Gas is still among the most dominant resources when it comes to powering machinery, vehicles, and generators. But, what to do when you have to get liquids out of your four-wheeler’s tank? Learning all about how to get gas out of a car can be quite beneficial when you’re not near the gas station.
Getting gasoline out of your four-wheeler doesn’t have to be a hard thing when you know some of the most effective methods to do it. But, before you start with the draining, ensure you have all the required tools. Then you can do the siphoning with hoses and tubes, siphon pump, or air pressure.
Why It’s Important to Know How to Get Gas Out of a Car?
The main purpose of gasoline is to provide energy, and drivers do understand that their vehicles need gas to run. However, in some cases, problems can happen even when the tank is full. Fuel that isn’t clean can hurt your machine in a lot of ways, so you get the idea why knowing some methods of getting it out of your four-wheeler’s tank is beneficial.
Even though you might think it’s something you surely won’t do – never say never. After all, how many times have you changed flat tires, or even had to replace a tail light? Sure, this doesn’t mean you’re obligated to change a clutch master cylinder, but being able to tell when it’s bad surely will help prolong the life of your vehicle. Things like these are always handy to know because you can’t tell whether you’ll actually need them at some point.
Can This Process Harm Your Vehicle?
If someone tries to take fuel from your vehicle, it could cost you more than the price of filling a new tank with gas. Thieves usually open gas caps that are locked with force, so you might end up with a four-wheeler that has dents and scratches. When a gas cap is broken, it could not close all the way and the way it locks may be broken for good.
On the other hand, when you want to do it for any reason, you’ll surely be more careful, even delicate as you should be when removing spray paint. That’s how using a siphon to take gas out of your own car shouldn’t cause any damage. The main risk to your car is that you might damage the gas cap when you put the siphoning hose in and take it out.
Before You Begin, Ensure You Have All the Required Tools
Before you start working on your vehicle, you should make sure you have all the right tools. It’s practically a rule of thumb for every repair you’ll do on your four-wheeler, like telling whether the thermostat is bad – you need to have the right tools.
There is more than one way to empty a fuel tank, so you can also use different tools. No matter what method you’ll use to drain the fluid out of your four-wheeler, you should be left with a container that is empty and the following tools:
- Rubber tube,
- Rag,
- Siphon or air pump.
Do the Simple Siphoning With Hose and Tubing
Gravity makes it possible to get gas out of a vehicle without using special tools. The science behind siphoning is pretty easy to understand. To get gas out of a car, you need a long, flexible hose or tube. To get the gas out of the tank, you have to put the hose in through the gas cap.
In order to make the gravity do its work, once you’ve put the siphon into the gas tank, the other hose’s end needs to be put in the tank. Ensure it’s positioned correctly – it shouldn’t be lined up with the tank but be placed lower than it. The fuel will start to come out of the hose because of the air pressure from inside the gas tank. Once the fuel is in the hose, it will run easily because of gravity.
With Siphon Pump the Whole Process Will Be a Breeze
A siphoning pump is a great way to have this job done. Also, it’s the easiest way – you’ll create the suction needed to rapidly siphon fuel from a car. Connect the pump to the hose’s end and pump until the gas starts coming towards you. Once you see the gas is moving, you can let gravity take over and stop pumping.
So, if you can use a siphon pump, do it. Who knows, after seeing how effortlessly the job is done, you might decide to buy one. This can be useful, especially when you have an off-road four-wheeler – this kind of pump can easily be stored in the back of your truck and travel with you to places where gas stations aren’t reachable.
Can You Remove Gas Without Hoses?
Using a siphon is the best and easiest way to get gas out of a car’s fuel tank. If you don’t have the right tools to do it, you can drain the tank from underneath the car instead of using the gas cap. But not all car models will work this way to drain the gas. You’ll need to get under your car and find the gas tank – this is where you put gas in your car.
With a spanner or wrench, you’ll have to loosen the plug, which is a small bolt under the fuel tank. Ensure you have the right-sized container to put under the plug. That way you’ll catch the gas. While the fuel is siphoning out, it will be very hard to put the bolt back in. So, be sure to apply this method only in case you’re willing to drain the entire fuel tank. If you do not possess a siphon, use a long piece of flexible hose or a garden hose.
Try Getting Any Liquid From the Tank With Air Pressure
Changing the air pressure in your vehicle’s tank will need vacuum pressure if you intend to get it over with faster. You can do this with your mouth, finger, or a siphoning pump made for the job. There are additional ways to get fuel out of the vehicle if you don’t have a pump. You’ll need two tubes with a diameter of one inch, a fabric, and a place to keep the fluid.
This method is a safe way to drain your tank because air pressure is used. Start by inserting the relatively long tubing into the fuel tank and making sure it is under the liquid. The next thing to do is put a shorter hose alongside the long one. Get a piece of cloth to fill the space between and around them. Ensure that seal doesn’t let any air in. Place the empty can or any other container you’ve prepared on the ground.
Start blowing into the straw that is shorter and make the air pressure inside the tank go up. Make sure you blow air out of your mouth and not your lungs. This will keep you from breathing in harmful substances.
Is Mouth Siphoning a Good Idea?
In all 50 states, it is illegal to take gas from someone else’s car. If you do this, you could get a fine, go to court, or even go to jail. That being said, you can still take the gas out of your own vehicle, however, your health can also be at risk if you siphon gas. Having fluids in the lungs can cause aspiration which can happen if you swallow gas by accident. Aspiration can cause pneumonia, which can lead to a coma or death in the worst cases.
But, besides knowing this, many people use this as an old way of doing things. Try to use it only as a last resort because it can be dangerous for you. Poisoning is a real danger while using this technique, and that’s why you should be extra careful.
What to Do if There’s Water in the Tank?
This is an issue that must be resolved right away. You can get water in the fuel tanks when you fill them up, or it can get there because of the weather. If you pay close attention to such signs, you can stop your four-wheeler from getting even worse.
The easiest thing to do is to use an additive that gets rid of water. But if there’s more water than it should be, you’ll have to drain the tank. The fuel can be put back in it later. Don’t ignore this issue as it may seriously damage your machine, and cost you a real fortune.
Take Some Steps After the Draining Process?
If you want to take good care of your four-wheeler, you’ll still have to put in a bit more effort than just learning how to clean a headliner, taking care of the windshield wipers that stopped working, and replacing the license plate bulb.
Regardless of how carefully you take care of the vehicle, working on your car can get messy and leave grease stains and a bad smell. It’s surely the case after the draining process you did. So, don’t make all the cleaning of the steering wheel and other components such as seat belts in vain, and take the following steps.
Do Some Cleaning if There’s a Smell Inside the Car
If there’s a smell inside the vehicle after you’ve performed the draining process, it’s best to do something about it right away. Don’t worry, it won’t cost a penny since you can use the things from home – apply the mixture of hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. Rub the rags and seats (if they aren’t from the leather). Your four-wheeler will be odor-free and spotless.
Take Care of the Garage
The garage ground is another place to keep an eye on. Most car owners do have cat litter, and if you’re one of them you can use it to soak up any liquid that gets on the floor. Spread it around the garage, let it sit for a few hours, and then sweep it up.
Clean Your Hands
If you don’t wear protective gear, your hands surely will get dirty and smelly. Get some wet wipes to get rid of the dirt and smell.
Dispose of Dirty Clothes Right Away
Remember that gasoline is very flammable and that you should get rid of dirty clothes right away. Let them dry, and then put them in vinegar for a while. Later, after they dry off, get rid of the grease with dish soap.
You Might Get Your Hands Dirty But You’ll Do the Job Right
Have you always wanted to work on your own four-wheelers? If so, you’ll likely know how to add brake fluid or even fix U-joints. Now, it’s time to learn something about the fuel tank. The more information you have, it will be easier to understand why car prices are so high and help purchase a used vehicle that needs to be cleaned up a bit.
