I have an 87 Cutlass and its been sitting while the body work gets done. It has about 3/4 of a tank. What is the easiest way to drain out the old gas? Should I drop the tank?
Best Way to Drain the Gas Tank
- Thread starter CdnCutlass
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avin85cutty said:
It's been in there for about a year and a half. I have a new engine in there it was being temperamental when I tried to fire it up last weekend. I don't want to damage the motor with old gas.
For the amount my GP has sat.... The gas tank was actually in really good shape! I pulled it off yesterday and expected it to be full of varnish and rust on the inside...NOPE was really clean inside! Now i bought one off a 87 T-type and it had about a gallon of fuel and it was STINKY and had some varnish. Took it to a shop to get it boiled out. In retrospect i should have just bought a new tank... I paid 80 for the tank and paid 100 to get it boiled out! I actually struggled to find a shop that would do the job due to EPA rules :| But in the end i have a OG tank intended for EFI applications without the aftermarket tank issues, ie splashback and fill up. I intended of cleaning up the tank myself but coudn't stand the fumes!! 
I even went as far as buying a vacuum pump but couldn't do it.... :shock:
I even went as far as buying a vacuum pump but couldn't do it.... :shock:You need to drop the tank and look in it, at least. Depending on where you're located and the climate there, that amount of time is plenty long enough in the right climate for some nasty condesation to form in the tank and really **** it up good. New gas tanks are cheap bro, I wouldn't risk ruining a new carb, or whatever type of fuel system you're running. Dropping the tank is about a 15 min chore. Plus you can replace all the old rubber on the fuel lines back there while you're at it.
Go get yourself a boat gas tank house with the pump on it. gas tank is allot easier to drop with no gas in it. Especially when you only got a floor jack.
Well here is what we did in my tech class to drain a gas tank. We found the fuse that went to the fuel pump. We took the cover off of the fuse so you saw all the internals. We then hooked up like mini jumper cables (to the battery then fuse) to the fuel pump fuses. We also used like a prob to stick inside the fuse to get a connection from the cables to the fuse. We then unhooked the fuel lines right after were the fuel filter was at. Then we plugged everything up to the pump fuse and away the fuel went.
We did it this way to make the pump constantly pump gas so it would drain out of the tank. The fuel pump only pumps gas for like 2-3 seconds since that is all the gas that is needed to start an engine.. So we wanted it to pump gas constantly to drain the tank. So It was simple and easy to do if you know what your doing.
Now depending on how bad the gas it (don't know) you can try buying octane booster. While gas sits for a wile the octane in the gas goes away and that is what you need in fuel and for engines. So you can try buying a few bottles of that stuff at your local parts place. Still I think just putting in brand new fuel is the way to go. Hope this helped.
We did it this way to make the pump constantly pump gas so it would drain out of the tank. The fuel pump only pumps gas for like 2-3 seconds since that is all the gas that is needed to start an engine.. So we wanted it to pump gas constantly to drain the tank. So It was simple and easy to do if you know what your doing.
Now depending on how bad the gas it (don't know) you can try buying octane booster. While gas sits for a wile the octane in the gas goes away and that is what you need in fuel and for engines. So you can try buying a few bottles of that stuff at your local parts place. Still I think just putting in brand new fuel is the way to go. Hope this helped.
I made a "Tool" a while back that works well when removing gas (Or other liquids).
I junked an 85' Malibu that was equipped with TBI.
I removed the fuel pump and attached enough wire(s) to reach from the gas tank filler to the POS & NEG posts of the battery, with alligator clips.
Then I attached 3-4 feet of 3/8" gas line to each end of the fuel pump. One end goes into the tank and the other goes to the gas can, or another gas tank....works great!
Auto zone sells the pump fairly cheap (Less than one for a higher pressure TPI).
Anyway, if you have access to any brand electric fuel pump, it'll work!
This way, you don't end up with bad breath, or puking on your Ole' lady!!!(Yea, I'm a sick b*st*rd!)
I junked an 85' Malibu that was equipped with TBI.
I removed the fuel pump and attached enough wire(s) to reach from the gas tank filler to the POS & NEG posts of the battery, with alligator clips.
Then I attached 3-4 feet of 3/8" gas line to each end of the fuel pump. One end goes into the tank and the other goes to the gas can, or another gas tank....works great!
Auto zone sells the pump fairly cheap (Less than one for a higher pressure TPI).
Anyway, if you have access to any brand electric fuel pump, it'll work!
This way, you don't end up with bad breath, or puking on your Ole' lady!!!(Yea, I'm a sick b*st*rd!)
I should probably just get another tank in retrospect. The car was in storage for years before I bought it. I'm too afraid of ruining the new fuel system and motor. I can get the sending unit upgraded with bigger feed lines at the same time there is a local shop that can rebuild them.
I heard with the amount of ethanol in gas now the shelf life is greatly reduced.
I heard with the amount of ethanol in gas now the shelf life is greatly reduced.
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