How to empty a fuel tank

mikewood869 · Apr 21, 2019

Fast way that we emptied 13 gallons in 5 minutes on the ford 3000/ 4500. Also thats the easiest way to prime the fuel tank on our baler (having the fuel going back to the carb). A little air helps. The blue hose going to the fuel tank cap.

mikewood869 · Apr 21, 2019

It's live in the photo.

grizz02 · Apr 21, 2019

bad plan , you just created a bomb pressurize fuel and static , not a good deal

mikewood869 · Apr 21, 2019

(quoted from post at 16:23:50 04/21/19) bad plan , you just created a bomb pressurize fuel and static , not a good deal

Just don t use that much air and have the air nozzle adapter not super tight. If the pressure gets too much, the air nozzle pops. Hope and pray that there isn t any static.

caterpillar guy · Apr 22, 2019

I have done similar things in the past. As long as you keep the pressure down to about 3-5 psi it will be fine much more and the tank could rupture. We use a similar method for getting the chloride out of our tractor tires when we are fixing the tire. We pump them up and with a short hose stuck on the stemm it will squirt into a jug or 5 gallon pail. We even put a block under the tire to push it tighter for more fluid removal by pushing the bottom of the tire up.

showcrop · Apr 22, 2019

No need to worry about static being generated by the flowing air. It doesn't happen, LOL. Static electricity is generated by friction moving electrons. It happens at the highest rate with solid against solid like a balloon against your pant leg. Liquids generate static much more slowly. Gases will generate virtually none due to the lack of friction. Yes, you could potentially get some from the gas flowing out of the tank, but again due to the low rate and volume, it is insignificant compared to filling a gas can sitting on the back of your truck

WNYBill · Apr 22, 2019

I use a battery powered fuel transfer pump, mine has a 110 plug with a transformer. Works great to pump
fuel out of a 5 gal caddy into the tractor. No more lifting fuel cans.
Bill

Dick L · Apr 22, 2019

Same way we would put 200 gallon of hydraulic oil in overhead tanks for very large injection molding machines back in the 1960's.
We had a 1/2" pipe with a slight taper on the end that went down almost to the bottom of a 50 gallon drum in the large bung with a hose that went into the tank. The air hose attached to the small bung with a regulator. It only took one man to fill the tank where using the fork truck to lift the drums up in the air took two men and empty the drums twice as fast with air. One on the fork lift and one on top. The company was always pushing us to get a new press running as soon as the riggers headed toward the exit almost.

jeffcat · Apr 22, 2019

Have done it and totally agree. As others have said keep the pressure LOW.
Almost makes you feel like Einstein.

Ken Macfarlane · Apr 22, 2019

Heads up, low conductivity liquids and gases generate tons of
static, that?s why there are restrictions on flow rates in fuel
dispensers, fall heights when filling containers, static wires
embedded in the hose and conductive materials added to the
rubber to help dissipate charge.

In this case it?s probably transferring slow enough.

How to empty a fuel tank

mikewood869

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mikewood869

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grizz02

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mikewood869

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caterpillar guy

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showcrop

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WNYBill

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Dick L

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jeffcat

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Ken Macfarlane

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