How to get diesel from one tank to another?

[Simpo Two]

No, I'm not planning to steal diesel from carparks. However my generous neighbours are trading in their VW Golf and it has half a tank of diesel they don't need and can't use. They've said that if I can get it out/transfer it to my car (which is parked alongside) I can have it.

I have some spare bits of garden hose but that's all, and I'm a bit stumped. The best idea I had was to buy one of those little pumps for an electric drill and pump it straight over, but are there better ways?

[WeirdNeville]

Park one car up a hill, the other down it, and siphon.

[thinfourth2]

Find the low pressure pipe coming into the engine bay pull it off the filter and fool the pump relay and you can empty the tank

[badlands1]

WeirdNeville said:

Park one car up a hill, the other down it, and siphon.

And suck like you have never sucked before.

[Hitch78]

Simpo Two said:

my generous neighbours are trading in their VW Golf and it has half a tank of diesel they don't need and can't use. They've said that if I can get it out/transfer it to my car (which is parked alongside) I can have it.

I know fuel is expensive but is this really worth your time?!

[lost in espace]

The tank will probably have an anti syphon widget.

Find the fuel filter or the pump and try to take it from there, but you might end up with an airlock.

[Simpo Two]

Hitch78 said:

I know fuel is expensive but is this really worth your time?!

Well, I have plenty of time and I like a challenge (but am not up to dismantling engines).

If you think that 'half a tank of diesel' equals a crisp £20 note and a crisp £10 note, would you take said notes out of your wallet and burn them? Probably not

[busta]

Fill the tank up with water. Diesel is less dense than water so when the tank overflows the diesel will come out first. Collect it in a bucket as it runs down the side of the car.

Simples!

[Dogwatch]

Electric drill pumps have a warning that they shouldn't be used for fuel transfers.

And will the donor car accept whatever pipe you try to stuff into its filler pipe? Most modern cars are designed to discourage this.

[VWDaz86]

Assuming its mk3 or newer, lift up back seat base. Undo fuel pump cover, remove locking ring, pipes and connector. Lift out the pump, straight access to fuel.

?

Profit

[eltax91]

Is it a MK4 Golf? If so, this is very easy. I drained 3/4 of the tank in my Octavia when I crashed it. Lift rear seats, specifically on the dirvers side. Under the carpet, you will see a circle cut out, it houses the lift pump.

You can unscrew the plastic "collar" on the top, and manouver it around the pipes for the pump etc. You can get enough room to get a pipe in. The way i did it, was to place a large "builders rubble" container on the floor next to the door, then suck on the hose until you can see the diesel coming up the pipe. Clear hose is obviously best. As long as you keep the bucket beneath the tank, then gravity will do the rest.

I was putting it in my landy, so cleanliness of the container didnt matter. You might be best using something cleaner. I simply repeated the process into the landy tank, placing the container on my workbeanch to make it higher than the tank.

Tips:-

• Try to wiggle the hose as far into the tank as you can
• Use clear hose, you won't get it into your mouth
• You will need empty lungs before starting the syphon, breath deeply afterwards, get as much oxygen as you can in, you may get dizzy on the fumes at first

Please note. This advice was given based on my own experience, I had a team of paramedics on standby and was doing all this under full supervision of the H&S executive. At no point would i reccomend this and I accept no liability for any injuries caused.

Edited by eltax91 on Tuesday 6th September 19:50

[Simpo Two]

Hmm, on reflection this is getting too complicated. The drill pump is the only idea I feel competent to tackle, but why are they not recommended for fuel? Does the plastic dissolve? I wouldn't want to introduce any unwelcome additives into my own car!

[eltax91]

Simpo Two said:

Hmm, on reflection this is getting too complicated. The drill pump is the only idea I feel competent to tackle, but why are they not recommended for fuel? Does the plastic dissolve? I wouldn't want to introduce any unwelcome additives into my own car!

Oh come on! I thought you liked a challenge!!

It'sreally very very easy. The most difficult bit is the boring wait for the drain! What car are you putting it into? If something nice, get it out, mix it with unleaded and use it in the lawnmower!! Fuel is a valuable comodity.

[twazzock]

Is there a primer bulb in the engine bay?

[Simpo Two]

eltax91 said:

Oh come on! I thought you liked a challenge!!

It'sreally very very easy. The most difficult bit is the boring wait for the drain! What car are you putting it into? If something nice, get it out, mix it with unleaded and use it in the lawnmower!! Fuel is a valuable comodity.

Sorry, I hadn't seen your reply when I last posted.

It's for an S-Type Jag and as it's my wedding car I can't afford any risks with bits of grit or dissolved plastic etc. No, I'm sorry but I think I'm going to be boring this time. Don't want to break down and have to write a refund cheque for £1K!

It was worth a ponder though, and thanks to all for the suggestions.



It's an 04 Golf BTW. I have no idea if there's a primer bulb in the engine bay.

[Hitch78]

Simpo Two said:

Hitch78 said:

I know fuel is expensive but is this really worth your time?!

Well, I have plenty of time and I like a challenge (but am not up to dismantling engines).

If you think that 'half a tank of diesel' equals a crisp £20 note and a crisp £10 note, would you take said notes out of your wallet and burn them? Probably not

I probably wouldn't spend an afternoon covering myself in diesel for them either though...