Draining Fuel Tank, Clogged Filter or Pump?

[testshoot]

Hello, I had an out of town trip to take and I had some gas in a drum to use up so I partially topped off the tank with that gas, and then some gas from a gas can. I started the 2000 4Runner and got about 15 feet or so and the engine sputtered out and would not restart.

1. The 55 gallon drum was originally used for sesame oil storage but had been rinsed out and had been emptied and refilled with gas. I did notice the gas from the barrel looked cloudy. It was about a year old but had Stabil in it and the other gas I had also gotten at that time seems fine and not cloudy. I did add a can of Heet in case there was water contamination from condensation.

2. Did the contamination clog the filter (in the tank?), or possibly damage the fuel pump, or did the contaminated gas reach the engine that quick and didn't want to combust? I am guessing there was about half the tank (7 gallons) was the contaminated gas.

3. Is there only a filter in the tank, maybe on the pickup?

4. How do I drain the tank? My first attempt to drain seems to have encountered an anti-siphon blockage in the filler spout. I was able to get a really narrow tube, like used for siphoning through the dipstick into the tank, but didn't have a way to connect that to my siphon pump.

5. The SUV is almost up against a fence on the passenger side making it more difficult to get under, if necessary, to work on it.

Any suggestions on how to drain the tank and/or check the pump or filter would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lew

 

[nevada]

Hello, I had an out of town trip to take and I had some gas in a drum to use up so I partially topped off the tank with that gas, and then some gas from a gas can. I started the 2000 4Runner and got about 15 feet or so and the engine sputtered out and would not restart.

1. The 55 gallon drum was originally used for sesame oil storage but had been rinsed out and had been emptied and refilled with gas. I did notice the gas from the barrel looked cloudy. It was about a year old but had Stabil in it and the other gas I had also gotten at that time seems fine and not cloudy. I did add a can of Heet in case there was water contamination from condensation.

2. Did the contamination clog the filter (in the tank?), or possibly damage the fuel pump, or did the contaminated gas reach the engine that quick and didn't want to combust? I am guessing there was about half the tank (7 gallons) was the contaminated gas.

3. Is there only a filter in the tank, maybe on the pickup?

4. How do I drain the tank? My first attempt to drain seems to have encountered an anti-siphon blockage in the filler spout. I was able to get a really narrow tube, like used for siphoning through the dipstick into the tank, but didn't have a way to connect that to my siphon pump.

5. The SUV is almost up against a fence on the passenger side making it more difficult to get under, if necessary, to work on it.

Any suggestions on how to drain the tank and/or check the pump or filter would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Lew

the earlier models had a drain plug on the bottom of the tank. not sure if yours will too, but worth a look.

 

[testshoot]

the earlier models had a drain plug on the bottom of the tank. not sure if yours will too, but worth a look.

Thanks!

I think before I drain the tank, I would like to see if everything is flowing as it should.

Are there 3 filters?

Something in the tank called a strainer.
then the fuel filter under the driver area
then I have something I can't find the name of or the function under the hood.

In my quest to find out if it was pumping, I located a line under the hood I guessed to be the fuel line. It has what appears to be a filter on it where it goes from steel line to rubber. It appears to have been worked on before because it has a screw clamp. I will try to add a picture here of what I am referring to.

We took the connection apart and connected the red fuel line to it to see if we cranked the engine, if it was the fuel line, and if we would get anything.

Don't know if cranking the engine is necessary, but we got a very slow flow. I have to assume it is the fuel line, but I don't know the fuel flow and pressure at that point. My only experience was carbs and it would come out at a higher volume.

Thanks so much!

 

[nissanh]

Check the fuel filter under the driver seat. Wear goggles as fuel can spray as soon as you crack open the bolt.
Fuel filter: 23300-62040

Fuel flows only with the ignition on on an EFI system.

What you show in the circle in the above post should not have that clamp. It is a pressure line and should be like a power steering pressure line. Replace that hose with an OEM fuel pressure line (item 23801 P at bottom) Check these part numbers 23801-62070 or 23801-62071.

 

[TheDurk]

Check the fuel filter under the driver seat. Wear goggles as fuel can spray as soon as you crack open the bolt.
Fuel filter: 23300-62040

Fuel flows only with the ignition on on an EFI system.

What you show in the circle in the above post should not have that clamp. It is a pressure line and should be like a power steering pressure line. Replace that hose with an OEM fuel pressure line (item 23801 P at bottom) Check these part numbers 23801-62070 or 23801-62071.

On our trucks, the ECU only energizes the pump if a) the STA signal indicates the starter is turning, or b) the crank position sensor indicates the engine is running. Just ignition on does NOT energize the pump.

 

[testshoot]

Check the fuel filter under the driver seat. Wear goggles as fuel can spray as soon as you crack open the bolt.
Fuel filter: 23300-62040

Fuel flows only with the ignition on on an EFI system.

What you show in the circle in the above post should not have that clamp. It is a pressure line and should be like a power steering pressure line. Replace that hose with an OEM fuel pressure line (item 23801 P at bottom) Check these part numbers 23801-62070 or 23801-62071.

I just ordered a fuel filter. As I have one vehicle, I have to have parts sent to me, and I thought that even if that filter wasn't the issue, I would replace it.

Should I get more than a small trickle out of that hose? Does the low flow indicate something is clogged, like the filter you are suggesting? Does a low flow keep the injectors from working?

I can see in your diagram, that what looked like a filter on the line was really the end of the line from the fuel rails.

Do I have to drop the block to get to the connections on the back of the fuel rail? That is a small space behind there.

 

[testshoot]

On our trucks, the ECU only energizes the pump if a) the STA signal indicates the starter is turning, or b) the crank position sensor indicates the engine is running. Just ignition on does NOT energize the pump.

I was reading another thread here and it mentioned jumpering something in the under hood relay box. Something that only required ign on to get the fuel pump to flow.

Thanks guys!

 

[TheDurk]

I was reading another thread here and it mentioned jumpering something in the under hood relay box. Something that only required ign on to get the fuel pump to flow.

Thanks guys!

That's easy. Ground Pin 2 of the Circuit opening relay with ignition on and you will bypass the ECU. (May vary slightly according to year but that approach will work.)

http://www.teamtoyota4x4.org/archivio/1996%20to%202002%20Toyota%204Runner%20Repair%20and%20Wiring%20Manuals/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/015ecs.pdf

 

[Mudeprived]

I recently had to drop my tank and I used the old fashioned way of sucking gas out till it starts flowing. I removed the spare tire and unhooked the filler tube at the tank then shoved the tubing in there.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

Unless you really like the taste of gas, get one of these if you plan on siphoning. Well worth the huge expense...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/American-Specialty-Wonder-Pump-6-ft-Siphon-Hose-6-PMP6HD/203635079

 

[testshoot]

That's easy. Ground Pin 2 of the Circuit opening relay with ignition on and you will bypass the ECU. (May vary slightly according to year but that approach will work.)

Thanks for the great set of diagrams. Now finding that ground pin 2 might be like a needle in a hay stack. I shouldn't need that unless I want to use the pump to drain the tank, but if I am able to do that, then it is likely my clog is fixed and hopefully problem solved.

 

[testshoot]

Unless you really like the taste of gas, get one of these if you plan on siphoning. Well worth the huge expense...

I have multiple siphons, but not that type. The issue isn't a lack of a siphon, it is a matter of getting the siphon hose to where the gas is.

one suggestion was I might have a drain, another suggestion was to pull the filler tube, yet another suggestion to puncture the tank and fix with JB Weld.

I am hopping the issue is a clogged filter and I won't have to drain the tank, but I do appreciate all of the suggestions.

 

[Mudeprived]

Unless you really like the taste of gas, get one of these if you plan on siphoning. Well worth the huge expense...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/American-Specialty-Wonder-Pump-6-ft-Siphon-Hose-6-PMP6HD/203635079

That is what I have and it does not work well. The metal casing is too big and gets stuck in the tank. No way it fits through the filler hole. I ended up cutting off that end and just sucking it out. The hose is clear so you know when to stop and not get any in your mouth.

 

[HiLife]

Hey guys, I hate to hear of a fellow member working around their 4r getting hurt.
Safety first.
Make sure you have a fire extinguisher near by and on the ready just in case you need it while doing repairs concerning gasoline.

 

[testshoot]

Well guys, I finally got the fuel filter off. I ended up buying a set of crowsfeet flare nut wrenches. I had SAE, but not metric and I bought crow's foot as they were cheaper for a set of 10 (10-19) than a set of four regular style wrenches.
Will probably never use them again, but oh well.

Anyway, after getting the filter off, it wasn't plugged at all....so, back to not knowing what the problem is. My next step, since the filter is off, is to put a gas can under the vehicle and see if it will pump fuel into the can. I know I have a clear path from there to the connection above in my picture.

If the filter isn't plugged, but I was getting only a low volume of fuel at the rail, could the strainer on the fuel pump be clogged or is so coarse that it wouldn't likely get plugged? Does that make the fuel pump more of a suspect of the bad gas?

Thanks

 

[TheDurk]

Well guys, I finally got the fuel filter off. I ended up buying a set of crowsfeet flare nut wrenches. I had SAE, but not metric and I bought crow's foot as they were cheaper for a set of 10 (10-19) than a set of four regular style wrenches.
Will probably never use them again, but oh well.

Anyway, after getting the filter off, it wasn't plugged at all....so, back to not knowing what the problem is. My next step, since the filter is off, is to put a gas can under the vehicle and see if it will pump fuel into the can. I know I have a clear path from there to the connection above in my picture.

If the filter isn't plugged, but I was getting only a low volume of fuel at the rail, could the strainer on the fuel pump be clogged or is so coarse that it wouldn't likely get plugged? Does that make the fuel pump more of a suspect of the bad gas?

Thanks

Why do you care? You have to drop the tank and pull the pump to change one or both (it would not make sense to do just the pump).

But, to answer your question, that strainer is pretty fine, and if you got cruddy gas, say from the bottom of a rusty station tank, I can see it getting plugged up: