Siphoning fuel.

AchingBack · 05-20-2008, 04:47 PM

What do you think about this? I went to a friend's house to do some weed eating for him. I thought I had enough fuel in my machine to do the job. Half way through, I ran out of gas. Knowing my friend has a lawn mower, I asked if he had any gas. He lead me out to his driveway, and his 1962 Chevy. When he opened the trunk, I expected to see a gas can. Instead, he took out a tube, and by mouth, extracted enough gas from the Belair's tank to fill the tank of my Ryobi four cycle weed eater.

When I asked him where his gas can was, he told me he didn't have one. He has owned this car for over thirty years, and all of that time, it has been his gas can.

Seriously, I can think of better ways to fill my equipment. Anyone else do this?

sandman2234 · 05-20-2008, 05:43 PM

Not for gasoline, but I have been known to do it for diesel. In fact, at my last company, I got permission to use the 250 gallons of fuel on the truck as a backup to my Steiner/JDtractor/Fordtractor in case of a hurricane. I wanted enough fuel to run the Steiner, which has a 10kw generator for at least a week on available fuel, so with the companies permission, I don't have to keep an offroad tank in the backyard. With my limited consumption, a 250 gallon tank was out of the question. I don't drive the current companies truck home everyday, so I still have to figure out a source come hurricane season.
Thanks to Panera Bread for the connection to post this message.
David from jax

scott_vt · 05-20-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AchingBack

Seriously, I can think of better ways to fill my equipment. Anyone else do this?

Good Evenin AchingBack,
NO !

All kidding aside, Im considered fairly thrifty by some of my friends but this guy has one on me !

MossRoad · 05-20-2008, 10:12 PM

It's pretty easy to siphon gas from an older car since the fuel neck has few obstructions. You can do it without sucking the hose, though. Just push about 10 feet of clear fuel line hose into the tank, fold over the end to pinch it, pull the hose out until you see fuel in it and take the hose lower than the fuel tank. Unpinch the hose and the fuel will start flowing.

Or you can buy one of those siphons from the auto parts store that has about 10 feet of hose and a hand squeeze bulb with one-way valves. They work great for lawnmowers and small cans, but take a Looongggg time to fill a few gallons.

PaulChristenson · 05-20-2008, 11:04 PM

OSH Answers: 2-Health Effects of Gasoline

RollTideRam · 05-20-2008, 11:31 PM

I tried it one time when I was 16. I burped gas for a week. JC

sandman2234 · 05-21-2008, 12:13 AM

When siponing fuel, never suck on the end of the hose. There are better ways, as mentioned above.
David from jax

Soundguy · 05-21-2008, 09:07 AM

Mossroad gave some good advice on a safer way to syphon. I'd reserve mouth syphoning for dire emergencies when i had no other option and not much hose...

For the frequent syphoner.. there is a small hand-squeeze syphon hose/pump rig you can get cheap at the auto store.. and it rolls up nivce and neat to throw in the trunk / tool box.. has ? 3/8 tube.. ain't fast.. but tastes better!

soundguy

LBrown59 · 05-21-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman2234

never suck on the end of the hose.
David from jax

I've herd that it can be fatal

Bird · 05-21-2008, 11:14 AM

I would not do it at all now, but as a teenager, I've done that more than once.

05-20-2008, 04:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
AchingBack Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 359	Siphoning fuel. What do you think about this? I went to a friend's house to do some weed eating for him. I thought I had enough fuel in my machine to do the job. Half way through, I ran out of gas. Knowing my friend has a lawn mower, I asked if he had any gas. He lead me out to his driveway, and his 1962 Chevy. When he opened the trunk, I expected to see a gas can. Instead, he took out a tube, and by mouth, extracted enough gas from the Belair's tank to fill the tank of my Ryobi four cycle weed eater. When I asked him where his gas can was, he told me he didn't have one. He has owned this car for over thirty years, and all of that time, it has been his gas can. Seriously, I can think of better ways to fill my equipment. Anyone else do this? __________________ I thank God for these gifts: Mahindra 2615 HST w/loader, Markham tooth bar, Brush Hog SQ60 rotary cutter, Brush Hog 3507 angle blade. Rankin loader mounted forks, 2 DR field and brush mowers "Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something". -- Unknown

05-20-2008, 05:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
sandman2234 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,198	Re: Siphoning fuel. Not for gasoline, but I have been known to do it for diesel. In fact, at my last company, I got permission to use the 250 gallons of fuel on the truck as a backup to my Steiner/JDtractor/Fordtractor in case of a hurricane. I wanted enough fuel to run the Steiner, which has a 10kw generator for at least a week on available fuel, so with the companies permission, I don't have to keep an offroad tank in the backyard. With my limited consumption, a 250 gallon tank was out of the question. I don't drive the current companies truck home everyday, so I still have to figure out a source come hurricane season. Thanks to Panera Bread for the connection to post this message. David from jax __________________ A serious accident is one that money won't fix.

05-20-2008, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
MossRoad Super Star Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South Bend, Indiana (near) Posts: 12,178	Re: Siphoning fuel. It's pretty easy to siphon gas from an older car since the fuel neck has few obstructions. You can do it without sucking the hose, though. Just push about 10 feet of clear fuel line hose into the tank, fold over the end to pinch it, pull the hose out until you see fuel in it and take the hose lower than the fuel tank. Unpinch the hose and the fuel will start flowing. Or you can buy one of those siphons from the auto parts store that has about 10 feet of hose and a hand squeeze bulb with one-way valves. They work great for lawnmowers and small cans, but take a Looongggg time to fill a few gallons. __________________ MossRoad

05-20-2008, 11:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
PaulChristenson Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,736	Re: Siphoning fuel. OSH Answers: 2-Health Effects of Gasoline __________________ Paul in VT I used to own an ant farm but had to give it up. I couldn't find tractors small enough to fit it. -- Steven Wright

05-20-2008, 11:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
RollTideRam Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hartselle, Alabama Posts: 906	Re: Siphoning fuel. I tried it one time when I was 16. I burped gas for a week. JC __________________ JD 3320 LX5, KK rake and off brand box and rear blade. Millonzi grapple. Deere X495 for grass cutting. 01 Ram 4x4 2500 CTD and 22' 12k trailer. Want a tiller and dump trailer.

05-21-2008, 12:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
sandman2234 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,198	Re: Siphoning fuel. When siponing fuel, never suck on the end of the hose. There are better ways, as mentioned above. David from jax __________________ A serious accident is one that money won't fix.

05-21-2008, 09:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Soundguy Super Star Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Central florida Posts: 18,009	Re: Siphoning fuel. Mossroad gave some good advice on a safer way to syphon. I'd reserve mouth syphoning for dire emergencies when i had no other option and not much hose... For the frequent syphoner.. there is a small hand-squeeze syphon hose/pump rig you can get cheap at the auto store.. and it rolls up nivce and neat to throw in the trunk / tool box.. has ? 3/8 tube.. ain't fast.. but tastes better! soundguy

05-21-2008, 11:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
Bird Epic Contributor Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Corinth, TX, USA Posts: 22,312	Re: Siphoning fuel. I would not do it at all now, but as a teenager, I've done that more than once. __________________

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