Draining Gas from Cars

Has anyone found a better way to drain gasoline from a vehicle? A cold chisel put a nice gash in the tank but it seems like that process could cause sparks. Anything else wrong with this system?

in the beginning,,,i always removed all gas tanks,,,,,now a days it is not required in my area to remove gas tanks or tires,,,,and you do not get docked at all ((trust me i asked ))..... anyhow i have a real light weight little cheap-o cordless drill...i put a small bit in it and punch a hole...once it drains i drill the hole bigger then i stick one of my old large flat screw drivers in there and expand the hole just big enough so the scale guy can see it....

Some vehicles nowdays are siphon-proof so it seems. Should there be any concern with the windings of a cordless (or electric) drill making sparks that could ignite? After using the chisel, it dawned on me that THAT could also cause a deadly spark. Seems like thieves get by with it all the time or maybe they just go after the cars with plastic tanks.

Now, I'm not saying go and make sparks around a gas tank, but I would think it would be *less* dangerous to hit where there is gasoline against the tank, instead of where there are just fumes. Probably all just dangerous though

All dangerous...
I remove the gas tanks, they only seem to be held in by two metal straps, and the frustrating rubber pipes.

I had one car sitting for five years, after I ground thru the straps I decided to ut thru the tank with the grinder.

BOOPH!!!!

The tank expanded and blew the petrol cap far into a hedge nearby.
The car wAs sitting on the tank as Id taken the wheels off. Now the cars risen by about 4 inches and the tanks a pillow shape...
I removed the tank and there was less than a quart of petrol still in there.
But after 5 yearz there was still enough fumes to explode. I'm sure that if the petrol cap.was locked into position it would have
been another matter...
There was a post yesterday that mentioned someone knowing of someone getting killed by a tank with oil fuel in it.

There's no 'halfways' or 'sometimes' or 'this'l do's' reguarding fuel tanks. Just remove, empty, flush with soapy water and then cut your hole in it.

I have pics of the fuel tank, before and after, somewhere.

Originally Posted by ryanw

Now, I'm not saying go and make sparks around a gas tank, but I would think it would be *less* dangerous to hit where there is gasoline against the tank, instead of where there are just fumes. Probably all just dangerous though

That actually entered my mind .....(after I made the cut however).

KzScrapper also said

"That guy takes a pick axe and takes a couple of nice swings and opens up a nice gash in the tank (metal or plastic) and the gas drains into a funnel that drains into 5 gallon buckets that he rotates out........."

I have a pick axe and kinda like that idea.

its funny how times change,,,,,,back in the day...when cars where worth 1.85 per hundred ...and im only 34 so thats been around 17 or 18 years ago.....there were 2 yards around here that bought cars...neither of them would let you on the property if your car had a gas tank on it....one of them would not even let you in if the tanks was removed but still on the trailer under the car.....i used to do that a lot if i had a trailer that had sides on it....

ten years ago if someone told me i could drain a gas tank and junk a car with the tanks still on there i would have tried to sell them some ocean front property in arizona

If the car runs I disconnect the return line and put a hose on the engine side into a 5gal gas can. Start the car and let it run until it stalls.
Ever try to remove a gas tank from a Subaru? The whole rear suspension and differential has to be removed first!
I have a yard 10 miles from me that everything has to be drained or they pay less. Another yard is 24 miles, they pay more then the close one AND you don't need to drain anything.

Most of the cars these days have fuel injection. There's usually a high pressure pump (12 volt ) inside the tank with a feed & return line running up to the motor.

It's been a few years, but on the last car i did i cut the feed line and ran it into a five gallon gas can.

Next, i grabbed a 12 volt battery and powered up the fuel pump in the tank.

It's kinda slow but a lot safer.

=============

Gasoline doesn't burn as a liquid .... only as a vapor.

Diesel and #2 fuel oil are a lot safer. (Try pouring some on a concrete floor and lighting it with a hand held propane torch.)

Originally Posted by Yunkman

Has anyone found a better way to drain gasoline from a vehicle? A cold chisel put a nice gash in the tank but it seems like that process could cause sparks. Anything else wrong with this system?

A heavy brass punch might go through. Brass doesn't strike a spark.

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These topside pumps are really good for all kinds of jobs

Scrappah is correct, brass will not cause a spark. And neither will lead. Some might think this is crazy but for me, I just shoot it with a lead bullet. Hollywood movies created the myth that shooting a gas tank will cause it to explode. If you do not believe me, goggle it.

If you live in the city, an area that bans guns, or must have a certain size hole to meet expectations you can fill the tank full with water to remove all fumes and use numerous methods to create the hole. Scrappah is also correct that the fumes are the dangerous part, not the liquid. This method is used to cut fuel drums with a torch. We used it to cut coal pulverizers because it is the coal dust that is explosive, not the coal.

Yunkman, I wish I could watch you shoot your first hole in a gas tank, it is a cheek tightening experience.

One of my fondest memories was throwing my cigar into a pool of deisel and watching a few officers jump for cover. We were all standing pretty close. Ive done that trick more than a few times just for the reactions.

Looks like Im buying a brass punch set soon.

Originally Posted by Patriot76

Yunkman, I wish I could watch you shoot your first hole in a gas tank, it is a cheek tightening experience.

I'm surprised that the salvage yards with car crushers don't cause a spark to blow themselves up.....at least to my knowledge the yard I deliver to doesn't remove the tanks first.....and they crush onsite.

Good information / all you guys. I'll change my tactics from now on. I could make a brass punch from a chunk of brass and I'm on the farm so could shoot it full of lead if so inspired. Oh, and Mr. Patriot, I think I'll also quit using a shovel to hold the car up..............now THAT'S cheeck tightening !!!

Originally Posted by Yunkman

I'm surprised that the salvage yards with car crushers don't cause a spark to blow themselves up.....at least to my knowledge the yard I deliver to doesn't remove the tanks first.....and they crush onsite.

Good information / all you guys. I'll change my tactics from now on. I could make a brass punch from a chunk of brass and I'm on the farm so could shoot it full of lead if so inspired. Oh, and Mr. Patriot, I think I'll also quit using a shovel to hold the car up..............now THAT'S cheeck tightening !!!

Since you run the skid steer is it fair to assume your wife had to place the shovel. If so we now know who wears the pants in the family. Pun intended

Originally Posted by Patriot76

Since you run the skid steer is it fair to assume your wife had to place the shovel. If so we now know who wears the pants in the family. Pun intended

No, I placed the shovel while she was up in the tree holding onto the front bumper.

Originally Posted by Patriot76

Scrappah is correct, brass will not cause a spark. And neither will lead. Some might think this is crazy but for me, I just shoot it with a lead bullet. Hollywood movies created the myth that shooting a gas tank will cause it to explode. If you do not believe me, goggle it.

If you live in the city, an area that bans guns, or must have a certain size hole to meet expectations you can fill the tank full with water to remove all fumes and use numerous methods to create the hole. Scrappah is also correct that the fumes are the dangerous part, not the liquid. This method is used to cut fuel drums with a torch. We used it to cut coal pulverizers because it is the coal dust that is explosive, not the coal.

Yunkman, I wish I could watch you shoot your first hole in a gas tank, it is a cheek tightening experience.

It sounds a little extreme but that would be the quickest / easiest way to knock a hole in the tank.

Back in the day i was living in the city. It's hard to get target practice in unless you've got access to an indoor range. We used to go up to the city trash landfill after hours and hunt rats with a .22 cal bolt action.

The .22 CB caps were just enough to do the job while still making very little noise. If we kept it on the DL nobody even knew we were there.

It would take some trial & error to see what the best load is but i bet they would punch a hole through the sheet metal without passing through the the other side. Not much different from using a Ramset.