best way to clean out a fuel tank.

[PowerAddict]

if one would be concerned water was in their fuel, what would be necessary to clean it all out?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: best way to clean out a fuel tank.

I did it by first removing the gage sender (get a new gasket before you pull it)

tip the bow up (or down) as required to get all the liquid and "stuff" to pool near where the sender was. Use a piece of clear vinyl hose long enough to reach a container outside the boat to siphon (vacuum) the fuel/water/debris out of the tank

1. Make sure the container is large enough to handle all the fuel
OR have a helper with another tank so he/she can swap tanks for you and hold on to the other end so it doesn't slip out of the container.

2. DO NOT DO THIS IN A GARAGE!!!!! Don't let anyone smoke around this. Have a fire extinguisher handy etc... Keep electrical stuff away etc...

3. don't EVEN THINK of using a wet/dry Shop VAC. (It would be on FOX NEWS by tonight!!!....someone actually asked here on this forum what we all thought about doing that!!!)

The suction from the siphon will suck out all the water/debris if the hose is big enough. Home depot etc will have clear vinyl hose and it's cheap.... I used 3/4" hose for mine and sucked out about 25 gallons.

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: best way to clean out a fuel tank.

alright cool, so there's no extra steps to take once all the fuel is drained?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: best way to clean out a fuel tank.

alright cool, so there's no extra steps to take once all the fuel is drained?

Depends on whether you can actually see inside the tank with a flashlight. with the gage sender out, (it's usually near the fuel pickup tube) you might be able to see the fuel screen and see if you got all the water/debris using the siphon.

If not you might want to remove the fuel pickup and inspect/clean the screen. You may also have an anti siphon valve too that you could check. It's just a spring loaded check valve that prevents fuel from siphoning out of the tank in case of a fuel line leak downstream of the tank. It's required on boats that have any part of the fuel lines that run below the tank. Older boats don't usually have them.

After you get the fuel out, filter it through a felt hat or other filter so you don't have to throw it away.