Draining fuel - best way?

[Pot Bellied Fool]

No, not my neighnours!

Mrs PBF's old Fiesta is off to the scrapyard (too much would be needed for looming MOT & it's done nearly 110k. Nothing for something decent but little Fiestas don't like it!) this week after I picked up another old banger for her at the weekend. Y reg Fiesta (she likes 'em <sigh>) with 52,000 on the clock. Should keep her going for a couple of years - cheapo bangernomics.

But of course, she managed to put half a tank of petrol in her old one on Friday!

How does the panel suggest would be the best way to retrieve this juice? Not bothered about damage to the old car as it'll be going on a flatbed to the scrappie.

I don't have a siphon hose & I suspect it'd be hard work anyway but wondering if there's a line anywhere that's cuttable or perhaps disconnect the return line (how easy?) - got to be more & better ideas though from our fuel theft (or mis-fuelling) experts.

Cheers.

[kambites]

You should be able to disconnect the fuel line somewhere down-stream of the pump (which is probably in the tank?); then just turn on the ignition and it'll be pumped out.

[BritishRacinGrin]

kambites said:

You should be able to disconnect the fuel line somewhere down-stream of the pump (which is probably in the tank?); then just turn on the ignition and it'll be pumped out.

The tank probably has an anti-syphon device so the best way will probably be to pump it out as above. However you might find that the fuel pump will only run momentarily when the ignition is switched on and won't run any more until you actually crank it. 20+ litres would take a lot of cranking. Personally I'd locate the fuel pump relay and wire the permanent live to the earth, hey presto the pump will run with the ignition on for as long as they're connected. Alternatively you could puncture the fuel tank.

[McWigglebum4th]

BritishRacinGrin said:

The tank probably has an anti-syphon device so the best way will probably be to pump it out as above. However you might find that the fuel pump will only run momentarily when the ignition is switched on and won't run any more until you actually crank it. 20+ litres would take a lot of cranking. Personally I'd locate the fuel pump relay and wire the permanent live to the earth, hey presto the pump will run with the ignition on for as long as they're connected. Alternatively you could puncture the fuel tank.

yep this

Snap the high pressure line off the fuel rail

aim into bucket


Find fuel pump relay

Pull it out and remove relay cover

Put the relay back in and jam it closed


The car will be undriveable afterwards

[VolvoT5]

Sounds like a lot of effort (and potentially dangerous) to remove what, 30 pounds of fuel at best?

[BritishRacinGrin]

VolvoT5 said:

Sounds like a lot of effort (and potentially dangerous) to remove what, 30 pounds of fuel at best?

Once I found the fuel pump relay I had the tank empty within 10 minutes, and that included the time taken to crimp a couple of spade terminals onto a short length of wire to give the fuel pump permanent live. Dangerous? Only if you don't know what you're doing.

[McWigglebum4th]

VolvoT5 said:

Sounds like a lot of effort (and potentially dangerous) to remove what, 30 pounds of fuel at best?

Only if you are feckless

I did exactly as above to a friends car in 10 minutes

10 minutes for 40 pounds

[backwoodsman]

Punch hole in bottom of tank.

Place bucket under hole.

One empty tank, one full bucket.

[Asterix]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Dangerous? Only if you don't know what you're doing.

Given the question by the OP...

[HT281]

Find the fuel return line of the scrap car somewhere on the bulkhead and disconnect. Join it with a length of hose and stick it onto the fuel filler neck of the replacement car.

Start engine of scrap car and let it idle.