn't work either. I know I'm not the smartest man around, but, crap, is it really that hard just to siphon about 4 gallons of gas out of this tank...? Granted, I have never had reason to siphon anything before, but this is just ridiculous. If anyone wants to bail out the idiot, I'm open for just about anything now. I've spent about 3 hours and $30 on different tools that haven't done squat. I'm about to call this one quits.

 

[Carguy89]

Did you try one like this? http://www.gandermountain.com/modpe..._kwcid=goobase_goobase_filler&cID=GSHOP_20769

And honestly I would just try something like this to siphon whatever gas you can out, then just fill up with fresh premium gas (maybe a little bit of 100 octane race gas to even the really old gas out). I don't ever run a tank down and we put away the boat, jet skis, and Camaro away for the winter with full tanks of premium and marine sta-bil. Haven't had an issue.

I use the siphon that I linked to whenever I fill up the jet skis with gas since they stay in the water, and I use land gas since there is less chance of water in the gas and they work great.

 

[Sink]

Keep in mind that StaBil is for BEFORE you put it away. It wont work after the gas is old.

 

[jisgett]

I actually finally got the bulb siphon to work, but man, that took a while...I will definitely be investing in a stronger bulb/larger diameter hose, if not a wonder pump.

Just so you all don't start thinking I would cheatyou out of your daily opportunity to laugh at my bad decisions, here you go:

Had almost all the fuel out and was trying (don't ask me why) to get that last little bit. I had a length of spare copper tubing I had used to keep the plastic tubing from curling, and, you guessed it, the copper tubing slipped out of my fingers and into the tank...so now, with the friggin' end in sight, I have to figure out how to get a 15 inch long piecce of copper tubing out of my tank. You can't make this stuff up, I swear...

Oh the humanity.

 

[Sink]

Honestly, it probably wont hurt anything.... but THAT SUCKS!!!! Glad you got the old fuel out.

 

[jisgett]

OK, so finally a light at the end (or so I hope). Had to remove the fuel pump, which, as it turns out, is not that big of a deal. Biggest issue was getting the gasket back on and getting the ring plenty tight. 44 ft lbs is not hand tight.

But, with the help of a good friend I got the pump safely out, then the lost tubing, and finally the pump back in and seriously tightened. Fuel lines are actually quick disconnnects, so no real issue with that on the newer fuel injected engines. Also, since the manual states specifically to replace the gasket whenever you remove the pump, I called the local service tech who told me they do that only if it is worn and/or torn. Mine was neither and went back on nicely.

Lesson learned: get a good siphon hose and/or someone who is. Familiar with siphoning to make the job easier. I will probably be constructing my own little siphon pump out of better tubing, clamps, and a better bulb.

Siphoning isn't nearly as difficult as I made it.

 

[dbdave]

Dave,

I assume you are talking about the hose I have marked with the pink arrow, the thick filler hose?

View attachment 9795

This one of course looks the easiest to detach/reattach, but is there not a filter beneath it? I like the idea of this method more than any other, simply because it involves the least amount of messing with pressurized lines, etc., provided once the hose is off it is not obstructed.

Thanks,

Jeff

That's the one, nothing in the way once removed. Loosen one clamp, put the siphon hose down there and go.

Now for a siphon hose. Make your own out of a primer bulb for an outboard motor that is available most anywhere that has that stuff, even Wal-Mart. Get some vinyl hose the correct size for the bulb that will handle gasoline without softening that is available at most any hardware store. Put a section of the hose on each end of the bulb, usually one section longer than the other, keeping in mind how long a hose you will need to reach a can on the ground. The bulb has a flow direction arrow on it. Put the proper hose in the tank and the other in the can and squeeze away. Once flow starts, just keep the tank hose in the fuel as long as you can to get the most fuel from the tank. Helps to tilt the trailer to the rear and push the hose to the rear of the tank.

 

[jisgett]

Yep, that is exactly what I had in mind to do, next time I get to the hardware store. In retrospect, all the work siphoning was probably for naught, since it seems my real problem was not bad gas, or oil or plugs, but rather a ruptured hose on the supercharger that was hidden from view and I had not seen until yesterday.

Still, I have had a ton of learning in the last week, and that is ok with me.

 

[crisso]

For gods sake people.Just shove the garden hose in,lay on the ground and suck the fuel out.I bet you only get a little bit in the mouth.It taste like crap.So have a beer and watch it drain.Once you get it flowing it will keep going.Man up