V6 Discussion and questions about the base carbureted or MPFI V6's and the rare SFI Turbo V6.

drain fuel tank?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-29-2011, 04:38 PM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Bobby Suth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: tn.
Posts: 973
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1990 firebird,1989 Iroc z,1986 fire
Engine: 3.1lt,5.7tpi,3.1mpfi
Transmission: auto,auto
Axle/Gears: 273?277
drain fuel tank?

If I have about 7 gal. of old fuel in my tank and plan on changing my filter,can I just unhook the line at the filter turn the ignition key on and let the fuel pump run that way?Or will the pump not run that way,or is that not safe.If I just unscrew the line without running the motor with the fuel pump fuse out,other than fuel spraying out,won't hurt anything would it?Your opinion counts!
Old 03-29-2011, 04:58 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
project89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: drain fuel tank?

u dont have to drain the tank to change the fuel filter, just unhook the line with the key off and no fuel will spray out of the line
Old 03-29-2011, 05:29 PM
  #3  
Supreme Member

 
camaronewbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: drain fuel tank?

For the IROC - there's a schraeder valve on the pass side fuel rail - where you can test fuel pressure at. Put a rag over the valve, press valve stem with phillips screwdriver and release pressure, then change filter.

If the other two cars don't have the schraeder valve, undo gas cap to release pressure.

Regardless, fuel will leak out when you change filter, but not gallons worth - maybe 1/2 cup at most (although it will seem like alot).
Old 03-29-2011, 07:02 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

 
Gumby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: NWOhioToledoArea
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: drain fuel tank?

only fuel past the regulator is kept under pressure, pre regulator pressure is lost soon as the pump is off.
Old 03-29-2011, 07:49 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

 
camaronewbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: drain fuel tank?

Don't test that theory on a LT1 car! Plenty of pressure on the fuel rail, even after the car has sat overnight! I assumed TPI was the same.
Old 03-29-2011, 08:41 PM
  #6  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Bobby Suth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: tn.
Posts: 973
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1990 firebird,1989 Iroc z,1986 fire
Engine: 3.1lt,5.7tpi,3.1mpfi
Transmission: auto,auto
Axle/Gears: 273?277
Re: drain fuel tank?

I want to get all the old gas out before I change the fuel filter.It was messing with my injectors and stinking like paintthiner or somthing when the car was running.I put injector cleaner and seafoam in it,with 5 gallons of gas.But I think I need to empty the tank compleatly of all the old fuel.Put new fuel and seafoam without the injector cleaner.changing the fuel filter was just part of it.
Old 03-29-2011, 08:44 PM
  #7  
Supreme Member

 
Gumby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: NWOhioToledoArea
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: drain fuel tank?

Originally Posted by camaronewbie
Don't test that theory on a LT1 car! Plenty of pressure on the fuel rail, even after the car has sat overnight! I assumed TPI was the same.
the fuel rail is after the regulator, so of course its still plumb full of PSI.
------
OP
Once the fuel line is off the filter, the fuel will self siphone out of the tank FAST, drain all you want. It will go till empty.
Old 03-30-2011, 08:50 AM
  #8  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (8)
 
Maverick H1L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: LeRoy, NY
Posts: 7,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT
Engine: 2.7L V6
Transmission: 6-speed
Axle/Gears: 4.41
Re: drain fuel tank?

Gumby, the FPR is on the OUT side of the fuel rail, so the rail will hold pressure when the pump is off.

OP, no, if you want to completely drain the fuel tank, you'll have to drop it. I tried draining mine with the fuel pump and there's still about a gallon or so left in the bottom after the pump started sucking air and getting nothing out of the end of the fuel line in the engine compartment. I haven't finished draining mine yet...
Old 03-30-2011, 09:00 AM
  #9  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Bobby Suth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: tn.
Posts: 973
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1990 firebird,1989 Iroc z,1986 fire
Engine: 3.1lt,5.7tpi,3.1mpfi
Transmission: auto,auto
Axle/Gears: 273?277
Re: drain fuel tank?

thats what I was afraid of.Think I'll just do a flush job.Drain all I can,add more gas and drain it again.Maybe 2 or 3 times.then let the seafoam go to work on the rest and see what that dose for it.I droped the tank on the 86 and put a new fuel pump in,just last week.I learned alot.If I do a flush on the 89 I think it will work.If not I will do one of thoughs inside seal jobs. By the was,I got injector cleaner and seafoam both in the gas now.
Old 03-30-2011, 09:13 AM
  #10  
Member

iTrader: (1)
 
nosajwols's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350 for now
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: drain fuel tank?

Why not just siphon out all you can (via the gas cap) and then top up with new fuel? Seems to be some over thinking here...
Old 03-30-2011, 11:40 AM
  #11  
Supreme Member

 
Gumby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: NWOhioToledoArea
Posts: 8,113
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: drain fuel tank?

Originally Posted by Maverick H1L
Gumby, the FPR is on the OUT side of the fuel rail, so the rail will hold pressure when the pump is off.
Thats what I said, twice, everything past the FPR will have PSI still in it, like the fuel rail, Am I speaking chineese???
Old 03-30-2011, 01:20 PM
  #12  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (8)
 
Maverick H1L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: LeRoy, NY
Posts: 7,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT
Engine: 2.7L V6
Transmission: 6-speed
Axle/Gears: 4.41
Re: drain fuel tank?

Originally Posted by Gumby
Thats what I said, twice, everything past the FPR will have PSI still in it, like the fuel rail, Am I speaking chineese???
You've got it backwards... Everything BEFORE the FPR (NOT past) will retain fuel pressure... The ONLY thing PAST the FPR is the drain in the fuel tank, and there will be ZERO pressure in the line unless there is a blockage or restriction.

Fuel tank>Fuel Pump>Fuel Filter>Fuel Rail with injectors>Fuel Pressure Regulator>Fuel Tank. Not hard... "Past" implies "After".

Last edited by Maverick H1L; 03-30-2011 at 01:23 PM.
Old 04-03-2011, 07:57 PM
  #13  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Bobby Suth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: tn.
Posts: 973
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1990 firebird,1989 Iroc z,1986 fire
Engine: 3.1lt,5.7tpi,3.1mpfi
Transmission: auto,auto
Axle/Gears: 273?277
Re: drain fuel tank?

These things are not all that easy to siphon out.I've taken out my 86 tank and changed the pump on it.Have you ever taken a tank out and sean how there made? You cant even dump 5 gallons out the filler neck!It's true,if ya want all the fuel out ya gota drop the tank and go in through the sending unit hole and mop it out with a rag.You can get most of the fuel out siphoning through the pump hole.
Old 05-20-2013, 09:28 AM
  #14  
Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Youngs92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 5-speed
Re: drain fuel tank?

So what's the best method here? Just siphon from the tank? Isn't there a ball valve or something in there to prevent you from siphoning?
Old 05-20-2013, 11:03 AM
  #15  
Senior Member

 
Slash's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1988 Camaro IrocZ
Engine: Holley Stealth Ram 385 Stroker
Transmission: Redline Performance 700r4 Trans
Axle/Gears: Bulletproof 4thGen Ls1 SS Rear 3.73
Re: drain fuel tank?

You can pull off the feed fuel line, unhook the fuel pump relay on firewall and jump it together with a wire to start the pump without having car on. You'll use your own fuel pump to extract the contents of the tank. Works best if you have rubber or steel braided lines so you can direct it right into a gas can.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mustangman65_79
Tech / General Engine
7
04-14-2017 05:37 PM
theshackle
Tech / General Engine
4
03-05-2017 06:37 PM
sweet_87_iroc
Camaros for Sale
5
09-25-2015 10:01 PM
Glowsock
Tech / General Engine
2
08-26-2015 12:28 AM
AkDrifted
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
6
08-17-2015 07:45 PM



Quick Reply: drain fuel tank?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:20 PM.