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Fuel tank out L 4WD sedan ? hard ?
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:19 pm
by steptoe
Been thinking I don't trust 2 or 3 year old fuel in a 20 year old car so thinking (OUCH

) that i should drain and clean tank which looks to involve removal of tank and to do that looks like diff out ?any tips, many hard to get at lines connecting up on the old efi turbos tank?
tanks,
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:22 pm
by El_Freddo
easiest way to me does look like pulling the diff out. I think it would be an eaiser job if the diff was dropped out, maybe not all the way out but enough to make access easier for the removal of the tank would be the way to go (IMHO).
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:05 pm
by Gannon
Did it on the weekend...
Just undo the 2 nuts that are supporting the diff hanger and let it drop, then just undo the fuel tank and slide it out. (ps. dont forget the 3 vapour lines behind the rear drivers side wheel.)
Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:39 pm
by AlpineRaven
I pumped it out with 12 volt fuel pump off Camira, sucked it all out and filled up with clean fuel to the neck with injector cleaner in it... Thats the lazy & easier way I guess. (Commodore has been sitting in the garage for 4 years when I emptied it)
Cheers
AP
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:33 am
by steptoe
OK , alright, thanks guys, knew someone woulda done it. thinking lazy way but if there is rusty junk in there i want it out.
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:45 am
by fredsub
If its efi ?
disconnect fuel line at fuel filter, and put it in a tank or something. 12V to fuel pump relay, and away it goes......
Do have a fire extinguisher handy.
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 5:02 pm
by timmo
the worst part is getting the hoses off. they can be a PITA. Wear safety glasses incase theres any fuel in the lines aswell. i know what eyes doused in petrol feels like
Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 8:27 pm
by Smokey
Almost 8 years ago now I had a VL out on the street overnight. Came out the next morning with the cap off, thought the petrol was gone, wasn't. Next thought was that they had put sand in there or something. So I decided to drain the tank and remove it to wash it out, being an old car thought this was a good idea anyway, just in case there was some crap in there. Got a long hose, one end in the tank and started sucking on the other end. Was a new hose so didn't want to cut it to make life easier. Woke up about 40 min later about 15m away from my car leaning up against the wall...
I had passed out after unsuccessfully trying to get the syphon action going. Wife (GF at the time) wouldn't come near me for two weeks as I smelt like petrol. To this day the smell makes me a little queasy.
So long as you are going to remove the tank - and if you don't mind the loss of petrol, often old anyway, or 20L or something (big deal if its lost right) get a hose and attach one end to the tap, other in the tank, turn it on to fill the hose with water and when you think there is no more air in the hose, turn water off, disconnect the tap end and position it lower than the end that is in the tank. Petrol will drain out with all the water. You can then remove the tank and clean/dry thoroughly.
Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:38 am
by steptoe
thanks for the added ideas and safety concerns. It has got me just why anyone would sniff the stuff for recreational pursuits !
For draining, I have one of those jiggler hoses, only used it on water so far but gees they work and flow well too. I just cannot suck a fuel hose as I have some severe reactions to the smell of the stuff - let alone the taste !
Before school one morning, a mate, once authorised by his sister to siphon juice from her car to his RM125 tank swallowed

. he did not feel well, and by receess was drinking all available milk, and by lunch you could still see him breathe out petrol fumes . NO JOKE
I used to be a petroleum distribution engineer and had the concoction in my system for sure. If I am driving along, windows shut, I can detect an off loading fuel tanker 500m away just from the tank breather pipes venting blowing my way
Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:47 pm
by subarursliberty
Suparoo wrote:Did it on the weekend...
Just undo the 2 nuts that are supporting the diff hanger and let it drop, then just undo the fuel tank and slide it out. (ps. dont forget the 3 vapour lines behind the rear drivers side wheel.)
What he said but really you only need to do one side. Mine's in and out like a yoyo atm.