draining fuel tank of my L 3901

[lucky pierre]

yes, I screwed up - put 5 gallons of premium gasoline into a half full tank on my L 3901. realized it immediately and have been able to extract an amount but fuel level gauge says there's still 1/4 of a tank's capacity left - my "extraction" probe can't find it when I go thru the fill port - so "how" do I remove that last 1/4 tank of fuel ?

I've thought that I might try removing the water separator and then turning the fuel cock back "on" to see if it would gravity drain out - would this work to get the remaining fuel "out" ?

any suggestions will be appreciated - thank you, Bill

 

[motorhead]

Try to syphon with a clear hose so you can see where the fuel is at. Syphoning allows you to get to the bottom of the tank. I have a long enough clear hose so I can dip the tank at the bottom and have a loop on the outside to let the fuel come to. That way, you don't get a mouth full of diesel and gasoline.
Taking the strainer bowl off and draining the tank through the strainer makes sense too. There will be a small amount of gasoline/diesel mixture left. Fill the tank FULL. A small amount of gasoline won't hurt.

 

[lucky pierre]

thanks for the quick reply Motorhead - mucho appreciated. I've been using a battery operated syphon device/probe that is made of a solid plastic and then has a clear tubing of about 1 1/2' in length - have that attached to a 5' section of garden hose which, in turn, allows for draining into large bucket(s)

experiencing t-storms and rain now so have to wait until it clears before I can try draining thru the water separator

 

[lugbolt]

take the fuel line off of the outlet of the electric lift pump, then attach a small hose to it. Other end of the hose in a container to catch it. Turn the key on and let it pump it out for you.

then flush the entire system. If you get ANY gasoline in the system it can (and usually does) hurt the supply pump, fuel rail pressure sensor, and injectors. Those are not inexpensive items to have to replace.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yea fill and flush the tank several times if you want to avoid a real pricey repairs!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I would yank the tank to empty it.

But if not, maybe one of those El Cheapo boro-scopes would help you locate/make sure you got it all.

 

[fried1765]

I would yank the tank to empty it.

But if not, maybe one of those El Cheapo boro-scopes would help you locate/make sure you got it all.

Would draining all possible gas, then adding a quart of 30W motor oil, agitating that, then draining it, and then filling the tank with fresh diesel, be an option?
I don't really know...
Just thinking out loud.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Would draining all possible gas, then adding a quart of 30W motor oil, agitating that, then draining it, and then filling the tank with fresh diesel, be an option?
I don't really know...
Just thinking out loud.

I am not sure of the "tanks profile" so I suppose that if you can 'agitate it', it is already out, so tipping it over would probably be the best /safest option.

However, if a person could verify that the tank is "flat", jacking up the front axle, thus allowing the fuel mixture to go to the back of the tanks and "sucking it all out, then refilling with fresh diesel would probably be sufficient.

I doubt that 2 tablespoons of contaminated fuel in 5-8 gallons of good diesel would cause any harm.

My OCD would probably force me to remove the tank and dump it though.

 

[fried1765]

I am not sure of the "tanks profile" so I suppose that if you can 'agitate it', it is already out, so tipping it over would probably be the best /safest option.

However, if a person could verify that the tank is "flat", jacking up the front axle, thus allowing the fuel mixture to go to the back of the tanks and "sucking it all out, then refilling with fresh diesel would probably be sufficient.

I doubt that 2 tablespoons of contaminated fuel in 5-8 gallons of good diesel would cause any harm.

My OCD would probably force me to remove the tank and dump it though.

Maybe agitate it with a long compressed air nozzle.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Would draining all possible gas, then adding a quart of 30W motor oil, agitating that, then draining it, and then filling the tank with fresh diesel, be an option?
I don't really know...
Just thinking out loud.

NO, not on an emissions controlled tractor!
That would be another great way to rack up a huge repair bill.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I doubt that 2 tablespoons of contaminated fuel in 5-8 gallons of good diesel would cause any harm.

My OCD would probably force me to remove the tank and dump it though.

Any gasoline cause massive and instantaneous damage to the high pressure fuel pump.

 

[lucky pierre]

thanks to all who've offered suggestions - I've got "my regular" mobile Diesel Tractor Mechanic" coming by late this afternoon (after his other calls) - I've complete trust in this fellow so I'll be interested to hear what he has to say - and I'll post here his prognosis......