Whats the best way to drain a fuel tank..?

[GingerMagic]

As the topic title suggests, I'm looking at draining the diesel from my donor car before it is scrapped, not about driving like a loon to burn diesel.

I am not keen on banging a hole in the tank and the fuel pipes from the bulk-head to the fuel filter have been sold. The pipes underneath run down the centre of the car, almost, and ground clearance is limited. I can however access the cap under the back seat to maybe run a syphon, or maybe just stick a tube down the filler neck?

Don't you worry yourselves about me putting rubbish old diesel in my Hdi - its going in the wifes 306 XUD instead

Options please, as I've been caught out before with fuel pi55ing out and running out of containers, bottles etc

[Doggy]

How about disconnecting the delivery pipe from the lift pump / connecting another hose to a container of your choice and running the lift pump direct from your battery / cigar lighter socket?

Failing that, take the lift pump out & syphon it through the hole?

....sorry about the pipes.

[gumby6371]

Could you disconnect the outlet off the filter bowl and run a pipe into a large container? At least it would filter the crap from the old tank that way. Not sure how long the lift pump runs so you may have to turn the,ignition on and off a few times.

[gumby6371]

Could you disconnect the outlet off the filter bowl and run a pipe into a large container? At least it would filter the crap from the old tank that way. Not sure how long the lift pump runs so you may have to turn the,ignition on and off a few times.

[steve_earwig]

...the fuel pipes from the bulk-head to the fuel filter have been sold.

Running the pump seems to be favourite, if you can find the right connections, give them 12 volts and run a length of pipe into a container. Looks like it's wire codes 1201 & M120 (M means it's the earth)

[mjb]

Options please, as I've been caught out before with fuel pi55ing out and running out of containers, bottles etc

If you've got PP2000, you can see roughly how much fuel (in litres) is in the tank... +/- ~5 litres

[steve_earwig]

I hope pp is more accurate than the fuel gauge because when we took the tank off my HDi the gauge was reading completely empty yet it was over quarter full

[lozz]

If its a scrap car put a hole in bottom of tank
Not a big hole mind ..just as thin as a screw

It won't make a mess that way if its a fine hole.

[GingerMagic]

The hole in the tank is a good option. may do this, I'm not good with electrical stuff - it was easier on older cars...

If I remove all the wires and bits under the round cover under back seat, will this give me access to the tank so I can stick a hose in?

[lozz]

I'd just do what doggy as suggested.
Its not a petrol car so your safe.. just chop the wiring on the lift pump
Feed it with 12v car battery/alarm battery.. jumper pack even,

[GingerMagic]

I have been trying to remove the lift pump from under the back seat, but the black plastic ring is not coming off...
Is it one that unscrews as nothing happens it just goes round and round, or is it some sort of bayonet fitting?

[Doggy]

Should unscrew. Maybe someone's stripped the threads or there's a split in the ring, meaning the threads don't grip.
(My bro's old 1.9 was like that - had a big jubilee clip holding it together).

[GingerMagic]

Unscrewed it okay, just had to push down gently on the pump while unscrewing. The ring and pump wouldn't come out the hole, so as its a doner car I just prised the metal back, took out the pump and used a squeezy type syphon to remove the diesel.
Car now gone.

[Doggy]

Car now gone.

It's the end of an era.

You could always get another one.

[GingerMagic]

Hmmm, I would probably be the least popular man in the street.......