Best way to get petrol out of a tank?

[Deluded]

I've got a Vectra that I bought a few weeks ago. Cut a long story short, something oil-wise has failed and the engine has eaten itself. It's going to be scrapped.

My problem is that there is around 20l left in the tank. I don't really fancy sending this off to the scrap yard with the car as it would be pretty useful to put into my new motor instead.

What's the best way to get it out? I don't really want to remove the tank if I don't have to. Is it possible these days (with prevention devices and what not) to syphon fuel through the filler? Or would I be able to pop off a fuel line and let it dribble out?

I haven't looked at the tank in question yet, but just thought I would see if anyone has any suggestions.

Cheers

[redtwin]

Locate the fuel filter, pull a pipe off one end, switch on ignition and hope that you have a big enough container to catch it all.

[Deluded]

As easy as that eh?

If the container gets full, could I not just switch the ignition off to stop it?

[sday12]

Good God Man for £20?

Look down the back of the sofa and scrap it.

[Deluded]

£20 will get me to work and back for a week or so. If you've got £20 to throw away, throw it my way please

[sday12]

Deluded said:

£20 will get me to work and back for a week or so. If you've got £20 to throw away, throw it my way please

No, but i'll come and suck your pipe for a tenner

[Deluded]

Bargain!

[andy-xr]

Screwdriver and a sieve

[Airbag]

Nardo?

[LeoZwalf]

redtwin said:

Locate the fuel filter, pull a pipe off one end, switch on ignition and hope that you have a big enough container to catch it all.

This.

When you turn the ignition on, the fuel pump pumps until the line is up to pressure. As it won't ever get there cos the pipe is pointing into a bucket (or straight into your new car's tank), it just pumps the whole lot out.

[freecar]

I once located the fuel pump and attached a pipe to the pick up. I could then syphon into a jerry can in three goes to empty my remains!

[gib6933]

sday12 said:

Deluded said:

£20 will get me to work and back for a week or so. If you've got £20 to throw away, throw it my way please

No, but i'll come and suck your pipe for a tenner

I could have done with you yesterday! My best oil pump filed and the others didn't have enough suck.

[redtwin]

Deluded said:

As easy as that eh?

If the container gets full, could I not just switch the ignition off to stop it?

Yes, you would have to time it just right for the run back to the ignition.

[redtwin]

Who else is wondering how long before the next thread from someone who had their petrol nicked out of their Vectra with no apparent holes drilled in the fuel tank?.

[wildoliver]

Its unlikely your car will pump fuel without the engine turning over as most of the time the system relies on the crank signal to activate the pump.

When I drain tanks (that I don't want) I just drill 2 holes in them and catch/strain the fuel in a funnel with gauze.

[bazking69]

Alot of effort for 20 litres...

[defblade]

wildoliver said:

Its unlikely your car will pump fuel without the engine turning over as most of the time the system relies on the crank signal to activate the pump.

That's funny. Standard advice for "is my fuel pump working?" on fuel injected cars is to just turn on the ignition and listen for it pumping the fuel rail up to pressure ready to start.

[KieronGSi]

Deluded said:

I've got a Vectra that I bought a few weeks ago. Cut a long story short, something oil-wise has failed and the engine has eaten itself. It's going to be scrapped.

My problem is that there is around 20l left in the tank. I don't really fancy sending this off to the scrap yard with the car as it would be pretty useful to put into my new motor instead.

What's the best way to get it out? I don't really want to remove the tank if I don't have to. Is it possible these days (with prevention devices and what not) to syphon fuel through the filler? Or would I be able to pop off a fuel line and let it dribble out?

I haven't looked at the tank in question yet, but just thought I would see if anyone has any suggestions.

Cheers

You could just take the back seats out and pull the fuel pump out and syphon the fuel straight from the tank. It's easy enough i have done this on my last Vectra after a misfuelling incident.

[was8v]

I did this recently to a mates seized escort.

Find the fuel line in the engine bay. Cut it, push some hose of suitable diameter on to it, other end of hose in the fuel filler of my car parked in front. Make sure you poke it right in to open the flap thing.

Turn ignition on and nicely filtered fuel was pumped into my tank.

Dead easy, no crawling on the floor with buckets or drill and no petrol spills either.




Don't forget to save the battery before scrapping for your next banger

Edited by was8v on Friday 16th April 13:01

[HellDiver]

wildoliver said:

Its unlikely your car will pump fuel without the engine turning over as most of the time the system relies on the crank signal to activate the pump.

You're totally wrong, sorry.