VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 06, 2011, 10:09:55 am

Title: draining fuel tank
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 06, 2011, 10:09:55 am
I want to drain my tank to clean it. What's the best way to drain? I seem to recall there is a plastic sedimenter box  under the car in front of the passenger rear tire where the fuel goes to first before going to the IP and there is a knob/ valve that you turn to drain the fuel there? Is my memory correct?
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: R.O.R-2.0 on June 06, 2011, 10:12:02 am
thats just to drain the water separater.. not the entire tank.

your prolly gonna have to pull the back seat, and pop the cover off the top of the tank and siphon or pump it out..

why do you want to drain the tank? what makes you think its dirty?
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: wdkingery on June 06, 2011, 05:05:17 pm
Drop it full and turn it upside down when you get it out.. it aint but so heavy
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: theman53 on June 06, 2011, 05:41:23 pm
Guessing from your name it is a 92 jetta. open the trunk, pull the carpet up, remove the rusty screws in the top right of the trunk if you are bending over looking in, pound the ring off, pull the pickup/fuel sender out, stick in appropriate siphon/pump and start sucking.

No capital letter was used in the making of that run on sentence...
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: fatmobile on June 06, 2011, 09:02:12 pm
The water drain under the car, that you were talking about;
 will syphen the tank dry.
 It's lower then the tank.
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: Dakotakid on June 06, 2011, 09:38:06 pm
If you are looking to extract ALL sediment particles and water particles from one of these plastic tanks, you really need to use old towels or rags to literally wipe the tank dry/clean once you "pump" all the fuel out. There will ALWAYS be some in the bottom unless you literally wipe it out. You just roll up your sleeves and reach in there and simply do it. Turning them upside down still leaves a bunch of stuff in there as the opening at the top is countersunk. This is really the only thing I dislike about Mk. II's.

EDIT: WRONG...the heater cores and vent systems pi$$ me off big time.
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 07, 2011, 08:24:41 am
The access to the tank in my 92 Ecodiesel is in the truck via the fuel sender. I didn't mess with the water trap sedimenter under the car since it would not completely drain the tank since the fuel sender pickup is approx 1" above the bottom of the tank. I pumped the tank dry via the sender opening and it looked pretty clean in there.

Is it possible to fit a bigger tank from another model? I think my tank is 13.9 gal. Will a B4 Passat tank fit? They hold a lot more fuel?
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: Dakotakid on June 07, 2011, 08:59:51 am
I sincerely doubt it. The three straps which secure these tanks are pretty much "custom fit" to these tanks. You may actually twist off the sheet metal bolts when you try to remove the tank straps if your car is rusty....so be aware and have a plan B in mind. You can always carry a good quality 5 gallon container or two in the trunk if you (for some weird reason) just GOT to have more weight in that car.

OK....now I'm curious...what are you trying to accomplish here? This sort of falls under the "if'n it ain't broke....don't hillbillly fix it....tell you what....." rule.
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 07, 2011, 10:06:10 am
OK so no chance putting in a different tank. What about the vent valve and expansion tank? Can they be defeated so I can put more fuel in?

The Bently says "When vent valve is closed (while fueling), fuel in expansion area will rise no further than bottom of filler tube, due to back pressure"

Is the expansion tank a separate tank or part of the filler neck? My Bently's diagrams are pretty much illegible (it looks like a photocopy of the original) and I paid $40 for it!
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: shwak23 on June 07, 2011, 01:27:25 pm
OK so no chance putting in a different tank. What about the vent valve and expansion tank? Can they be defeated so I can put more fuel in?

The Bently says "When vent valve is closed (while fueling), fuel in expansion area will rise no further than bottom of filler tube, due to back pressure"

Is the expansion tank a separate tank or part of the filler neck? My Bently's diagrams are pretty much illegible (it looks like a photocopy of the original) and I paid $40 for it!

I would like to know this as well. Every time I put fuel in my tank it ***ing foams up almost instantly so I can only hold the pump handle half blast.
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: CRSMP5 on June 07, 2011, 08:47:08 pm
did tou remove the spring loaded lever on the left side.. aka 9pm area of the filler opening? do you press that with th enozzle?? helps foam issues alot...

passat wagon is 20+gal.. ive put over 20 in it a few times.. aka my b3 1.6td wagon.. :D sedan is like 18 gal cause the trunk floor is not as high as in a wagon.. wagon fits full sized spare and is about 2" taller then sedan..
Title: Re: draining fuel tank
Post by: shwak23 on June 07, 2011, 09:39:44 pm
did tou remove the spring loaded lever on the left side.. aka 9pm area of the filler opening? do you press that with th enozzle?? helps foam issues alot...

passat wagon is 20+gal.. ive put over 20 in it a few times.. aka my b3 1.6td wagon.. :D sedan is like 18 gal cause the trunk floor is not as high as in a wagon.. wagon fits full sized spare and is about 2" taller then sedan..

That thing on the left or 9oclock position was broken by the PO. I think... Anyone want to hook me up with a picture of one that is intact?