Need to drain gas tank

[hzraudi6]

did you gain a solution for the fuel tank dilemma? I am in the same psn, full tank of gas and broke fuel pump. I tried siphoning out of the tank, out of the fuel line leading into fuel pump, out of the fuel line leading from fuel pump...very very little success. anxious to hear your solution, thanks

[tenspeed]

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

Otherwise just put some cardboard under the car a SLOWLY open the fuel pump cover and let the excess fuel spill to the ground and hope there's enough cardboard the soak most of it up.

Or catch it in a pan or a kiddie swimming pool.

[mithrilG60]

Originally Posted by tenspeed

Or catch it in a pan or a kiddie swimming pool.

A kiddie swimming pool is a great idea. Even if you don't try to save that gas it at least allows you to dispose of it properly instead of letting it run into the environment and/or sewers.

[monkeytronic]

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

A kiddie swimming pool is a great idea. Even if you don't try to save that gas it at least allows you to dispose of it properly instead of letting it run into the environment and/or sewers.

Might want to check first if gasoline won't dissolve whatever plastic the kiddie pool's made of as gas doesn't play nice with some plastics.

[AudiThree]

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

Try removing the sender cover in the trunk to access the tank from the top. You'll need long ciphon hose to access via the tank but it should work. Otherwise just put some cardboard under the car a SLOWLY open the fuel pump cover and let the excess fuel spill to the ground and hope there's enough cardboard the soak most of it up.

... how to get remove almost 18 gallons of fuel. I eventually raised the car enough to get a big wide bucket underneath the car and just opened it up. I had much of the gas spill out to the bucket underneath the rear seat. However I still had some residual gas and did the rest of the job with my glove covered hands in the fuel.

[IPStevieB]

Well, I successfully replaced my pump this weekend. I placed a large plastic open-top oil drain pan under the tank, and when I lifted the pump cover off the basket, fuel came out and washed over the top of the tank and into the container. I didn't catch all the gas, but most of it. As soon as the cover was free, I had an assistant at the ready with a flo-tec drill pump ($6.95 at Home Depot) which I had connected to a long 5/16 fuel line hose. I placed the hose into the basket and we sucked out enough fuel to begin the pump removal process. Yea, it was messy, but I had been w/o my car for over a week which resulted in the 'whatever it takes' mindset...y'know? I did not try to access the tank via the sending unit in the trunk. I did remove its cover and the black plastic ring, but then decided to proceed using the method above. This article from Robert Gedeon in 2006 was instrumental in getting this done. Thanks for all the feedback everyone! All hail the Audi Forums!

-IPStevieB

[tenspeed]

Originally Posted by IPStevieB

As soon as the cover was free, I had an assistant at the ready with a flo-tec drill pump ($6.95 at Home Depot) which I had connected to a long 5/16 fuel line hose.

I glad it worked out for you. For anyone trying the same procedure, be careful and work outside. Use a very long hose.

A drill motor has brushes. Brushes make sparks....
Sparks are not good around gasoline. Be safe and don't burn down your garage.