How do I get into firmly-sealed gas tanks at gas stations?

[deoxy]

Rope + bucket = lifted liquid

This method has been used literally for millennia. There’s no reason it wouldn’t work here.

It would have some waste (opening the top to get the bucket in and out would let vapor escape, and more gasoline would evaporate to replace the escaped vapor), and it would be slow, but it would work just fine.

(For the record, “buckets” can be made of soft materials, such as hide, and still be usable, so the size of the hole is not a real impediment, unless it’s just silly small.)

[Litppunk]

I am pretty sure they are ALOMST silly small. Just big enough for one of those 3-4 inch trucker hoses if I am not mistaken, though they may have a larger maintenance hatch for cleaning them out once every 15 years or so. I like to work off the assumption they don’t, because that is a more fun problem to solve, plus I don’t want to bring up buckets, and then have to pour and repeat. Though it is better than a lot of my ideas so far. But it has brainstormed me to a better idea, maybe.

d: bucket + rope (deoxy)

e: (golf-ball + rag) x3 + long cord + ~ 1/2 as long hose = watermill of fuel.
Just lower into hole & pull on the string at your end. Same as B, but without having to re-thread hose every-time. much more efficient.

[Rot]

I saw a guy use a rubber hose and a bicycle pump to suck up fuel like a syringe and pour it into a container.

[deoxy]

I am pretty sure they are ALOMST silly small. Just big enough for one of those 3-4 inch trucker hoses if I am not mistaken, though they may have a larger maintenance hatch for cleaning them out once every 15 years or so. I like to work off the assumption they don’t, because that is a more fun problem to solve, plus I don’t want to bring up buckets, and then have to pour and repeat.

That’s exactly the hole I was talking about, and no, it’s not “silly small”, or even close. It’s quite large enough to put a soft-material bucket through. With patience, I suspect a one inch hole would be enough, actually, though you’d have to siphon the gas out of the bucket at the top, which would be very time-consuming.

[Litppunk]

hm… bucket siphon. Thats a good fall-back plan. Makes it so you don’t have to rely on such a strong vacuum force to keep fuel coming up since you lessen the distance, and thus the weight of the fuel coming up at any given time.

[Malkeus]

All you really need is the hose and your thumb. Feed the hose into the tank as far as possible, cap the end with your thumb and pull out the hose full of fuel. Cap the other end as it comes out, transfer either end to the container and release. Really awkward and tends to be wasteful, but perfectly serviceable.

Edit: for tanks that are low, this becomes much less effective and you won’t ever be able to empty the tank

[Litppunk]

^ thus the thought experiment on how to ‘elevate’ the fluid

[Trigon]

Stab the bottom end with a screwdriver and stick a 60L tank under it. That’ll work great I’m sure.

[Litppunk]

think they make them a little thicker walled than that.

hole is unfortunately jaged enough so the fuel sprays all over you and everywhere else, barely getting any in the can XD

[TheZoneWizard]

Ignoring the pressure that would probably have the person impaled by the stabby object they used to make the hole. I think those tanks have pressure enough, that if you could stab through it. The object would be pushed out so fast it could possibly kill. Perhaps maim.

[Litppunk]

??? A normal strength person with a screwdriver could punch a hole in the industrial pressure graded tank meant to survive 10+ years of general wear and tear while under constant pressure?

Any amount of pressure the tank is under means the Government mandated safety requirements are going to be that much more. The walls that much thicker and stronger.

… Rereads… Oh yes IF you could stab through… Probably if it was under any real pressure

Don’t think they keep them under any real pressure though, but bottom of tank would have hydraulic pressure of fuel above it enough to make an absolute mess if the hole isn’t clean.

[TheZoneWizard]

I think it would still be similar to stabbing into a out door pool Plus gas pressure buildup. The weight of the liquid is enough to cause the object to possibly push back enough. It may be harmful. Keep in mind gas will build pressure on its own. If you fill a jerry can all the way to the top. It will burst. That is why you have a certain safety level assigned to most gas containers to show the user when to stop filling the container.

[nameless_survivor]

You could use an electric drill and the right drill bit to bore a few holes in the bottom of the tank in order to drain it, but you better have a funnel and a couple 200L drums handy with enough volume to hold the tank’s contents, or you will make a mess and waste all the fuel inside.

Pressure will not matter with this method, and sparks/flames should not be a problem either if you are careful, as fuel is only really flammable when it is a vapor and there is sufficient oxygen present. Drilling near or at the bottom of the tank will allow you to drain all the fluid with a very very minor chance of fire, especially if you drill carefully and slowly.

[Daeros13]

That’s why fuel tanks are welded on when full of liquid (usually water!) because ambient temperature and oxygen levels are a direct correlation on how easy it is to light gasoline.

But if it were diesel, that would be a snap. Diesel takes very high temps (relative) to ignite. You have to hold a high heat flame to it to light it.

I am curious though, since this is an above ground tank, why not just unbolt the drain? Current federal regulations concerning above ground fuel tanks must place the tank in a sealed, cement walled structure that is able to hold the entire contents of the tank. I’m sure that would be true in the near future as well.

[Litppunk]

I don’t think COOL fuel produces any NOTEWORTHY pressure. I was referring to the possibility of air pressure being used to make pumping easier… but now that I’ve typed it out Im feeling increasingly less sure thats actually a thing… where did I get that idea from?

MMMmmm Daeros makes a really good point. Be it a boat or an above-ground fuel container if its capable of holding gas/fluid it will have a drain port that can be on bottom easily if not already there. Don’t those come with like a chain alarm or something?

[TheZoneWizard]

I have a jerrycan in my shed half full. It bloats up, be in heat of summer or cold of winter. Kinda wonky. Looks like a fat guy in a size too small suit lol

[Litppunk]

how much pressure does it build up? A couple PSI would be about what I would expect at most. No more than 10 PSI or so surely.

hmm short google looks like gasoline vapor pressure is definately a thing, mostly from moving fuel and is strongly influenced by the fuels temperature. lowering temperature lowers pressure. Apparently its because its a compound mixture made of lots of different stuff. Didn’t see anything about how MUCH pressure, but apparently it can bust stuff if its allowed to build too much. I suspect this is mostly a problem in completly sealed containers during heat waves.

[nameless_survivor]

Look for the vapor pressure tables for gasoline. It should have a specific pressure at a specific temperature.

In order to deform its container, the pressure on the interior would have to be higher than atmospheric pressure. It could potentially be fairly high.

[ecchi_squid]

Get a CBM that improves your lung strength. Then get a loooooong straw.

[TheZoneWizard]

Yep. What Nameless said. Also a thing. Gas goes bad. This day and age they no longer make gas with stabilizing elements or chemicals added to make it last. It is now left up to the customer to deal with. Gas will go bad after several months if not treated.

I use Stabil. Average product in the states and can treat standard gas to last for about 1-2 years. Add a spoon of it for every gallon of gas. It helps. Plus a squirt of engine cleaner(I think it is alky-hall) and should be used sparingly. Only in cold weather too. Keeps crap from freezing.