fuel tank draining suggestions

zif001 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:36 pm **Posts:** 67

what your suggestion for removing fuel from your vista? i thought i should be able to use an outboard motor fuel pump by attaching to the fuel line at the fuel filter.

wdyt?

rpengr · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 12:22 pm

Depends how much you want to remove:

By "outboard motor fuel pump", do you mean the squeeze ball used with outboards? That would work, but it would take forever to get a gallon out.

An electric automotive fuel pump suitable for racing engines could be used. But under no circumstances should you use an electric pump that is not specifically designed for gasoline! Pumps sold by Harbor Freight or similar as "Marine" does not mean it's safe with gasoline.

Also, the fuel will not syphon to a lower level due to the "anti syphon" valve at the fuel tank. This valve uses a very light spring to resist the fuel from free-flowing. The only way to syphon is to use a hose inserted into the tank directly (by removing the fuel gage sending unit).

I once had to remove 40+ gals of bad gas/ethanol/water from my boat. Paid a marina about $125 to pump it out, which they did by removing the sending unit, and they disposed of the bad fuel. Money well spent.

alex8q4 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 12:54 pm

This conversation was had not too long ago... viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14250&p=137511&hilit=Drain+fuel#p137511

Cheers

278TheNiseeII · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:31 pm

I would purchase a high volume fuel pump (100+ gph) from eBay and hook up to the fuel line going into the fuel water separator filter. That way you don't get fumes in the cabin.

I have seen 130 gph for $40.00. Will be quick and easy and no mess.

zif001 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:36 pm **Posts:** 67

thanks for all the suggestions. i was concerned about the anti-siphoning valve. first,i will start looking for the fuel tank access plate in the mid cabin of my 1996 238 vista. probably need to clean the connectiong there anyway. then look for a look for a high volume gasoline fuel pump then decide which is safer of the two.
thanks again,
capt.z

Rick2752 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:06 am

I just unhooked the fuel line at the pump. I added another line to it and ran it out the drain plug. Many ways you can get it started but I just siphoned it out.

rpengr · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2015 7:26 am

Rick2752 wrote:

I just unhooked the fuel line at the pump. I added another line to it and ran it out the drain plug. Many ways you can get it started but I just siphoned it out.

If you were able to siphon it out then your anti-siphon valve is not working (broken spring?). Unless your siphon hose went at least 3-4' below the fuel tank level.

zif001 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 10, 2013 7:36 pm **Posts:** 67

my high output fuel pump [40 bucks] arrived & i'll be pumping out the fuel this weekend. i'll let you know how it goes. having the piece of mind that old fuel is out, inspecting it for water will be gratifying. if it looks good i can use it in the snowthrower & truck. otherwise i'll put it through more filtering.

Rick2752 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2015 11:25 am

I think I might have taken it out the plug next to it and ran a hose down into it and ran a hose down and out the drain plug into gas cans

rpengr · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:30 pm

zif001 wrote:

my high output fuel pump (40 bucks) arrived & i'll be pumping out the fuel this weekend. i'll let you know how it goes. having the piece of mind that old fuel is out, inspecting it for water will be gratifying. if it looks good i can use it in the snowthrower & truck. otherwise i'll put it through more filtering.

If it was Ethanol Blend, and there appeared to be a lot of "water" settled out... it is likely that it is actually "phase separation" where the Ethanol attaches to the water, and they both separate out. If you pour off the remaining gas...you are getting gas that is very low in octane. If you use it in another piece of equipment, you might want to mix it with a high octane gas to make it more usable.

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 17, 2015 3:25 pm

Like I said earlier you can dump out the fuel filter and let it set in a clear container and/or siphon a sample up from the bottom of the tank. If neither shows water Id just use the gas; why bother taking the risk of siphoning it?

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fuel tank draining suggestions

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