Emptying the fuel tank
 

Anyone empty their fuel tank by adding a length of hose to the return line, diverting it into a fuel container and running the engine until dry? When doing purges it seems there's a fair volume coming out of the return line and it seems easier than siphoning or crawling underneath.

"There's no fuel like an oil fuel"
 

That is certainly possible. It runs the risk of draining the entire fuel system, thus making it hard to re-start the engine after whatever work is done. It also risks sucking whatever dirt is at the bottom of the tank into the fuel injection system.

I found it was not difficult to simply clamp the rubber jumpers that run between the metal fuel lines and the tank, thus preventing fuel from escaping the lines. Then the jumpers can be removed from the tank. After the tank has been drained, it can be removed, leaving the clamped jumpers as plugs to keep fuel in the lines and the fuel injection system.

Jeremy

Agree on the former. Although, if the engine dies, and you don't attempt to restart it, usually you'll be fine. Just a small drop in fuel pressure would cause it to stall at idle.........the first sign of fuel starvation.

This approach is a hell of a lot easier then the "underneath" approach. Fuel goes all over the GD place............:mad:

The thought of "sucking dirt into the system" from the bottom of the tank is largely a fallacy. The supply hose is attached directly to the bottom of the tank via the strainer.........it's always drawing from the bottom of the tank.

You could disconnect the return line and pump the primer pump till the tank is empty into a container.... :D :D :D (might not be the easiest approach)

All right if you have nothing else lined up for the week!

Tom W

I think what I'll do, rather than filling a container, I'll just pull my other car alongside and feed the return line directly into its fuel tank.

then jack up the car and give her a good port list and you wont get a fuel oil shower:D

I just cleaned my in tank filter. I started by syphoning fuel from the tank like a thief in the night. There was not much left to drain from under the car.

Your sig mentions an 1882 240, that's rare!

After what I went through on the SD, I am coming up with a different approach on the TD.

I didn't think about it at the time, but in the middle of it LOGIC STRUCK.

If the fuel strainer is plugged up (and it is about 2" in length)... THERE IS 2" of fuel in the tank. Take it out and ... well you can guess the rest.

I am going to pump it dry from topside.

If the fuel strainer is plugged up...........there might be 12" of fuel in the tank...........if the vehicle won't run. If the vehicle runs, the fuel strainer is not completely clogged and you can drain it from the bottom.

But, I agree, pumping it dry from the top is a much cleaner (and drier) solution.

Smart move, but I think the strainer is more like 3 or 4 inches. We got little over 3 gallons out of mine after it was starving for fuel.

Could be wrong about the length as I have slept since last time I replaced the strainer. ;)

Could be 3 or 4 inches... I couldn't see very well after all the diesel sprayed me everywhere:eek:

Switch supply and return lines and pump the tank dry by drawing thru the return. Anyone know how high the return outlet is from the bottom of the tank?

See two previous postings. :eek: