Yes, I did it; What's the easiest way to drain the fuel tank?

[jsimpson]

I've 11 gallons of gasoline in it!

 

[ftb87]

try to sipen the rest out. I believe you can purchase a pump from a retail store (harbor freight).



Then, pull the tank off .



Frank

 

[illflem]

Since the fill neck has the rollover protection ball in it that prevents getting a siphon hose down it the easiest way to drain the tank is to remove the fill hose from underneath. You can then siphon or pump the tank out. I wouldn't worry about getting every last drop out if the gas was mixed with some diesel and you fill the tank all the way with diesel before starting the engine.

 

[Tom W]

I took the fuel filter off and put a funnel and large pan under the housing. I the turned the ignition switch on and off until it quit pumping. I repeated this until the tank was empty, then added about three gal of diesel and pumped it out. The lift pump will only run about 10 sec so it is rather slow process. Took me about 1/2 hour to get rid of ten gal.

Tom



Just noticed you have an 89, don't know if this would work for you.

 

[Bob Ellithorpe]

Frequent fueler

This reminds me of something that happened to a friend of mine - He drives a semi for a living but while on vacation he pulls into a gas station with his new truck (gas) and proceeds to fill it up with diesel. To make a long story short - after draining the tank and getting it running again,he pulls back into the same station. Only this time he fills up with gas. The lady attendant with a little smile on her face ask him if he'd like a "frequent fueler" card.

 

[illflem]

Bob, I have to admit I'm also guilty of the same thing, only much more than once. With one lone JD gasser tractor out of seven I can't even count how many times it been filled with diesel. In fact every gasser rig I own has been filled with diesel at least once. At least it's never been the other way around. Diesel in a gasser just makes smoke, gas in a diesel kills engines.

 

[apkole]

I did the same thing last winter. Borrowed an automotive fuel pump with attached hoses and clips for battery. Got a 30 gal drum and pumped it out. Took a while but got all but 1/2 gal out of the tank. Then filled and topped it off w/diesel. Fortunately I did not start the truck before realizing my mistake. No side effects yet!!!

 

[Mackie007]

Well here's my story I started filling up my diesel suburban by accident with gas, got about 4 gals in. Had it towed home and started syphoning the fuel out. Friend of mine pulls up that runs a farm with a large diesel fleet. He said 4 gallons in my 42 gallon tank wasn't even 10% dillution, he said I should have just topped it off with diesel back at the station & just drove easy for that tank. I said no I will syphon it out & fill it with diesel, he laughed & said well if you don't have any use for that fuel you syphoned out I'll take it. He took the 10 gallons of 50/50 gas diesel mix and poured it right into his 1 ton dually & drove off. That was 3 years ago & his truck still runs great.



Not endorsing ever putting gas with your diesel, just pointing out a small amount of gas mixed in is probably not much to worry about.



Mac

 

[illflem]

From the Chevron diesel website



I accidentally mixed gasoline with my diesel. What can I do?



One percent or less gasoline will lower the flash point of a gasoline/diesel fuel blend below the specification minimum for diesel fuel. This will not affect the fuel's engine performance, but it will make the fuel more hazardous to handle. Larger amounts of gasoline will lower the viscosity and/or cetane number of the blend below the specification minimums for diesel fuel. These changes can degrade combustion and increase wear.

The best course of action is to recycle gasoline-contaminated diesel fuel back to your supplier. People ask if they can correct the problem by adding more diesel fuel to the blend. Usually the answer is no; the amount of additional diesel fuel needed to bring the flash point on test is impractically large. Those who try dilution should have the blend checked by a laboratory before use to be sure it meets specifications.

 

[seemore]

Been there, done that! Bummer! I have a 98. 5 and pumped about the same as you. But I went out to Home depot or Sears Hardware, I foget which. And purchased 3 6'-8' pieces on plastic tubing. 1 was 1/4" 1 was 5/16 or 3/8" & I thing one was 1/2".



But what ever the size, I just played with them & kept twisting them and was able to get around that ball in the filler neck! It wasn't too hard. I started with the biggest hose that I could get it & syphoned 'till it quit. Then put next smaller hose in, twisted it around to get it in the fuel. Was able to get out 34 gals. of bad fuel.



Earle

 

[jsimpson]

Gotta be careful at Texaco; they use green handles for regular!

 

[Fireman Dave]

Always do the sniff test. People might think you're weird, but it's the best way to double check yourself. Good luck J.

 

[JimP]

Mobile also use green for regular gas. Since I did the same thing last year, I look for cetane rating. All pumps have either cetane,or octane rating on the front of the cabinet near the nozzle.



JimP:

 

[jsimpson]

I can't blame it on the pumps; the station didn't even have diesel! I was there to fill my lawnmower jugs and was daydreaming and forgot what I came for, so I started filling the truck tank!!

Now I've drained about 12 gallons and can't get any more out. I know the tank was NOT near empty when I added the eleven gallons of gas, so now I'm concerned about how much is still in the tank. I REALLY don't want to drop the tank, but... .

 

[Swamp Donkey]

jsimpson,



You weren't drooling over a Duramax when you were pumpin that gas in your diesel were you?? Just havin a little fun. :wink:

 

[jsimpson]

No; but I'm sure glad I wasn't driving my brother's new Duramax! I ALMOST took it though!!!

 

[JohnE]

A lot of people will use gasoline to winterblend fuel or to thaw a gelled tank. NOT ME!



I cannot get the wrong pump handle to fill my truck. I have to use the fuel islands at the places I stop. They do not dispense fuel & gasoline from the same islands.



A friend's neighbor took his brand new Ford P/S for a hunting weekend. He stopped of a few miles from home to fill it up. On the drive home it ran funny. After he stopped in the driveway the little light popped on in his head. He had filled it with gasoline.

Call to local Ford dealer to explain the situation. They sent a tow truck and hauled it to the shop. The bill was around $1,000 to drain the tank; purge the fuel lines; change filter; remove injectors, clean, and inspect; and of course the towing bill. They said he didn't hurt anything.

I say wait until the first time he tries to get warranty service!





Here's another poll:



How many of you have ruined weed wackers, chain saws, etc by forgetting to use the blended gasoline in them?



-John

 

[swamp rat]

Siphoning fuel

Has anyone ever tried one of those brass easy siphon hoses usually found at truckstops? It has a piece of brass that has been crimped at both ends with a bell flared shape on one end and a marble in the middle and a clear hose attached to the flared end. All you do is insert the brass end into your container, and vigorously shake it up and down a few times (rarely more than 8-10 times) to prime the siphoning action unless you are drawing up from more than a couple of feet. Once this thing starts siphoning, it can literally drain a 5 gallon jug in seconds depending on the fall height between source and receiving vessel.



It dang sure beats swallowing a mouthful of diesel or gasoline.

 

[illflem]

Another way to siphon without drinking it, assuming you can get the hose past the rollover ball, is to insert any hose as far as you can into the tank then withdraw it to your container with your thumb tight over the end. Works best with a full tank and a low container.

 

[Fish]

I did it too up in Virginia somewhere. There was a truck stop right across the street. They came over with their big wrecker and drug truck, trailer and all over to their shop and did the 55 gallon drum with the fuel pump attached as mentioned. He also said that a certain amount of gas in diesel wasn't a problem. I told him to get it out and I'm glad I did. I just read the TDReprint entitled Mixing Gasoline and Diesel. Issue 26, pages 14-15. That is pretty scary reading, I want to tell you! You can fry your rings and valves because they are counting on the cetane in the diesel for cooling and lubrication. I don't profess to knowing much about what I just said. Read it yourself.