Draining the fuel tank

[Adrian2012]

Hi All,
If I need to drain the fuel tank in my 2012 JGC CRD is there a way to do it without dropping the tank out?
It is 7/8th full and sat for 9 months, so I am thinking I should drain at least half of it and then get fresh diesel to top up.
Any thoughts? It has had a service last week and has clean filters now, but runs rough which could be several things but some clean fuel would be nice.
thanks
Adrian

[drover]

I would just throw a bottle of injector cleaner in the tank and go for a good run, a hundred K's at least then, a couple of hundred to make sure, give the thing a oil and filter change on engine as well as change the fuel filters again, any goop should be gone by then.

[Adrian2012]

Originally Posted by drover

I would just throw a bottle of injector cleaner in the tank and go for a good run, a hundred K's at least then, a couple of hundred to make sure, give the thing a oil and filter change on engine as well as change the fuel filters again, any goop should be gone by then.

Hi Drover, according to the internet diesel should be OK in a tank for twelve months. After I got it going recently I took it to the local mechanic and it has had all the fluids and filters changed, but still old fuel - which should still be OK. As per other thread I am leaning to the Boost Pressure Sensor, which also checks barometric pressure and air temperature compared to the MAF and signals the difference to the PCM which adjusts the mixture and turbo flows etc.
thanks
Adrian

[drover]

I have used diesel thats even older but the thing is adding the injector cleaner and going for a good long drive will get rid of any condensation that has been made over the time and sludge that may have settled, the fuel gets hot and things gets lubed, this also applies to the engine as condensation in the sump and elsewhere, once you have taken it for a good run the changing of the filters and fluids again means you have got rid whats been trapped in the filters and whats still in suspension in the oil, expensive if you use a spanner man though, at a minimum I would change the filters....
The whole thing does need a very good run tranny needs a good stir up and the diffs, when they sit around usually a light coat of rust will form over the exposed parts.....

[GCDingo]

The problem with diesel tanks sitting is condensation and algae. Might need to clear the filter housing a few times via the yellow plug and top up with fresh diesel.

Won't hurt to put a fuel treatment in. Think Penrite and Fuel Doctor are a few. Run that in the tank, then maybe another fresh tank of diesel then change filters? I actually think an old school method is to add metho to the tank.

[Treebreakerbob]

Can’t see why u couldn’t remove fuel filters, put a big bucket under the fuel filter housing and turn ignition to on or run. What could possibly go wrong. Wcpgw. Just the job 4 my VV circuit board I just installed as you can run the fuel pump without turning the car on, hang on I think, not positive, u can jump fuse 25 to 37 in the tipm. One of the fuses is live and the other one is the outgoing feed to the fuel pump. Don’t do it yet till I check up on the VV notes and I think the fuse numbers are also on their site. I don’t know if that also activates the transfer pump that pumps fuel over the hump to the fuel pump side but you would only have less than about 15 Ltrs left
I promise not to laugh if it all goes to sh*t
You need a biocide (algae killer) as the algae can block filters etc. best thing you can do is always have your fuel tank fullish after driving distances as this cools the fuel in your tank stopping the condensation but I think diesel today is treated to stop algae growth
Bob

[drover]

Metho was for petrol to get rid of water, I doubt it has any algae in it as it has been run and algae quickly clogs filters then you need to treat the whole system completely as it will come back including the fill point and any Jerry cans, spanners and funnels you may use, its nasty thing to get....... VD for diesel.

I think I read it in the VV site that you could run the pump on its own and thought that could be handy, I have always had the idea if I had to try and drain the tank while away drop the filler pipe and syphon from there, never had a lookie though so just a thought bubble, I so miss the drain plug days.

I have used diesel thats been sitting in Jerries for 12 months or more and no problems, I forgot about them and wasn't going to dump it so just poured it in ..