Removing Fuel

[Gary0747]

Does anybody have any good tools or tricks for emptying tanks especially the 64 gal models?

The last 8 gallons after the level gets below the rib next the cap are the most difficult.

I am not a big fan of flying untill the engine stumbles or quits. 

[jaylw314]

unscrew the wing sump valve and put a bucket under it?  Not in that order, of course...

[Nokomis449]

I bought one of these to pump smoke oil from the 30gal drum to a can.  Works great, but a little slow.  It's the submersible type, so you'd need to CB some type of fitting on the base so it can lie on the bottom of the tank and still drink up the lowest levels, but should be doable.Or maybe that site has an in-line fersion that you can use.  

https://www.tmart.com/12V-Mini-Portable-Stainless-Steel-Diesel-Water-Oil-Submersible-Pump-with-Removable-Filter_p356621.html

 

[RLCarter]

I wouldn't use a pump that is not rated for gasoline.  Siphon it out, use the boost pump to get the last few gallons out

[Marauder]

When I installed the CiES senders I needed to drain all the fuel. I would try to burn it down to as low as you can and then drain it through the sump. I used a 5 gallon gas can with a low profile funnel to catch it.

If the 5 gallon can won’t hold it all, stick the sump drain back in and hand tighten. It’s a bit messy but not too bad.


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[EricJ]

5 hours ago, jaylw314 said:

unscrew the wing sump valve and put a bucket under it?  Not in that order, of course...

^^This.   The sump valve just unscrews and you can drain everything from there.   It's not a big deal, unless it is seized or something, in which case you should probably get it out, anyway, and put another one in there.

[Gary0747]

Removing the fuel drain is one of the least fun and messy things I would like to avoid until there is minimum fuel in the tank to spill. Old time mechanics would tie a rag around their wrist to minimize fuel running down their arms.  Fuel also tends to spread out over the bottom of the wing and drip off at distant points.  Anybody who can do this with out spilling or getting a wet arm is good. 

It is slow but an 1/8 inch piano wire cut to the right length to fit between the bottom of a gas can and the quick drain with a slight bow to tension the quick drain open will drain the last amount of gas.  Put a funnel in the gas can with the wire through it and little is spilled.  

This is a good technique for maybe the last gallon but getting from 8 gallons to the one is the hard part for me since you can not even see the gas from the cap once below 8 gallons. 

[Guest]

With the left cowl flap disconnected and opened, you can remove the hose from the firewall fitting.  Install a hose long enough to pump the fuel into a barrel.  The last fuel can be drained by removing the tank sump drains.

Clarence

[EricJ]

35 minutes ago, Gary0747 said:

Removing the fuel drain is one of the least fun and messy things I would like to avoid until there is minimum fuel in the tank to spill. Old time mechanics would tie a rag around their wrist to minimize fuel running down their arms.  Fuel also tends to spread out over the bottom of the wing and drip off at distant points.  Anybody who can do this with out spilling or getting a wet arm is good. 

It is slow but an 1/8 inch piano wire cut to the right length to fit between the bottom of a gas can and the quick drain with a slight bow to tension the quick drain open will drain the last amount of gas.  Put a funnel in the gas can with the wire through it and little is spilled.  

This is a good technique for maybe the last gallon but getting from 8 gallons to the one is the hard part for me since you can not even see the gas from the cap once below 8 gallons. 

Mitigating the fuel running along the wing bottom can be fixed with some aluminum tape around the drain with the edges curled down in a circle around it.

Mitigating the fuel on the arm just means you need to be reasonably talented and fairly quick at what you're doing, not unlike changing the oil filter.   

But, yeah, it's not a bad idea to have the level down reasonably well before popping the drain.   Not recommended on a full tank.

 

[carusoam]

Summary...

1) Best to burn off the useable fuel, before having to drain it...

2) Draining/pumping it from in front of the firewall can empty out the useable fuel...

2a) the ship’s electric fuel pump may not be the best choice for this much activity...

3) Taking out the fuel sumps gets a couple of gallons of un-usable fuel...

4) getting the last dregs out of the corner, that is lower than the sump hole... might require a sponge, towel, siphon tube.....

 

Just Remember... that much open fuel can be incredibly dangerous when it lights itself on fire...

• plan for it
• expect it
• Over prepare for it (two fire extinguishers)
• Know that dry air allows for static electric sparks...
• Spilled fuel evaporates pretty well in warm environments... vapors can travel to where heaters are...
• In cold environments expect a fumble...
• Don’t get goofy with an electric driver, removing the access panels... I have seen the results of that at my home drome... ruined a plane, and a young mechanic at the same time...

PP thoughts while writing a summary of some awesome input...

Best regards,

-a-

Wait a minute...

Gary, get a good look at the rib in question... there are drain holes in each rib at the bottom to allow for this draining activity...

There is also a matching set of air drain holes at the top of each fuel tank rib.... important for filling the tanks back up... to the top.

It is quite possible that any tank sealing activity done after leaving the factory may have been done by somebody not familiar with these tiny drain holes...

There are like five small drain holes in each rib...

Somebody posted a Mooney rib drawing here a while ago... my first hand Mooney knowledge is that deep...

Best regards again,

-a-

[pirate]

Didnt  see it mentioned but make sure to ground your aircraft AND your fuel can (metal or plastic) before draining.

Years ago I witnessed what could go wrong. 

 

 

[Yetti]

and do it outside the hanger.   removing a fuel sump is like removing an oil plug drain.   Use your fingertips. work fast.  no need to get your hands wet.

[N201MKTurbo]

I have a 55 gallon drum I use for offloading fuel. I have a Harbor Freight gasoline rated barrel pump. 

I loaned it to a guy at the airport and he just hooked a hose to the outlet of the pump, stuck it into the tank and cranked the pump backwards. He got all but a couple gallons out of his Charokee 6.