Trojan Boat Forum

My 50 gal starboard aux tank under the aft deck is seeping gas out of fittings at the top of the tank. It's too full to work on the gaskets or take the bolts out to add Teflon tape. I went down today to try to siphon gas out of it so I could work on it and the tube hits something before it gets to the gas. Any advice?

Use the fuel pick up hook a hose to it . A outboard motor primer bulb works great for this .

If you have remote fuel filters (before the engines), they may have a threaded port on the base. You can install a valve in the port, then a hose barb in the valve, then use a squeeze bulb or small electric fuel pump move as much gas as you want.

Sounds good, thanks!

siphoning is problematic as it is very difficult to get below the tank to start suction, unless you are on the hard, but the it is a very long hose, I struggled getting gas out of my old f28 while on hard. The bulb is one way, an electric fuel pump is another, just make sure connections are nowhere near the gas incase of spark.

I'm going to try a hand pump--no sparks!! Thanks!

You have a couple of 90 degree elbows to contend with before the tank so getting a hose in there through the deck fill assembly may be a challenge. If you can't do it that way, you'll have to use the fuel line already installed. Tap into the system at the fuel filter as mentioned above if a port is available or simply disconnect the fuel line there. If you have working anti-siphon valves, you may not be able to simply siphon through the existing fuel line without using a pump of some sort to create enough vacuum to overcome the valve. If you know you have anti-siphon valves and you manage to simply siphon fuel through the existing fuel line without using a pump, then there's something wrong and you should replace the valves for safety reasons.