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Emptying a fuel tank - gas

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Old 09-25-2011, 09:39 PM
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Default Emptying a fuel tank - gas

89 K_2500, 5.7L, gas. Will it hurt the fuel pump to run the tank dry? I need to empty it to get rid of bad gas. Can I just drain it or must it be pumped?.........tx..........pop
 
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Old 09-25-2011, 10:15 PM
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Well, I know this is the way we "bug" a car while I'm at school. The teachers pump the fuel out to throw a student off while they're trying to diagnose a car. All of our pumps still work fine.

I say it wont hurt it too much.
 
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Old 09-25-2011, 10:47 PM
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You can use a small siphon pump. There are cheap one that your an electric or cordless drill as a motor, and will empty 20 gallons in a few minutes.

I've seen them at Harbor Freight for a couple of dollars.
 
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Old 09-27-2011, 08:30 AM
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You're not talking about running the pump for an extended period of time so I wouldn't worry too much. Don't forget to swap your fuel filter or you'll be banging your head later.
 
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Old 09-27-2011, 09:57 AM
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Using the "on-truck" fuel pump and a jumper on the pump test terminal, I've reduced the fuel level to where the gas gauge just barely moves when the ign is turned on. Guess I should have better defined "bad gas". It has a slight yellow tint and is starting to smell. I've been putting it in 5 gal cans and burning it in an old farm tractor.......so it does still burn. The fuel filter is clean and all gas pumped out has been clean.

Question: If I just put in about 8 gal of fresh gas (truck has 30 or 32 gal tank), add some injector cleaner, will everything mix and be OK, or should I completely drain the tank............tx.........pop
 
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Old 09-27-2011, 11:57 AM
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You should be fine. It sounds like what you had in there was just old. Flush it through with some fresh and she ought to be fine. Maybe add a few oz of Seafoam to clean the fuel lines for an added treatment.
 
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Old 09-27-2011, 11:36 PM
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Maybe some dry gas too.
 
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