Draining fuel tank
Moderator: martauto
Hi all , having a wee bit bother here trying to drain / flush my tank ,ive took out the drain plug and its emptied the drivers side of the tank , but i can tell by chapping at the other side of it theres still more petrol lying in there , ive got the car jacked up and the side with the petrol is way higher than the other , but still no joy , any ideas how to get it all out ,i aint taking the tank off , done it before ,nightmare . 
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smithy318i
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 5797
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Tyne & Wear
remove the left hand fuel sender and siphon the fuel from the left hand side.
You can use a window washer pump if you don't fancy getting a mouth full of petrol.
You can use a window washer pump if you don't fancy getting a mouth full of petrol.

- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Fuel only transfers from the LH tank to the RH tank when the fuel pump is running.
Either run the engine while you are draining the tank, or 'hotwire' the pump relay (30 to 87). Either way, don't run the pump dry.
Either run the engine while you are draining the tank, or 'hotwire' the pump relay (30 to 87). Either way, don't run the pump dry.
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march109
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 6632
- Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Bournemouth
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I did that once, but since the bottom of the window washer pump has to be submerged in the fuel to work and visibility in the tank is at a premium not to mention the possibility of wires powering the pump being submerged I think I'll give it a miss next time and hot wire the fuel pump.smithy318i wrote:remove the left hand fuel sender and siphon the fuel from the left hand side.
You can use a window washer pump if you don't fancy getting a mouth full of petrol.
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.

