Removing gas from tank

[capt. meares]

I thought I would share a method I recently came across and have had good luck with for removing expired or near expired gas from my c-dory fuel tanks. I use my motor no less than once a month year round, so I never winterize it. I have made the mistake however of putting more fuel in my tanks than I can burn in a six month period during this slower time of the year, (Great problem to have). Using a simple fluid transfer pump from harbor and freight ($7), I just successfully transferred 10 gallons of near expired fuel from my boat fuel tank, directly to my wives Honda Pilot. Below is the pump I used.

http://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-66418.html

Yes I worked up a little sweat pumping by hand, but it is a pretty solid little pump for the money.

[South of Heaven]

Capt. Meares: If you don't wanna the risk of using old fuel in your boat then why would you put it in your wife's car? Is it okay to use older fuel as long as you use it quickly? Like in a car?

I'm just curious. What's the science behind it?

[capt. meares]

Gas is approaching 6 months old but not quite there. I would rather use it up in a few days in a vehicle, instead of letting sit in the boat another month and wonder. I like to play it safe.

[hardee]

If you do that type of transfer, It is probably good to put it into something where the old gas is diluted, then add some fresh gas and go for it.

I have opted to just put Blue Marine Stable in each fill, and have not had any fuel issues since I started that process, almost 9 years ago.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Will-C]

We use a little 12v Mr. Gasket pump mounted on a board with a switch which was recommended by others on this site. Just pulled the hose off the hose barb at the Racor filter housing leading to motor and pumped either right into the car or into a 5 gallon plastic gas can and then added the gas to the car. Just flip the tank selector on the boat to get the fuel from the other tank. Seemed to work great.
D.D.

[BrentB]

I don't like the Harbor Freight pumps posted based on removing 80 gal of gas on a derelict boat after Hurricane Charley. They leak, poorly made, etc, We called them POS...just saying

[Darkwater]

I too would like an easy way to remove fuel from the tanks. I bought the Harbor Freight pump a couple of years ago and it did not work well. What has worked better, but still not great, is to undo the fuel hose connection to the Racor (hose comes from the fuel tank switch valve), use double barb fitting to attach about 5' more of hose with a double barb, and siphon into fuel cans. Still not very clean and hate getting the siphon going.

I have 2 other ideas and would appreciate any experience/opinion. This is related to the topic so please don't regard this as hijack:

Find a male adapter that fits the female end of my Yamaha 6hp kicker motor fuel hose, and install additional hose from the male adapter to go to fuel cans or car fuel tank. The male adapter should release the ball valve in the female end, and I could use the primer bulb to prime siphoning.

The other idea would be to just get a primer bulb with 3/8 inch hose (that's right for Yamaha and the racor?) at both ends, and hook that up with a double bard to the hose from the fuel tank valve. This fuel would not pass through the racor so easier to siphon?? Doug

[Montana Kev]

Here is a link to an image of the 12 volt fuel transfer pump I set up. The pump is a 12 volt automotive fuel pump that can be ordered online. This one came from Walmart.com for around $28.00. The photo is pretty self explanatory. As for safety, make sure you take all the normal precautions when working around fuel. Work outside in the open, have your fire extinguisher close by in case you have a spill.

We have a very short boating season, our tanks get pumped once a year.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Grace&id=Boat_fuel_pump_transfer&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

[BrentB]

[Bob&Alicia]

I got my Alabama Charge Card put together this weekend and siphoned enough gas out of the C-Dory to fill up the car. I copied Montana Kev's system.

I have a full tank of non-ethanol gas but by the time we get back in water it will be over 6 months old. I would rather have new fuel AND I don't want to tow with a full tank.

I bought an extra Suzuki fitting to go on the Racor. I have a short piece of fuel grade hose with an outboard prime bulb and another short length of fuel hose. This is how I fuel our generator while at anchor.

I attached the hose with the bulb on it to a $20 fuel pump I got of amazon. I also bought 15' of wire with a 12 volt cigarette lighter plug on the end. I connected them with heat shrink butt connectors and a good wrapping of electrical tape. I ran the wire to the car through a small crack in the window. I then attached some clear fuel line at the exit side of the pump and inserted it deep into the gas tank fill on the car. I primed the pump and then turned on the pump from inside the car.

I looked for any ignition sources. The pump is ignition rated for gas, the wiring was sealed, and the power source was in a closed car. I shut the window on the wire. I was careful to ground myself if I walked around toward the pump. I actually didn't touch it once it started. I smelled fewer fumes than at the gas station. As a kid I worked at a car dealership and they would have to weld gas tanks that got holes in them. I saw much less thought out siphoning techniques and no fires.

It is not a fast process. I forgot to time it but it probably took about 40 mins to remove 17 gal of gas. I will be filling the cars several more times.

I can't wait to roll up to Mother's Day this weekend in Alabama at my in-laws and tell them how I fueled the car for the trip with my Alabama Charge Card.