Draining a Gas Tank

rusty6 · Nov 30, 2017

Trying to figure how to drain the gas tank on my 97 Blazer S truck. I blew a hole (small) in the side of it with the air compressor while cleaning today and now I'm hoping to get it down to half or less so I can (maybe) patch it with JBWeld until I get a new tank. Seems to be some type of blockage in the fuel neck as I've tried several different hoses and can't get any of them down to the level of the gas. That tank is going to be pretty heavy to handle with 3/4 fuel level.

Andy Martin · Nov 30, 2017

It's the antisiphon device in the filler neck. There is a product available which will seal with gas leaking out, but you also can just go to an auto parts store and buy tank sealer which will work above the gas level, which it sounds like your hole is above. If not, try a sheet metal screw and then epoxy over it.

Was the tank so rusty you blew a hole in it?

rusty6 · Nov 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 17:23:51 11/30/17) It's the antisiphon device in the filler neck. There is a product available which will seal with gas leaking out, but you also can just go to an auto parts store and buy tank sealer which will work above the gas level, which it sounds like your hole is above. If not, try a sheet metal screw and then epoxy over it.

Was the tank so rusty you blew a hole in it?

At this point I hardly dare touch the leaky tank for fear it will break right open and drain itself. They had a plastic and steel shield along the side and bottom of tank. It made a real dirt trap against the frame rail and was impossible to see let alone hit with a pressure washer. I guess after 20 years of mud packed against it the tank rusted pretty bad. I've smelled gas around it for a couple of years and now I know why.

Mike(NEOhio) · Nov 30, 2017

Use a product called Mechanics Seal All. Sticks even where it's wet with gas. Like airplane glue and sets up real fast. Had a tank on an Olds wagon with pinholes just above the weld flange. Put that stuff on and it went another three years.

chuck machinist · Nov 30, 2017

Drain tank,fill with water,and analyze.cm

DENNIS MIN · Nov 30, 2017

Rusty6,

Trust the tank repair epoxy. They work.

I'd actually try to perforate a small hole with a hammer and nail to drain it completely. The repair would be simply an advertised gas repair epoxy.

D.

rusty6 · Nov 30, 2017

No, this tank is done. The whole side where the dirt was packed in is rust flakes. I've patched tanks with JB weld in the past with good
results but they were in much better shape than this one. All I need is to be able to limp into town with it and get it on the hoist for a
new tank installation.
Price sure does vary. Local Co-op can source a new tank complete with pump for something over $700. I see the same thing on Rock Auto for
$336.78 including shipping. Thats if they don't tack on some extra charges crossing the border.

Big Fat Herb · Nov 30, 2017

Rub a bar of soap on it.

Ted in NE-OH · Nov 30, 2017

Get the vehicle out of the garage, start the engine , it will eventually get to below half full.

Steve@Advance · Nov 30, 2017

Sense you are going to replace it anyway, have a sheet metal screw ready with a tight fitting oring around
it. Drive a sharp punch through the bottom, put the screw in the hole when it is drained down.

I've done permanent repairs with that method. The oring stops the gas long enough to sand the area clean,
then embed the screw with JB Weld.

MARK ROBKE · Nov 30, 2017

It is a little slow,but jumper the fuel pump relay,add a hose extension onto the fuel delivery line to engine and turn the key on and pump your gas into your gas can(s). I've done that before with a wreck to save the gas.Mark

rusty6 · Nov 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:13:09 11/30/17) It is a little slow,but jumper the fuel pump relay,add a hose extension onto the fuel delivery line to engine and turn the key on and pump your gas into your gas can(s). I've done that before with a wreck to save the gas.Mark

I was actually considering that method too. Seeing as this is the original fuel pump at 20 years and 166,000 km old it might be advisable to put a new pump in at the same time as the tank.

2x4 · Dec 1, 2017

you have to go under the truck & take the hose off where it enters the tank. Then you can get a siphon hose in the tank to drop down to where the gas is. There are 3 bends in the rubber hose between the fill spout & the tank. Even if you got a hose in there, the rubber hose enters the tank horizontally so a siphon would extend straight out & never drop down into the gasoline.

rustyfarmall · Dec 1, 2017

Find a sheet metal screw of about 1/8" diameter, and an "O" ring to fit that screw. Drill a hole in the lowest part of the tank and drain out the gas. Put the screw with the O ring in the hole and tighten it down. That is the method I have used many times to drain water from a gas tank. Never had one fail.

Determined · Dec 1, 2017

Well it's morning now.

If you did not figure something out yesterday the gas has probably drained down to the level of the hole by now.

Saturate a piece of blue jean material with Seal all and stick it over the hole.

Should get you by for a few years while you decide how to permanently repair it.

rusty6 · Dec 1, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:30:32 12/01/17) Well it's morning now.

If you did not figure something out yesterday the gas has probably drained down to the level of the hole by now.

Saturate a piece of blue jean material with Seal all and stick it over the hole.

Should get you by for a few years while you decide how to permanently repair it.

No, the side of the tank is still wet but there is no gas dripping from it. New tank is ordered and should arrive later today. I decided to go with a local supplier even though U.S. Rock Auto had it for a lot less money. Chances of problems with shipping something that big across the border just didn't seem worth saving a few dollars. I've got the rock shield off the bottom of the tank in preparation. For now I think I will just drive it to use up as much gas as possible before installing the new one. And no, I'm not going to try the installation at home in an unheated shop in December laying in the dirt. Maybe 30 years ago but not now.

DoubleO7 · Dec 1, 2017

(quoted from post at 18:05:03 11/30/17)
Price sure does vary. Local Co-op can source a new tank complete with pump for something over $700. I see the same thing on Rock Auto for
$336.78 including shipping.

The difference in price has nothing to do about "crossing the border costs".
Just go to amazon.ca and compare prices to identical products at amazon.com
Or walmart.ca vs walmart.com
You will be shocked and wonder who is pocketing the difference in pricing.
The company or the government.

rusty6 · Dec 1, 2017

$336.78 including shipping.

The difference in price has nothing to do about "crossing the border costs".
Just go to amazon.ca and compare prices to identical products at amazon.com
Or walmart.ca vs walmart.com
You will be shocked and wonder who is pocketing the difference in pricing.
The company or the government.[/quote]

True, but it does sometimes seem that "duty" is charged on stuff I've bought South of the border. Sometimes the lower U.S. price makes it worth while. Sometimes not much.
Update on the tank. Using a bar of soap to try and stop the leak was a big mistake. The pressure of the soap bar made it leak worse so I had to go ahead and try to get the vent line off the tank as it seemed the only way to get a hose in to siphon it. Eventually, after much swearing and some blood loss, I managed to get about 5 gallons siphoned out and the side of the tank stopped leaking. Now, if the gas fumes I have been breathing today have not destroyed my few remaining brain cells I need to make supper. Been a long day.

Determined · Dec 1, 2017

The fun never ends does it Rusty.
For most of my parts I deal with a company called Buyautopartsonline.ca they are out of Saskatoon.
Honestly there website sucks but if you look up the part number you need from the suppliers website then order it from buyauto there pricing is equal to what I was paying wholesale at my shop 10 years ago.
If you want economy or brand name parts they offer both and they blow away the retailors on price.
Any order over $100 gets free shipping and 9 out of 10 times if I place an order before 2:30 P.M. it is at the post office half a mile from the farm by 11:30 the next day.
I have been dealing with them for a few years now and other than the slow website I have nothing but good to say about them.

rusty6 · Dec 1, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:50:55 12/01/17) The fun never ends does it Rusty.
For most of my parts I deal with a company called Buyautopartsonline.ca they are out of Saskatoon.
.

Wow! Thanks for that site. It is what I needed 24 hours ago. They have the gas tank I need for about $130 less than I will be paying for one from auto electric. I'll keep it in mind for the future.

Draining a Gas Tank

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads