# Siphoning gas **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922 "2022-12-21T19:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/1 "2022-12-21T19:23:37Z")
I have a gasoline generator and a plug on the electronics of the gas furnace so that I can run the furnace when the electricity goes out. Carrying jerricans back and worth from the gas station is a pain. There is something in the gas line, I believe a spiral that is large enough at one end to let the gas pump hose in, but tapers down so that I can’t get a siphon hose in. Does anyone know a way around that? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/2 "2022-12-21T19:27:54Z")
I feel we don’t have enough information. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > There is something in the gas line What gas line? > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I believe a spiral that is large enough at one end A spiral? > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > to let the gas pump hose in let the gas pump hose in what? Also, I’m confused about why you’re siphoning gas out of anything. Aren’t you just pouring the gas from the jerry cans into the generator? But, FWIW, it’s very possible that whatever this restriction is, is meant to stop people from siphoning gas. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/3 "2022-12-21T19:33:15Z")
You can check this out: [anti siphon device gas tank - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=anti+siphon+device+gas+tank&sxsrf=ALiCzsZXtOq-2VISENUJafaNcUPwUMdeHg:1671650730216&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFudmfuIv8AhWKKFkFHY0gBD8Q_AUoA3oECAEQBQ&biw=1440&bih=702&dpr=2#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6f735b5e,vid:KnvvA6OsCTQ) Also on one of my cars I was able to disconnect the fuel line to the fuel filter and run a line from that to a gas can. By cycle keying the ignition on and off many times I was able to drain the tank. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/4 "2022-12-21T19:38:09Z")
It sounds like he wants to fuel the generator on the fuel in the tank for the furnace. Except isn’t the furnace fuel diesel while the generator runs on gasoline? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/5 "2022-12-21T19:39:02Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Also on one of my cars I was able to disconnect the fuel line to the fuel filter and run a line from that to a gas can. By cycle keying the ignition on and off many times I was able to drain the tank. I did almost that exact same thing when I had to drain a (rather full) gas tank. There’s a Schrader valve for checking the pressure on the fuel system. I took the core out of it, stuck a hose over it and, at least at first, was cycling the key. Then I decided to ‘hotwire’ the fuel pump. Originally I pulled the relay and shorted it. But then I found out that some (many? most? all?) GM vehicles have a little random wire/connector just dangling by the fuse box. Jump it to B+ and the fuel pump runs. Works perfectly for something like this. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/6 "2022-12-21T19:42:44Z")
A natural gas furnace. The gas line running from the gas cap to the tank. I’d like to get a hose into the tank to siphon out gas. Thanks, kanicbird, I’ll give that a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/7 "2022-12-21T19:46:49Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The gas line running from the gas cap to the tank. I’d like to get a hose into the tank to siphon out gas. What gas line? What gas cap? What tank? I’m so confused. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/8 "2022-12-21T19:48:50Z")
I had thought that he wanted to siphon gasoline out of his car’s tank, but that wouldn’t be relevant for a natural gas furnace… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/9 "2022-12-21T19:50:54Z")
I thought he wanted to siphon gasoline out of his car for the generator…but it seems to me it would be easier to just drive the jerry cans to the gas station, fill them up and drive them back. Also, he’s made no mention of a car. Also, don’t try to siphon gas out of a car gas tank, you’re likely to end up with the hose stuck in the filler neck. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/10 "2022-12-21T19:52:04Z")
Too many words are “gas”. Unclear what you mean. I assume the natural gas furnace is irrelevant, except that the natural gas supply remains pressurized and requires electricity for the furnace to run? So you want to do so with the _gasoline_ generator. So really, we are talking about - how do I siphon gasoline from jerry cans into the generator? Into the generator’s tank, or direct to the engine? So where is this blockage - the Jerry cans (I doubt it) or the generator? Or are you hoping to replace the fuel feed from the built-in tank on the generator (which I assume is smaller) with a direct fed from the Jerry can? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/11 "2022-12-21T19:52:43Z")
I am siphoning gas from the car gas tank to run a generator that will provide 110v to run the electronics of a natural gas furnace when the power goes out. I did it during an ice storm several years ago, but carrying gas cans to and from a gas station is a pain. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/12 "2022-12-21T19:54:28Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > There is something in the gas line, I believe a spiral that is large enough at one end to let the gas pump hose in, but tapers down so that I can’t get a siphon hose in. Does anyone know a way around that? I seem to recall from a previous thread that someone here paid their mechanic to remove that device (which is obviously designed to prevent someone from stealing gasoline from your car). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/13 "2022-12-21T19:54:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I am siphoning gas from the car gas tank to run a generator that will provide 110v to run the electronics of a natural gas furnace when the power goes out. I did it during an ice storm several years ago, but carrying gas cans to and from a gas station is a pain. In that case, I’d do what was mentioned earlier. Find a way to connect a hose to your car’s fuel system and run the pump. It’ll work perfectly. A bit slow, but it’ll do the job. I drained an entire gas tank that way, more than once. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/14 "2022-12-21T19:56:41Z")
Thanks, the gas tapper mentioned above says it won’t work on my Ford Ranger. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/15 "2022-12-21T20:05:42Z")
Huh? If you’re referring to what I (and kanicbird) mentioned. Where do you see it mentioned that it wouldn’t work on a Ford Ranger? This isn’t an uncommon way of draining a tank. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/16 "2022-12-21T20:14:27Z")
[“Accessible car search”](https://flowjoe.com/pages/car-search) on their website, ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/17 "2022-12-21T20:19:44Z")
I’m going to talk to the mechanic I’ve spent money with. ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/18 "2022-12-21T21:03:30Z")
When you talk to your mechanic, you might mention Joey P’s suggestion about using the fuel pump to get the gas out of your Ranger’s tank—it’s a valid solution to the problem you’ve described here. But I agree with others: why not just buy more gas cans and ferry them in the bed of your truck? For someone not mechanically inclined, that seems like less fuss than Joey’s method. It might be safer, too: you don’t risk spilling gas on a hot engine while you’re figuring out the procedure. I guess you could pay your mechanic to pull the anti-siphon device in your fuel filler, but that may not make economic sense. How many gas cans could you buy for that money? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/19 "2022-12-21T21:29:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > [“Accessible car search”](https://flowjoe.com/pages/car-search) on their website, That’s why my suggestion was to tap into the fuel system as opposed to siphoning the gas out. > [@EdelweissPirate](#): > > When you talk to your mechanic, you might mention Joey P’s suggestion about using the fuel pump to get the gas out of your Ranger’s tank—it’s a valid solution to the problem you’ve described here. Also, if this is going to be a regular thing, it would be absolutely trivial to add a switch so all you have to do is connect a hose and flip a switch. OTOH, if this is going to be a regular thing, I wouldn’t use something I’d consider a temporary solution. But a few times a year, sure. Also, I don’t think I mentioned it, but the OP could run to Autozone, rent a fuel pressure checker, connect it to the car and then hold the relief button on the gauge when the fuel pump is running, it’ll do the same thing I mentioned. It’s a bit more work, but it’s easier if you’ve never done something like this before. Mostly since you’re not cobbling together your own hoses, playing with (and totally not dropping) valve cores etc. > [@EdelweissPirate](#): > > For someone not mechanically inclined, For someone **with a pickup truck** … At some point it might even be easier to just get a fuel tank with it’s own pump for the back of the truck. Like you see contractors with for fueling their equipment. ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922/20 "2022-12-21T21:37:38Z")
I can’t quite parse “For someone **with a pickup truck** ”. I doubt you’re suggesting that anyone who owns a pickup truck must also be mechanically inclined, but that’s what I get from what you wrote. Are you pointing out that anyone with a pickup truck could easily put a dedicated tank in the bed? That I agree with! I’m not picking nits here—I’m just a little dense today due to sleep deprivation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-gas/976922.md?page=2)