Fuel tank draining.... No drain plug on tank.

[BHadley]

Hi,

Trying to remove fuel tank for welding (and further rust hunting).

My petrol tank has no drain plug. It's facelift type think its the 55 ltr tank (318is)

So far I have lubed up all mounting points

De pressurized system

Removed rear bench, all hoses loose/ moveable.


Have heard the fuel pump can be used to drain.... Is this safe?
Or am I better to remove the metal joiner pipe at the base of the tank?

There is very little fuel in the tank, needle only just above first white line after reserve, and reserve light does come on when on slight incline .....

Or... Do I not need to drain ?????

Thanks...... Hope you can help

[daimlerman]

Hope that you are not planning on welding the tank it's self....petrol fumes hang around for ages!

Fuel pump can be used to drain,also a syphon through both access hatches will draw most out.

If you have no drain point to the tank it is probably an aftermarket one,although the BMW tank drain plug is usually rusted solid!

[BHadley]

... The tank is solid .... It's the car metalwork that is like collender!

Ok, so for the tank draining using fuel pump , is it a case of (doing back up hose clips bar feed) reinstall fuse 11 and turn over ?

With the feed hose in a jerry can? I have a couple of meters of fuel hose to avoid explosions .....

[daimlerman]

I would rig a direct 12v feed to the pump.

[BHadley]

Thanks for the hints....

The petrol tank is out .... !..

I bridged the fuel relay pins and used the right hand hose (going to fuel filter) from the drivers side access hole, (after feeding it back through the passenger side access hole) add 12v and pumped out into jerry cans....

I'll use the age unknown petrol to remove the copious amount of waxoil from the inner rear arches.

Thanks......

[87mtech27]

I would rig a direct 12v feed to the pump.

+1