Getting gas from a car

[JHZR2]

While I'm sure that the hurricane will be nothing, say the philadelphia governor's warning is true and it takes 7-10 days to restore power. Fuel pumps at stations won't work, but cars have great tanks.

What is the best way to pull lots of fuel from a car's tank, given anti-siphon tanks and all. Of course I can start the engine or turn on the electrical systems...

Thanks!

 

[Drew99GT]

Pull a fuel line off somewhere and stick rubber hose over the end and turn the key on to use the fuel pump to pump fuel into a container? Might work depending on the various fittings on the fuel system.

 

[Trav]

+ 1. It works great, you just need to remove the fuel pump relay and jump the terminals as most modern cars will shut the pump down with a few seconds if no RPM or oil pressure activity is received by the ECM.

 

[bmwtechguy]

There will be one larger wire with battery voltage, sometimes marked with a 30. You would jump it to the other larger wire, sometimes marked 87. This wire goes to power the pump. The smaller wires are signal wires used to activate the relay. Leave them alone.

 

[Chris142]

You need to look at a wiring diagram before you go plugging 12v into any'ol socket. Could easily ruin an expensive computer if you plugged onto the wrong wire.

Might be a better idea to put a hose on the fuel rail where one would do a fuel pressure test and start the engine.

 

[glum]

It depends on whose car you're getting gas from...

 

[The_Jeff]

I took the gas from a couple cars before I sent them to the junkyard. I disconnected a nylon quick connect at the fuel rail and was pleased to find a metal nipple that a 3/8" fuel hose slid firmly onto. This was the return line; I could figure it out by the pressure regulator being between my connection and the injectors.

My fuel pump relay had a little schematic on its underside so I could figure out which two wires ran the coil and that I wanted the other two. Easy!

 

[Astro14]

Well...as the eye is a few miles from my house, the ocean is churning, the winds are over 80 MPH and we've had 6 inches of rain already...I think I can state, with some degree of certainty, that this is a big storm...hardly "nothing"...but that assessment depends on your point of view...and how close it comes to you...

 

[JHZR2]

Yeah but I bought gasoline and water, so my luck dictates that the opposite of what I plan for will happen...

It is hardly nothing, we are saturated with water and though I don't expect hurricane force winds, tress will be able to come down...

 

[The_Jeff]

Here's my concern.

How many extra telegraph poles do we have stockpiled?

I know my utility brings in crews from New Brunswick and one of the Carolinas. They have their own problems!

I only need potable water, which I can get from my faucet, and fill old milk jugs. Toilet flushing water... there'll be a bunch outside in a puddle or rain barrel.

Pine trees in particular have shallow root systems. Get the ground all wet and muddy then look at 'em wrong and they'll come down.

 

[bigmike]

Use your water heater and fill up your bathtubs for water. Use a bucket to transfer the water to the toilet.

 

[hattaresguy]

Depends on the situation.

But if you find a car and pop a screwdriver into the tank underneath you can collect all you want into a pan.

Just saying.

All you need is a hammer and a flat blade.

 

[Shannow]

Saw on the evening news from an embedded reporter people stocking up in NY.

You can never have enough cold cuts.

Seriously, stay safe.

 

[ffhdriver]

What disappears from grocery stores here before a hurricane is tuna and Ritz crackers and Oreos.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Depends on the situation.

But if you find a car and pop a screwdriver into the tank underneath you can collect all you want into a pan.

Just saying.

All you need is a hammer and a flat blade.



Yep, but one spark from that screwdriver and you're gone.

 

[hattaresguy]

Nah its harder to ignite fuel than that, plus most gas tanks are plastic these days.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Nah its harder to ignite fuel than that, plus most gas tanks are plastic these days.


That's true. I remember the last gas crunch, thieves were doing just that - punching holes in tanks and stealing the gas.

 

[meep]

I'd love that large shrader valve adapter to screw in to the fuel line, start the engine, and just let it slow-flow out into the gas can.

However,

I can tell you from the AL tornado experience that there is a trade-off. 4 days after the storm, nearest gas was 2 hours away... so if you've depleted your car fuel, you are SOL. I would not pull more than 1/2 tank so you have some sort of reserve.

So... I can store 20 gallons in the gas cans, and 4 in the genset itself. Gennie always stays fueled, one 5 gallon can is always full and the other in use. The remaining 2 just sit unless it's storm season.

Once season has passed, the extra gas gets fed to the car.

It's less work than it sounds. Biggest quandary I have is where to store it. I'd like a shed or box out back away from the house, as I wouldn't want the cans sitting in direct sunlight (or view). I don't like keeping much gas in the garage, but for now, that's where it sits. ONE advantage to those crummy epa gas cans is they do not fume out like the older ones did.

M

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: meep
ONE advantage to those crummy epa gas cans is they do not fume out like the older ones did.

M


But upon pouring, I find that they leak/drip more than the others...

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

How many extra telegraph poles do we have stockpiled?


Huh? I only ever see telegraph poles along side of railroads with the poles and wires in sadly deteriorating condition...