From time to time, car owners have to drain gasoline from the tank. Sometimes you need a little fuel for a camper stove or to refuel another car. In other cases, it is necessary to drain all the gasoline to repair the fuel system or remove water or low-quality fuel from the tank. On older cars this operation could be done relatively easily. Now we have to face two problems:
- The long winding channel leading to the tank does not allow the hose to be pushed into it.
- A mesh installed at the filler neck prevents gasoline from draining.
Therefore, it is better to know several methods and apply them depending on the design of the gas tank and the fuel supply system. Below we will tell you how to drain gasoline from cars: VAZ 2109, 2110, 2114, 2115, Grants, Largus, Toyota, Niva, Priora, Patriot, Ford, Chevrolet.
When does it become necessary to drain the fuel from the tank?
Fuel is drained when the motorist sees that the gas tank is full. Excess gasoline is poured into cans. The procedure is carried out when repair work is required. Situations may arise on the road when you need to provide assistance to a person whose car has stalled. In this case, fuel is pumped out of one car and poured into the gas tank of another.
The gas tank is completely emptied in the following cases:
- The fuel filter needs to be replaced.
- The pump requires replacement.
- The gas tank needs to be flushed. This need arises when low quality fuel was filled at the gas station. If it has been in the tank for a long time, it becomes clogged.
- The old tank is replaced with a new one. The need appears when the old one is damaged or worn out.
The motorist must remember that gasoline can only be drained outdoors. The fumes are poisonous and can cause you to get sick, so it is forbidden to drain it indoors. Fuel is often divided in the following situations:
- When someone stalls on the road and asks for help.
- In order to heat the car interior in a strong snowstorm. While people are waiting for the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there is not enough space in one car, they start a second one. Gasoline is poured into it to heat the interior.
- To refuel the generator. Such situations arise when the battery runs out.
To carry out the procedure, you need to have the necessary equipment with you. You should carry a hose equipped with a bulb in the trunk.
Gasoline drain protection
To protect against gasoline drainage, you can install a reed switch on the hatch, which will trigger an alarm. But in this case, the attacker will drain gasoline under the siren. Therefore, it is better to install a mesh in the fuel line of the gas tank.
General view of hoses
Disconnect the hose
Installing the grid
Putting it all back together
We drain fuel from VAZ family cars
There are several ways to drain gasoline. Fuel can be drained in the shortest possible time using a hose equipped with a bulb pump. This simple device allows the car owner to remove gasoline from the tank without harming his health. But such a device can be used if the tank does not have a protective mesh at the neck.
There is a simple but effective method. Often fuel needs to be pumped out quickly; the need catches the driver on the highway. For example, this situation arises when you need to save someone. It happens that you don’t have the necessary things with you. In this case, you can use a small diameter tube.
The procedure is similar to the one that involves using a hose:
- First, negative pressure is created in the tube using the mouth. The method is not dangerous, so the car owner does not have to worry about gasoline getting inside the body.
- When the required pressure has been created, a rope is passed through the tube. It should have a smaller diameter. Its end part is tied in a knot, and the size must match the diameter of the pipe.
- The result is a homemade “piston”. It is moistened; saliva can be used for this. After this, the tube is lowered into the fuel tank. It is worth preparing a bucket in advance; gasoline will drain into it. When everything is ready, a rope is taken out of the pipe. We lower one end of it into a canister to collect fuel.
- The work must be done slowly. When the piston is completely removed, the fuel itself will flow into the canister. In order to stop the process, you need to raise part of the piston above the level of the tank. After pumping out the required amount of fuel from the gas tank, close it with a lid.
The procedure has several disadvantages, but the main one is that it is impossible to completely empty the fuel system . The procedure becomes more complicated if it needs to be performed on a machine that came off the production line after the 90s. The fuel lines in such vehicles are tortuous.
On domestic cars, gas tanks often have plugs. They are installed so that motorists can drain fuel if necessary. To do this, the car must first be jacked up. After this, place a container of suitable volume next to it and unscrew the stopper.
When working, there is no need to rush; you should make rotational movements. Before starting the procedure, the neck of the tank is opened. This makes it possible to remove the fuel completely. The method is labor-intensive but effective.
What devices can be used
Tools to help make your work easier:
- Ordinary hose.
- A syringe from a pharmacy. It can create an initial vacuum in the hose.
- Pump "pear", also known as "membrane". Helps “start” pumping out gasoline.
- Household pumps. Low-power battery-powered devices from the “shop on the couch”
- Windshield washer pump from VAZ 2101 (07, 08, 21), GAZ 2410 (3302) Daewoo Lanos, Sens (or any other with similar parameters), mounted on a hose and powered by a 12V battery
The last option shows the greatest efficiency (device performance 10 ml per second).
If the car is fuel injected
Motorists who drive fuel-injected vehicles should take into account that using a hose will not completely remove the fuel. Therefore, you need to open the gas tank and perform the following steps:
- Determine where the tube is located. It is located at the bottom of the engine and is necessary to supply gasoline to the ramp.
- Remove the clamp and disconnect it from the pipe.
- Turn the ignition key.
- You need to look at another relay block. You need to understand which of them is responsible for the operation of the fuel pump.
- It is removed, then you need to bridge it. To do this, use a paper clip.
- Turn on the ignition. Fuel flows into the container.
After this, the hoses are returned to their places. You need to watch for leaking fuel. If bubbling appears, turn off the ignition immediately, then the pump will not be damaged.
Design
Regardless of the brand of vehicle, each gas tank has a neck into which fuel is poured and which is closed with a screw cap with a rubber seal. Some cars have a special lock on the tank cap.
The neck is located at the rear of the car on its left or right side and is connected to the gas tank via a fuel line. It is a dense rubber hose that has different diameters depending on the brand of vehicle. New vehicles may be equipped with gasoline pumps that supply fuel to the vehicle's engine. The fuel level in such cars is controlled by electronic sensors that transmit readings to the instrument panel. Electrical wires located in such pumps do not cause a car explosion.
A special ventilation system installed in the car maintains the required level of pressure. The tank can also be equipped with a gravity shut-off valve, which will prevent fuel from spilling and igniting when the machine overturns.
Drain fuel from a foreign car correctly
Foreign cars have a complex structure, so it is more difficult to drain gasoline from a foreign car. For example, it is removed from a Camry using a hose. But first you will have to remove the mesh that protects the neck of the tank.
The procedure is complex, so the best option when working with a foreign car is to drain the fuel not from the tank itself, but from the system through which the fuel moves.
First, the car owner must find where the fuel line runs. Beginners should not perform the procedure on their own. The container is prepared in advance; it must be clean.
There are 2 ways to carry out the drain. The first is based on the driver first disconnecting the tube that runs in front of the pump. But you need to be prepared for the fact that the canister will fill slowly, because the diameter of the tube is small.
The second method is based on the fact that the car owner opens the tubes that go after the pump. Then he starts the engine, then the gasoline drains quickly. During the procedure, fuel should not splash onto the ground.
Why is this necessary?
To begin with, it is worth identifying a list of reasons when there is a need to find out how to drain gasoline from the tank.
Motorists mainly justify this with the following reasons:
- Help a friend
. Someone asked for help on the road because they were left without fuel and it was a long way to go to a gas station. The easiest way is to drain some gasoline and share it; - Refueling.
Some kind of lawn mower and other country equipment, for example. The same chainsaw. I drained it, filled it up, and went to work; - Repair work
. The tank may be damaged. To disassemble everything and repair the container, you will first have to drain the fuel; - Getting rid of bad fuel
. Those who have not read about how to save on gasoline visit cheap gas stations. Hence the need to quickly drain everything so as not to ruin the engine or fuel system; - Water ingress
. We have already discussed separately how to remove water from the tank.
There are more than enough reasons. The only question is why the drain will be needed in your case.
I would like to note that bad gasoline often causes engine detonation and other malfunctions.
If you observe a situation where the engine starts and stalls literally immediately, it is possible that the reason lies precisely in the quality of the filled fuel.
Precautionary measures
It is forbidden to jerk the fuel hose sharply, as it may break. When working with gasoline, you must ensure that it does not get on your clothes. It can ignite if there is a spark. This requirement is important if the driver and passengers smoke. It is strictly prohibited to light a fire or smoke while the procedure is being carried out and the container is being filled.
If the driver decides to use the old method, which is based on sucking air from a hose with his mouth, he should be aware that gasoline may accidentally get inside. There is a possibility of fuel being drawn in.
If this happens, your mouth should be rinsed well with water. To avoid this, inhale a little air through the hose, but carefully. We hold its end in our hands.
Methods
Important! It is necessary to work with fuel during draining only in open areas. This is necessary in order not to inhale gasoline vapors, which are toxic, which in turn is very harmful to human health.
Most often, drivers are interested in how to properly drain gasoline through a hose, since this method is the most common. A simplified version of the method involves the use of a hose or tube of the required length. So, one end must be lowered into the gas tank, which is done through the filler neck. And the second end is taken into the mouth, tightly clasped with the lips, then air is drawn in and this end is immediately lowered into a container for draining. It should be noted that the end of the pipe should not be at the same level as the tank, but lower.
Draining gasoline through a hose
When you need to complete the steps, you just need to lift the hose above the tank level and remove it from the neck.
Despite the ease of the procedure, it is dangerous, since if you lack the skills, you can swallow fuel. But this can also be avoided if you use a special hose with a rubber bulb. In this case, to pump out you need to compress and unclench the device.
Some experienced drivers claim that a medical bulb is also suitable for this. It must be the correct diameter. There is a nuance here. So, during the draining process, when the fuel flows through the hose, it is necessary to remove the bulb from the tip and quickly direct the end of the hose into the container.
When there is no opportunity to use a pear, as well as the desire to taste gasoline, you can make a safe device yourself. To do this, take a fabric cord; it is possible to use a rope, which can easily pass inside the hose. A pair of knots are tied at one end of the cord; they will serve as pistons; they are also moistened with water.
When the cord is in the pipe, it is immersed with the tied end into the tank, and the other is lowered down into the tank. Next, pull the cord smoothly, without using sudden movements. Thus, the piston must reach the opposite side, after which the cord is pulled out and lowered into the container.
Such methods are only suitable for old cars; new models are characterized by a thin, tortuous fuel line. And when there is a mesh in the gas tank, it will not be possible to drain the fuel using a hose. But don’t be upset, as there are other ways. Experts advise you to resort to the following methods:
- Most modern cars are equipped with a special drain hole at the bottom of the tank. It helps to completely drain the fuel. The driver’s task is only to search for it, after which he should unscrew its cap and place a reservoir into which the gasoline will be drained. This method is considered simple, but sometimes crawling under a vehicle is uncomfortable, and not all cars have such holes.
Fuel tank drain hole
- To drain the fuel, it is enough to follow a few simple steps:
- turn off the engine and open the hood;
- disconnect the fuel hose at the place where it connects to the engine;
- place the end of the hose into a tank intended for draining;
- start the ignition, but the engine must not be started. At this time, the fuel pump should turn on for a couple of seconds and begin pumping fuel. Such actions (turning on and off) should be repeated several times until the required volume of gasoline has been drained.
We recommend: How to quickly defrost the windshield washer reservoir?
When using the latter method, drivers should be aware that all fuel cannot be drained using this method. This will prevent failure of the fuel pump, as well as airing of the fuel system. They will tell you that the fuel in the tank has run out, bubbles in the drained gasoline, which indicate that the pump is sucking in air. Then you need to immediately turn off the ignition.
Advice from experienced motorists
The difference between new foreign cars, such as Scania, is the thin and winding fuel line. This means that you won’t be able to pull the air out of the hose using your own lungs or using a blower. A homemade piston won't help either. In this case, you will have to spend money on a fuel transfer pump that pumps up high pressure. There is no need to worry about the money spent, as with this device the operation becomes much easier and safer.
It is important to remember that some cunning drivers manage to drive up to trucks during a traffic jam and pump out fuel without permission. Such a person not only commits illegal actions, but also creates a dangerous situation on the road. Therefore, after replacing diesel fuel, it is advisable to ensure that unauthorized persons cannot gain access to the tank lid.
Nuances of the procedure
As soon as the driver begins to drain gasoline, he is often faced with incomprehensible situations. If in theory everything is quite simple, then in practice there can be difficulties. For example, the most commonplace method of pumping out gasoline is pumping it out using a “pear.” But, unfortunately, many modern cars have a curved neck or are equipped with a valve.
There is also a special mesh filter in the neck. It is not recommended to deform it. Some drivers try to break through it, but it is difficult to do. In this situation, you should find the coarse filter under the bottom of the machine. Sometimes the valve is hidden.
As for injection engines, the situation is different. Draining the fuel is quite difficult because the fuel pump is electric. Draining will require special skills and tools.
Fuel pump
If the driver is faced with the task of “how to drain fuel from the tank,” then he needs to use the presented method. With fuel everything is much more serious than with oil. No syringe will be useful here. The best solution is the right fuel pump. There are several types:
• Pumps driven by an electric motor powered by a cigarette lighter or battery (connected to a clamp). Such electric pumps usually cost from 800 rubles and above.
Hand pumps. These are quite rare devices and this is not surprising. • They are usually shaped like a rubber bulb, so pumping fuel takes a long time and requires iron muscles. A pear costs about 400 rubles, so for the equivalent of two you can buy the cheapest electric pump.
• The third type of device is very interesting. It requires little financial outlay, as it costs from 2,500 rubles and above, although high-quality metal models reach 4,000 rubles. We are talking about a “mud pump”. A small device that is attached to a drill, and it sucks out the liquid to the desired level. The pump is very versatile because it can be used at home, for example, to drain water from an aquarium, pump out water from a clogged sink, etc. Its only drawback is that the pump requires a drill. When choosing a suitable device, first of all, you need to check whether the kit includes long enough tubes.
Before you start pumping, you need to see whether there is a mesh in the tank or not. Each option has its own instructions for pumping out fuel.
Suction unit
If a driver accidentally puts too much oil into the engine, all he will need is a suitable syringe known as a suction gun. You can buy the simplest and cheapest device for only 400 rubles. It is a large syringe with a tube that makes it easy to pump out excess oil. It is quite difficult to suck up all the oil; it is not designed for this. In addition, professional devices are much more expensive and effective, costing from several thousand rubles and are highly effective. It must be remembered that such a syringe works in both directions, and you can successfully use it as an oiler by replacing the hose with a rigid tube.
