Fuel tank siphoning

Hey folks, I'll start with a scary story:

Mrs and I were driving up I 495 in Mass yesterday when the rear fuel tank strap failed. As luck would have it, we were less than a 1/2 mile from a rest area. The tank wasn't dragging on the pavement or anything so we made it without any fires.

Anyway - while investigating the strap repair I noticed that the front mounting flange on the tank is leaking, so I need to replace the tank.

My question: is there any obstruction in the filler tube, the connector hose or the filler inlet in the tank that would prevent me from siphoning most of the fuel out for an easier and safer tank removal?
Thanks in advance.

 

Yes, you can’t do the old 2hose trick on these trucks because scumbags steal gas.

 

Welcome aboard new member
There is a ball stop valve on the bottom of the filler neck extension called Anti roll over to keep gas in tank after roll overs.
Disconnect the fitting closest to the tank to siphon out fuel.

 

YIKES! Glad it worked out okay and nobody was hurt.

 

Gravity did that for me yesterday; Its just so visually obstructed that I can't see where that is...so I'll just feel around 'til I find the nipple (sounding a bit ribald here ) and put the hose in the tank.

Thanks all

 

If you're scrapping the tank.....just use an awl to punch a small hole in the lowest section. Drain into any container. You can temporarily plug the hole with your thumb while swapping containers.

 

I did a tank on my Olds Delta 88 so not sure how the Tacoma is, but..

Mine was at the back of the trunk so we undid the back bolts, then used a floor jack to guide it down the "ramp" from leaving the front bolts in. Then just drained it once we pulled it onto the dirt using a hand pump.

 

I have a tip for you. And it is easier than it sounds.

Remove the bed.

Hear me out. With the bed removed, you have full unimpeded access to the tank. It's only about six bolts and the tail light connectors. Two grown men can lift it off, or you can do it the easy way and use a hoist.

 

What year is your truck? if its 95.5 to 2000 you can just unbolt the filler neck and drain it that way. When I remove tacoma tanks I just support them with the jack unbolt it lower it down a few inches. unplug the harnesses and fuel lines then let it down. Also @BartMaster1234 is correct lifting the bed is way easier and faster. You dont have to take it all the way off. Just unbolt and lift the front of it.

 

mine's a 02.
I tried getting a siphon hose into the tank nipple but it seems there's a check valve in the way or something. I'm going to try a transmission jack - lower it down far enough to unhook all of the hoses and wires and the remove one of the three covers on top to siphon it. I don't want to have to try and drag it out from under the truck while nearly full.

 

I tried siphoning out of the tank with a vinyl hose and just got lungs full of fumes - I’d just poke a hole if you’re getting rid of the tank

 

I’ll 3rd the recommendation to remove the bed. Makes accessing the tank and all connectors almost too easy.

 

As someone who has done it both ways: removing the tank from under the truck, and pulling the bed and getting it from the top... I’d rather take the bed off. It makes it 100x easier.

 

Same as BartMaster, I have done it both ways and agree bed off is easiest,... but if you live in a rustbelt state, proceed with caution.
The crossmembers tend to rust in the area where the nuts are welded in place for the bed bolts to attach. They will twist instead of loosening. You'll end up ripping the crossmember apart, as shown when I removed mine earlier this Summer.

 

Yup he's in a rust state (Massachusetts)..maybe easier from the bottom given that? Never did one on my truck but I did a couple in my younger years on cars and I always went on the bottom

 

For me the problem with poking a hole is that the tank is nearly full - more than any container I have on hand will hold - So I'll end up with a big flammable mess on my garage floor; I'm just really hesitant to do it that way.
If you ever need to siphon fuel (or any other noxious stuff) get yourself a mityvac tool to start the siphon - and you can use it for diagnostics too. Sucking on a hose with gasoline at the other end - well...it sucks.

 

I wonder if once you get it on the floor..that is the tank, not the fuel haha...just get as much as you can into a fuel can and then add the rest to your new tank after you complete the install straight from the old tank.

Sent you a PM

 

I feel for you. That job sucks.

I have a lift and the tank removal job still sucks coming from the bottom.

Even with no gas in the tanks it is combersome to manhandle the tank into position.

If you can get that box off, you will be hours ahead of the game.

 

Bummer. You could do a self tapping screw and fuel resistant sealant to let it sit while you swap out containers. Possible even one that has the same pitch and diameter as some nipple that would allow a hose put on it and do a bunch of holes at lower and lower levels. Dropping a tank isn’t rocket science but I would at least see if you can get the bed bolts to crack loose and consider removing the bed if that’s an option.

 

Golf tees work amazing for plugging holes in gas tanks .

The op does not want to punch holes in the tank he can reuse.