Why Can't I Get A Siphon Tube Down Into My Car's Gas Tank?

[arwalden]

Grrrr! I need to get the gas out... but I can't get the 1/2" vinyl tube down into the tank. Is there some sort of anti-siphoning device in there?

HEY you MECHANICS and CAR GEEKS... what do you know about this? Any tips?

[XNASA]

1. Is this a set-up?

:poopcorn:

[arwalden]

3. No... I Want To Get $40.00 worth of gasoline out of my car...

... before it's towed away and junked.

[XNASA]

5. I understand that siphon screens are common these days.

But I have no first hand experience myself.

[arwalden]

7. Thanks! --- Yep... I Found Something Online...

... that describes a recoiled spring fitted into the tube leading to the tank which permits gas to flow IN but also keeps a tube from passing down into the tank.

Oh well.

[oneighty]

19. Arwalden

Do not start the siphon process by mouth.

A Doctor I used to work for did that and 'smart' as he was inhaled gasoline. He wound up with lipoid pneumonia in the hospital. Gasoline is not worth that trip.

Some years later same thing happened to my neighbor.

Do not do it.

180

[arwalden]

22. Thanks For The Advice...

I was planning on using a siphon tube that had a squeeze-ball primer (with a one-way valve) that gets the action going. But even THAT won't work for me because of the anti-siphon thingy.

Sigh! :shrug:

I've siphoned gasoline by mouth when I was a kid... and it's horrid!! I didn't inhale it, but just getting on the tongue was bad enough.

[oneighty]

23. Some outboard motor

gas tanks have a 'Cool' squeeze bulb hand pump-they work pretty good. Slow but good.

Good luck. Me? I would say good-bye to that gasoline. Too much can happen.

Ed

[arwalden]

25. I'm Afraid You're Right... It's Gone.

I'm thrifty, but I'm not THAT desperate... not yet anyway.

<< I would say good-bye to that gasoline >>

Goodbye gasoline! :hi: :cry:

[oneighty]

27. Good

That worry is over!

Ed

[sbj405]

2. No advice, but I have to ask . .

Why do you need to get the gas out? :shrug:

[arwalden]

4. It's about to be junked (turned over to the insurance co)

... who will in turn junk it to recover some of their money... and I want the gas for my lawn mower.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Appears that way, yes

Mind you, this is just some guy on the Internet: http://tinyurl.com/f2hjc (about 3/4 of the way down; look for yellow highlighted "anti-siphoning")

[arwalden]

8. I Don't Think I'll Be DRILLING Into My Gas Tank...

... drilling metal builds up HEAT and/or a SPARK! Not worth the risk.



PS: Thanks for the link!

[Richard Steele]

17. Easier and safer to cut the fuel line with wire cutters.

Any salvage yard that sells the fuel tank is probably
gonna do that anyway.

Cut it a few feet from the tank, unless you have a
a container big enough to hold it all
that you can take under there with you...

Otherwise, you cut the line, fill one container, then crimp and
bend the line to stop the flow.
Then cut it again an inch closer to the tank, fill the next container,
and so forth.

Good ventilation is a must! A big electric fan right next to the car
would NOT be going too far, IMHO.

[Crazy Dave]

9. My guess is there's a thing like...

...a back-flow preventer. A one way valve that keeps gas from splashing out if you over fill or if you lose the cap that may be obstructing the hose. Maybe even done on purpose to keep gas from being stolen. One time a friend of mine, a mechanic by trade drained his tank by punching a hole with a nail in the bottom of the tank and catching it in a gas can. Be careful if you try it though. I thought for sure the thing was going to spark and blow sky high :hi:

[arwalden]

10. You're Right... It's Too Dangerous.

Not worth the risk. I'll just let them deal with the leftover gas.

[Crazy Dave]

15. Good decision

I forgot to add that a little bit, maybe a quart got on and seeped into the ground. The fumes made his whole family sick even though they were in the house. I guess it doesn't take much for some people. How the people that work around the fumes all day do it I don't know.

[anarch]

11. Hell, I don't know...I got a siphon tube into your gas tank,

errrr...that is...I mean...ummmm. :yoiks:

[MadHound]

12. A lot of cars have anti-syphoning devices in the neck of the tank

However if you want to get the gas out, some cars have a plug in the tank that you can pull out and drain the gas out. Or cut the fuel line running from the tank to the engine and let it drain out that way. Both of those option require crawling underneath the vehcile, and a different sort of gas container than a gas can, which won't fit under the car.

Bummer I know, but in these days of high gas prices, it's probably a good thing that there are such anti-syphon devices, at least most of the time.

Or you could simply crawl underneath, puncture the tank and drain off the gas that way. However you run the risk a a spark setting your world on fire, and it could be a fairly inefficient way of reclaimng your gas.

Good luck.

[Monk06]

13. Instead of fussing with the intake just take the tank out of the car..

If the tank is in the trunk just unbolt it, disconnect the
intake, cut the wire to the level guage and pull it out.

If it's mounted underneith between the frame rails unbolt
the straps and drop it down. Make sure the car is jacked
up high enough to pull it out.

Should only take about fifteen minutes and couple of wrenches.

[HEyHEY]

14. Yeah, "your car's" gas tank

gotcha...

[Derailer]

16. I've never had to try it

but there is a way to get a syphon tube into the tank. What you do is put one smaller tube inside a bigger tube apparently. Then blow on it.

The bigger tube centers the smaller tube I think.

[catmandu57]

18. Will the engine turn over?

You can disable the engine by taking the wire off the distributor cap so it won't start, disconnect the fuel line from the manifold, run a line to your containers and crank the engine. This should make the gas flow and be safer than punching a hole in your tank.

[terrya]

20. I wish I could help, Allen.

A mental image popped into my mind, which if I articulated it, I'd have to remove my own post.

[arwalden]

24. Oh Mercy!! You Are Such A Perv!!

No wonder we get along so well! :hi:

[billyskank]

21. Into YOUR car's gas tank hmm?

I believe you... :P

Petrol getting a bit expensive, eh? ;)

[lumberingbear]

26. Becareful arwalden!!!

We don't want to lose you! :hug:

[arwalden]

28. Hey There You!!

:loveya:

Nothing to worry about... I've already given up on my notion of being able to recover the 12 remaining gallons of gasoline.

Too much trouble.
Too dangerous.
Not worth the risk of any other creative efforts or heroic work-arounds (dammit!)

[lumberingbear]

29. Thank God!!!

I'm glad to hear this. Now I can breath easier.

[Hand]

30. Insh'Allah... nt