Fuel Tank Drain Plug rounded..

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Half a tank in the car. Does it really matter if the fuel stays in, when I am changing the tank?

[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?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

30kgs half full?

If it's just weight, I'm not too worried. My turds are heavier!

[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...

[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!!

[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'

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I'll use a jack to control the decent.

[Chris-W]

Get a bolt extractor on the head of the drain plug.

[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

[march109]

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.

[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!

[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!

[SPADGE]

Nath why didn't you run it to almost dry before doing the tank you muppet

[Simon13]

5mm allen socket and a good thump from a hammer gets it in nice and snug and they come undone everytime!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

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!!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

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????

[Brianmoooore]

Filler is not at the top.

[SPADGE]

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.