# Best way to siphon gas from a gas tank....Legally.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-siphon-gas-from-a-gas-tank-legally/352379>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 12, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-siphon-gas-from-a-gas-tank-legally/352379 "2006-04-12T15:05:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-siphon-gas-from-a-gas-tank-legally/352379/21 "2006-04-13T12:11:35Z")

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Use the method my son uses for cleaning his fish tanks. He fills the hose with water the opposite way. He puts a hose into the tank and runs water in until it running **into** the tank. He then crimps the hose, disconnects it from the tap and lets it drain. Surely the same thing could be achieved with a hose, a funnel and a can of gas.

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**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-siphon-gas-from-a-gas-tank-legally/352379/22 "2006-04-13T13:10:41Z")

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> [@don't ask](#):
>
> Use the method my son uses for cleaning his fish tanks. He fills the hose with water the opposite way. He puts a hose into the tank and runs water in until it running **into** the tank. He then crimps the hose, disconnects it from the tap and lets it drain. Surely the same thing could be achieved with a hose, a funnel and a can of gas.

That’s _almost_ how I syphon beer out of the carboy. I fill the hose with water completely, and cap the “high” end with my sanitized thumb. This will keep the water from getting into the beer. Lower the high end (still capped), and the draining starts immediately upon uncapping. The first few ounces go into the sink, and the rest goes into the cornie-keg.

If you’re willing to use something like 1/4" hose, you may be able to get around the rollover stopper I mentioned earlier.

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