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Best way to get/siphon gas out of a 2001 Camry

5.3K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  BonesandFeathers  
#1 ·
Car has been sitting 2-3 years. Car still works. Looking to get the old gas out of the tank.

Does the 2001 camry have baffles in the fuel tank? Does it have anti siphon ball (prevents gas from leaking in case of roll over)? Does the tank have a drain plug?

Without the anti siphon ball, a $5 siphon hose should do.
With the anti siphon I am thinking of trying Gas Tapper.
If it has a drain plug, I could possibly try that.

Removing the lid of the gas tank from under the back seat and messing the fuel relay is probably too complex for me.
 
#2 ·
I don't think you will be successful trying to siphon fuel out of your fuel tank. And the tank does not have a drain plug.

Many folks open the fuel return line (under the car, just forward of the fuel tank) and let that drain slowly. But your model doesn't have a fuel return line.

You could remove the union fitting at the top of the fuel filter, then with a separate fuel line that has a union fitting, put the union end on the fuel filter and the other end into a fuel can, then use the fuel pump jumper in the diagnostic port, then turn the key to ON and pump fuel to fill the can, stopping as needed as the can fills so you can empty it. You would be best served by getting a small union end fuel line from a salvage yard car - one that has a 4A-FE or 7A-FE would be easiest to get at and remove, and long enough to work.
 
#4 ·
You could remove the union fitting at the top of the fuel filter, then with a separate fuel line that has a union fitting, put the union end on the fuel filter and the other end into a fuel can, then use the fuel pump jumper in the diagnostic port, then turn the key to ON and pump fuel to fill the can, stopping as needed as the can fills so you can empty it. You would be best served by getting a small union end fuel line from a salvage yard car - one that has a 4A-FE or 7A-FE would be easiest to get at and remove, and long enough to work.
What we were going to suggest... have done this many times... easiest way, use the fuel pump to drain the tank.
 
#3 ·
Couple of thoughts:
- a sealed modern fuel system can have gas (even 10% ethanol mix) for at least 2 years without issues (the sealed system prevents moisture getting to it). Lots of folks tested this during Covid (and hybrids sometimes don't burn their gas quickly enough for it to be avoided even during normal times, if their trips were always short enough to not really use the ICE).
- after draining the gas out there isn't really a good/safe way to dispose of it, other than burning it in a car's engine.

You could try running it as is and see how it does. Worst case you'd have to replace the fuel filter (and draining it would require disconnecting the fuel line there anyway, so you'd not be out much if that turned out to be the case).

There might be a procedure in the repair manual to turn on the fuel pump for testing (without anything else on) and you could disconnect the fuel supply line from the injector rail and route that to a gas can. But that requires disassembly of the fuel system, and still has the issue of what to do with the gas you got out of it.
 
#5 ·
what I would do is
go to a junk yard . remove the air box, locate the fuel filter. take your weapon of choice and cut the fuel hose to the fuel rail. The to nut holding the fuel line on is 19MM,
This will be a good time to see how to take the that nut off w/o destroying the filter. be sure to retain the two washers on both sides of the bolt
On the way home stop by an auto supply place and match up about ten feet of fuel hose and a worm drive hose clamp to match up with the the fuel rail hose.

Go home and repeat the procedure but obviously DON"T CUT THE FUEL FEED HOSE, JUST TAKE IT OFF> be sure not to lose the washers on the bolt.
Trim down the metal fuel line, from the junkyard, and cinch it down at an angle with the hose clamp, convenient to putting the fuel line in a safe, approved gas can or maybe into the tank of another car

You know about jumping the fuel pump fuse? so it will run w/o the car running.
If someone has a more definite idea about how to get the top bolt off w/o undu trauma, feel free to add to the procedure
I'm scrapping one of my Camrys cause it dropped dead on the way home from work a while back, and I don't have the facilities or knowledge base to do a swap. And all of the places that used to do it have evaporated. I recently reacquired a 2000 Japan built Camry from "the daughter". I know that what i'll put into it will be less than fixing my broken camry, or paying someone else to do it (as if) So i'll rearrange the fuel flow tomorrow, and let you know how it goes.