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Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:47 pm
by Rosc0PColtrane
Half a tank in the car. Does it really matter if the fuel stays in, when I am changing the tank?
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:49 pm
by stonesie
It will be much easeyer to handle without about 25~30 kg of fuel sloshing about, how about bridging the fuel pump relay and pumping it out into a container?
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:51 pm
by Rosc0PColtrane
30kgs half full?
If it's just weight, I'm not too worried. My turds are heavier!

Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:01 pm
by daimlerman
Wow you big butch fella!! Just remember that you need to support the tank whilst you whip the 5 retaining bolts out and the lighter it is the easier it is...could you put a bit of garden hose in via the filler point,where the rubber joining pipe fits? Then syphon the fuel out into cans? Do take great care with the petrol,it is 'orrible dangerous stuff that lights up at the slightest sign of a spark...
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:04 pm
by Rosc0PColtrane
Syphon is the best option, removing the neck would make sense.... I only have a 5 litre green can, so would have to chuck it in the touring, then burn it off before swapping the tanks over....
May just be better to leave it in situ. 30kgs isn't even a warm up weight!!
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:32 pm
by Bobbydoughnut
It is when you get to the last bolt and it drops on yer chuckies

Best bet is get a pipe in there and start sookin'

Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:24 pm
by Rosc0PColtrane
I'll use a jack to control the decent.
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:25 pm
by Chris-W
Get a bolt extractor on the head of the drain plug.
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:19 pm
by gareth
30 litres is about the level of the filler neck. it'll be messy!
use the pump to drain it, whip the pipe off at the fuel rail, into a waiting petrol can or car (pipe extension will be needed for this!) and power the pump either directly off the terminals or via the relay socket
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:23 pm
by march109
gareth wrote:30 litres is about the level of the filler neck. it'll be messy!
use the pump to drain it, whip the pipe off at the fuel rail, into a waiting petrol can or car (pipe extension will be needed for this!) and power the pump either directly off the terminals or via the relay socket
in a 55l tank? Though thats a good idea to drain it, I would probably do this or something stupid with a hose.
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:40 pm
by gareth
we're talking 'ish' here! maybe the level will reach the filler at nearer 40 litres... to be fair, i've never bothered to look closer! my leaky area round the filler leaks at halfway on the gauge...
i bet a fire damaged E30 that a tank can't be removed with 30 litres of fuel in it without spilling any!!!! it's enough of a pig to do when empty!
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:49 pm
by Brianmoooore
The round outer edge of the drain plug can be gripped with a spring loaded 'C' spanner thing. This is the way I normally remove them!
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:52 pm
by SPADGE
Nath why didn't you run it to almost dry before doing the tank you muppet

Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:33 pm
by Simon13
5mm allen socket and a good thump from a hammer gets it in nice and snug and they come undone everytime!
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:42 am
by Rosc0PColtrane
SPADGE wrote:Nath why didn't you run it to almost dry before doing the tank you muppet

It's the brken car with the petrol in it!!
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:43 am
by Rosc0PColtrane
gareth wrote:we're talking 'ish' here! maybe the level will reach the filler at nearer 40 litres... to be fair, i've never bothered to look closer! my leaky area round the filler leaks at halfway on the gauge...
i bet a fire damaged E30 that a tank can't be removed with 30 litres of fuel in it without spilling any!!!! it's enough of a pig to do when empty!
If the tank's half empty, surely it'll be well away from the filler????
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:11 am
by Brianmoooore
Filler is not at the top.
Re: Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:16 am
by SPADGE
Rosc0PColtrane wrote:gareth wrote:we're talking 'ish' here! maybe the level will reach the filler at nearer 40 litres... to be fair, i've never bothered to look closer! my leaky area round the filler leaks at halfway on the gauge...
i bet a fire damaged E30 that a tank can't be removed with 30 litres of fuel in it without spilling any!!!! it's enough of a pig to do when empty!
If the tank's half empty, surely it'll be well away from the filler????
Tut tut mate its not half empty its half full
Anyway if you pull the rubber pipe off that connects the metal filler pipe to the tank and get the front of the car up in the air, or the back of the tank down a bit, you should be able to drain off any fuel that may leak from that area without getting covered in it.
After that just get the thing out and drain the fuel.