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Emptying out the fuel tank

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by glamis3000, Oct 26, 2011.

  1. Oct 26, 2011 at 12:32 PM
    #1
    glamis3000

    glamis3000 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    does anyone know the best way to empty out the fuel tank?? i want to make sure there is no water inside. since our wonderful government has put in the ethanol into our gas, it has made my dads v10 run like shit and break down very often, and all our dirtbikes and quads cant run on this shit. so i just want to empty it out every few months.. and i also will replace the fuel filter at the same time..
     
  2. Oct 26, 2011 at 5:05 PM
    #2
    01Tac0ma

    01Tac0ma Bash Fabriction & Off-Road

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    Look at build!
    Never looked at mine before but if you drop the skid from the tank i would think there would be a drain plug for it
     
  3. Oct 26, 2011 at 5:14 PM
    #3
    My68ur8trd

    My68ur8trd Well-Known Member Vendor

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    since the first gens start the pump on key on, you can pull the pressure line and then they the pump empty the tank


    if you fill it on a regular basis, you wont have any water in there



    Justin
     
  4. Oct 26, 2011 at 5:15 PM
    #4
    My68ur8trd

    My68ur8trd Well-Known Member Vendor

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    there is no drain plug
     
  5. Oct 26, 2011 at 5:17 PM
    #5
    worthywads

    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    I don't think you've thought this through? The fuel pickup is always pulling from the bottom, you aren't going to drain a pool of water from the bottom, your fuel pump pulls from the bottom all the time.

    I can only get 10% ethanol here, and I don't see the symptoms you are describing.
     
  6. Oct 26, 2011 at 6:05 PM
    #6
    hayabusa3303

    hayabusa3303 Well-Known Member

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    run a bottle of stp fuel treatment. It will break down the water in the tank and let it go though the engine will little or no problems.

    I recommend you use a different fuel station. There pick up lines(where you got the fuel from) in the there tanks are too close to the water line in the tanks.
     
  7. Oct 26, 2011 at 6:18 PM
    #7
    glamis3000

    glamis3000 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    well isn't just with my truck or our toys, we've talked to a bunch of people all over cali and idaho that have had the same problems, mainly with smaller engines. but my truck i just replaced the fuel injectors and im going to lay the blame on this fuel since its shit.. the ethanol doesn't mix right with gasoline, and it separates which causes condensation in the fuel tanks creating water to sit on the top of the gas. and it does pull from the bottom thus why i don't let my fuel tank get under a quarter so that the water and other floating contaminates stay on top and don't get sucked into my fuel lines and filter.. ive thought it through, which is why I asked my question.
     
  8. Oct 26, 2011 at 6:25 PM
    #8
    pudge151

    pudge151 Well-Known Member

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    get some STARTRON fuel additive. it has been working for my small engines. also dont let your truck go below 1/4 tank
     
  9. Oct 26, 2011 at 7:31 PM
    #9
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    ...too much shit to list.
    Draining your tank is overkill. I'm from CA and yes the gas is shit, but still overkill. I think if you and previous owners replaced your fuel filter on a regular basis you're injectors would be fine. As long as you're driving your truck and it's not sitting for extended periods of time, the separation is really a mute point.

    That being said, there is no drain plug. You could run the pump with the key on and the pressure line disconnected, but that won't drain it completely. You'll still be left with a few cups of gas in the tank. And since you're so worried about water separation, all the "water" is going to be in those few cups of gas left in the tank, not in anything you pumped out.

    If you're determined to drain it completley, there are 4 bolts that hold the gas tank skid on. Once you get the skid off there is 1 more bolt up front, and an anoying fucking strap on the back (the anoying part is when you put it back together). You've also got the fuel pressure line, fuel return line and two electrical pigtails that are most likely stuck on and require significant amount of swearing to remove. Once all the shit is disconnected and tank is dropped, you can pull the fuel pump, which is like 10 small bolts, which depending on where you're truck has lived its life, can be rusted to shit and seemingly impossible to remove without stripping. Once the pump is out of the way, then you'll have access to drain the tank. Assuming you removed all the fuel pump bolts without issue, you'll have to put it all back together. Carefull not to over tighten those tiny fucking bolts. Torque on them is in INCH-lbs, not foot-lbs. Good luck getting the tank back up by yourself. It's doable, but a pain in the ass and you have to get creative with tools.

    So yeah, have fun draining your gas tank to get the water out. And yes, I have dropped my tank...twice.
     
    Taco-loco likes this.
  10. Oct 26, 2011 at 7:35 PM
    #10
    ffirg

    ffirg Well-Known Member

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    X2. This stuff works wonders for all outboard motors I've used them in and other fuel that has been sitting for a long time. Had a half full 6 gallon can that my motor would not run on. Added some startron and it fired up and ran great the rest of that tank.
     
  11. Oct 26, 2011 at 7:52 PM
    #11
    OffroadToy

    OffroadToy old, forgetful, and decomposing

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    Why don't you buy non ethanol gas for the dirt bikes and quads? I wouldn't use anything else for the outboards for my boat. Try not to let your truck gas tank get below a half and you shouldn't have issues.

    http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=OR
     
  12. Oct 26, 2011 at 7:53 PM
    #12
    dexterdog

    dexterdog My pee parts itch

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    pure-gas.org says there is an ethanol free station out by the Cottage Grove airport if you're concerned.
     
  13. Oct 26, 2011 at 7:59 PM
    #13
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    What benefit do you think that emptying out the fuel tank every few months will provide?
     
  14. Oct 26, 2011 at 8:23 PM
    #14
    worthywads

    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    Obviously you haven't throught this through.

    Water sinks in gas so it is the first thing out whenever it form.

    It does not sit on top as you think.
     
  15. Oct 26, 2011 at 8:26 PM
    #15
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Yes!!!! Someone else picked up on that.
    Hense the quotes around "water" in my other post.
     
  16. Oct 26, 2011 at 8:35 PM
    #16
    Texoma

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    Best way to empty a gas tank:
    Siphon
    They sell em everywhere. It's a long hose with a hand squeeze pump on it. And if ya really wanna dry your tank out afterward, get a 2250-3500 psi nitrogen cylinder and some brass tubing and let it blow down your tank. That will remove all gas and moisture. But that is overkill, overkill is fun.
     
  17. Sep 4, 2016 at 3:06 PM
    #17
    Bkusterer

    Bkusterer Member

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    So how do I drain the fuel out of my 2014 taco double cab if the fuel pump is clogged?
     
  18. Sep 4, 2016 at 3:16 PM
    #18
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Pull the rubber coupling that connects the fuel fill line to the tank. Stick in a siphon hose and drain.

    You can't fish a siphon hose thru the fill cap hole. there is a screen to prevent that.
     
  19. Sep 4, 2016 at 3:17 PM
    #19
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    What in the, actual, fuck!?
     
  20. Sep 4, 2016 at 3:24 PM
    #20
    Bkusterer

    Bkusterer Member

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    So I have to lower the tank a little ways to take the hose off the tank?
     

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