Draining Fuel Tanks

[Davemp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Davemp]

To drain both tanks, with no drain screws I can see, do I just unhook where it comes out of front tank and turn accessorie ignition on and it’ll pump it out into bucket. Will this empty both tanks? Or should I siphon?
thanks in advance.
Dave

[Davemp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Davemp]

Further to this (yes put some petrol in diesel tank) I have changed both filters and assume once I refill tank with bulk diesel I just add some lubricant/enhancer and pump from filter to purge. Would anyone suggest more steps. I’m not clued enough to work on injectors ect but if it easy to disconnect stuff to purge more I’ll give it a go. I drove for about 2K with no problem before ‘oh sh*t’ moment.

[ptommo59 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptommo59]

The in-tank fuel pump on the Prado diesels only circulates and filters fuel in main tank so you will have to siphon them out.

There are several mobs that specialises in sorting out incorrect fuel fill-ups one is wrong fuel rescue so might be worth checking of they are in your area.

How much petrol did you put in and how full were the tanks before you did it?

[Davemp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Davemp]

3rd full of diesel and put 80ltr in so way over any safe to drive amount. This arvo I have syphoned as much as I possibly could from going under car. It was well over 100ltrs but I doubt very much 150 by 20lt bucket judging.
im out in the boondocks so just talking to local mechanic and he has said all I described is what he’d do. I’ll fill it to brim tomorrow, do a bit of purging and see how I go. If it runs like a dog well then it’s trade in time. That’s assuming it runs…..

[Davemp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Davemp]

Final result. Siphoning worked a treat, it took 145lt to fill. 200ml chemlube, purges everything I could. All up about 3hr DIY and it running as good as new. Cost a tank of fuel and a bit of pride.
my one piece of advice is not to listen to alarmists. This is super common and servo bloke never heard of prado/hilux permanently flucked over it and seen it dozens of times. Also said I should have told him as he had a rapid defuel kit to borrow and I would have been up and running in 15mins tops. Live and learn.

[ptommo59 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptommo59]

Good to hear it all worked out OK.

[geo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close geo]

What's a rapid de-fuel kit & how does it work?

[Daniel150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daniel150]

Final result. Siphoning worked a treat, it took 145lt to fill. 200ml chemlube, purges everything I could. All up about 3hr DIY and it running as good as new. Cost a tank of fuel and a bit of pride.
my one piece of advice is not to listen to alarmists. This is super common and servo bloke never heard of prado/hilux permanently flucked over it and seen it dozens of times. Also said I should have told him as he had a rapid defuel kit to borrow and I would have been up and running in 15mins tops. Live and learn.

Hi mate. While it’s rare that it’ll completely wreck an engine in the short term unless you drive it for a while and ignore all the signs, it is a pretty serious mistake.
If you had continued to run on unleaded, you would have lost power, overheated and done some damage.
Unleaded will cause pre detonation of the fuel, which will cause serious internal problems.

Given you got onto it so quick, you’ll probably be fine. The problem can be a little more long term. Unleaded doesn’t lubricate like diesel. This can result in some premature wearing of the injector pump and potentially minute metal particles being pumped into the injectors etc.
This can cause rust in the fuel lines, blocked injectors and poor spray patterns which then go on to cause their own problems.
Given you stopped just down the road, I’d suggest you are ok. Personally I’d have removed and drained both tanks to get any residue of contaminated fuel out.

I’d also suggest the servo bloke has only seen the ones that got onto it straight away like you and averted the problem, not the ones that drove on for hours before something went bang. He probably hasn’t seen the failed injector pumps or burnt pistons from blocked injectors. These will happen 10000 km later, well after the tank of fuel is forgotten.

[Davemp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Davemp]

What's a rapid de-fuel kit & how does it work?

Didn’t see it but assume it was electric syphon pump like the rescue mobs use.
it was Flashlube not Chemlube I used. Also I appreciate Daniel150 input knowledge. Thanks champ. Hope long term damage hasn’t been done. I also have a hilux that previous owner had a common injector problem resulting in entire long motor replacement ($17k) which he continues to fight for compensation. Same motor as my Prado D4D 3L. His coverage ended at 150k and he was 158. Brutal.

[Daniel150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daniel150]

I think you’ll be fine. Surely 2 km hasn’t had the chance to damage the pump badly and you’d have noticed the pinging if it was pre detonating. All the best with it, I wouldn’t be worrying too much.