Gas Tank

[Steveib]

I have a 1979 V20 Steplift. It sat up for about a year with a full tank. Ran her at home and took the fuel/water filter off and put in bucket. it was very cloudy, and had a dark color to it but still smelled like gas. What is the best way to remove the fuel from the tank?

[Hedge]

I used a suction hose and put the gas in 5 gal buckets. After that remove as much water as you can, if there is any. I would run a little at a time through other things, ie lawn mower, truck, farm equipment, but I would NOT run it through the boat motor.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Hedge

I used a suction hose and put the gas in 5 gal buckets. After that remove as much water as you can, if there is any. I would run a little at a time through other things, ie lawn mower, truck, farm equipment, but I would NOT run it through the boat motor.

Exactly correct!! Put lids on the 5 gallon buckets so the gas doesn't evaporate, then use it for all the thngs Hedge just mentioned. Just DON'T use it for your boat's engine.

[reelapeelin]

Disconnect the fuel line from the motor and pull bulb and all back through the boot so it is all in the bilge...leave the plug out and run the end of the line through the drain hole so that the end of the line is lower than the tank, and out the back of the boat...pump the bulb and the fuel will flow...what it runs into is up to you...

If the boat's fuel line won't flow as described, find another hose w/a bulb in it...remove the tank's top plate that holds the sender and drop the long end of your new line down into the BOTTOM of the tank, run the other through the drain hole and pump bulb...some kind soul left such a set up in my '84 and it worked like a champ..you may have to strap a weight to the end so it stays on the bottom of the tank...

[Steveib]

if I run the hose in the bulge will that get all the stuff out of the tank. or is the only way to get it all out is to take sander unit out and put hose in there.

[Blue_Runner]

I removed the fill hose instead of the sender and dropped a hose in that way. I got a lot of junk out of the tank but w/ small diameter fuel line and a bulb there is only so much you can get (if it is debris you're after) IMO. Just for pumping old gas it should be fine tho.

[Steveib]

the boat sat for a year with a full tank. I didn't know it would turn that quick. I need to get all the stuff out of the tank.

[macojoe]

i would remove the sender no matter what, then when tank is empty use a rag on a stick or something to soak up all the crap, you won't belive the stuff that gets in there!! I found elt tape, a piece of chain and all kinds of crap. This way you know you have a clean start and not have to worry about that part of it when you have another problem.

[Steveib]

Thank you for the info. I'm going to be taking the sending unit off to give the tank a good cleaning.

[bradford]

Taking the sender out is how I drained my old tank.

WATCH OUT FOR ANY SPARKS!!!