Drain gas from a lawnmower without a siphon: step by step

Draining gas from your lawnmower is an essential part of winterizing your equipment. If you don’t have a siphon pump, don’t worry! Follow these six steps to drain the gas tank and prevent rusting or leaking in the lines.

You’ll need two tubes, a drain container, and a rag to drain gas from a lawnmower without a siphon. Insert one tube deep into the tank and the other just inside. Seal the tank opening with the rag. Blow into the short tube to push air into the tank. This will force gas out through the longer tube into the drain container below. Once flow is steady, disconnect the fuel line and open the carburetor drain to remove any remaining gas. Run the engine until empty.

Draining gas from your lawnmower is a crucial step in maintaining your equipment. Don’t have a siphon pump? No problem! Follow these six steps to drain the gas tank and prevent rusting or leaking in the lines.

Step-by-step Guide

Draining gas from your lawnmower tank without using a siphon consists of two parts. There is a good connection between fuel in the tank and an outside collecting can. And a pressure that pushes the fuel through the tube to the collection can. The following steps describe the entire procedure.

● Step 1: Collect the required tools to drain gas

The first tool you need for draining gas is a gas-resisted drain container. You can use a drain pan if you do not have an empty can. The drain pan is a small metal pan with raised edges to collect and handle the old gas. Next, you will need a drain tube.

It would be best to have two simple plastic tubes/hoses, which can be found at many stores selling lawnmower supplies. Also, have some cloth (rag/towel) at hand.

● Step 2: Park your mower and disconnect the spark plug

Park the mower in a flat, stable location. Use the parking brakes to stop it from moving. As a safety step, it is good to disconnect the spark plug cables. That will ensure that the engine does not unintentionally start. Turn the ignition off and open the fuel cap.

● Step 3: Set all plastic tubes/hoses properly.

Without a siphon, you will need two plastic tubing/hose pieces. They should preferably be transparent. Ensure that the length is enough to reach the gas tank from the container; the other one can be shorter. Place the empty drain container beside the mower’s gas tank on the ground.

Ensure the empty can collect the gas is lower than the tank’s bottom for perfect siphoning. Feed the longer tube or hose deep enough into the mower gas tank to submerge it entirely in the petrol. It is best if it reaches the lowest part of the tank. You can get a feel that the tube is touching the tank base.

Next, place the opposite end of the longer tube into the drain can. Place the shorter hose some inches into the gas tank such that the two tubes lay side-by-side.  However, the shorter tube should not touch the fuel inside the tank. It aims to develop an air channel between the tank and the atmosphere.

After that, the next step is to seal the fuel cap through which the tubes were inserted. The aim is that air flows inside only through the shorter tube. This will help develop an air pressure gradient that pushes out the liquid fuel.

You can use a piece of an old wet rag or towel to seal the connection. The wet cloth is used as it sticks properly and better closes the inlet.

● Step 4: Drain the gas tank properly.

Now, you are all set up for the draining task. You need to develop a propulsive force to thrust the liquid fuel out. Blow hard to push air into the tank on the shorter tube’s open end. The task becomes even more accessible with an air pump or compressor access.

Use it to blow air into the tank, but make sure that you cover the tank opening with some cloth. Ensure you do not inhale any fuel fumes while blowing in the tank. After some blows, fuel comes from the other tube out of the tank.

When the flow gets continuous, you can stop blowing. Gravity and pressure differences do the rest. Almost all the gasoline will be drained out. If you want to change the draining speed at any stage, raise the container or the hose to a level higher than the gas level in the tank.

Excellent! You’ve managed to drain the fuel. Now, run your engine to use the remaining fuel in the carburetor. Then, run the engine until it stops to ensure all the fuel has been used up. Before starting, remember to disconnect the spark plug wire for safety.

Pro-Tip: If you’re a pro and want to store the fuel for later use, consider adding a stabilizer to the gas before storing it. This will help preserve the fuel and prevent it from going stale.

● Step 5: Disconnect the connections with the carburetor and open the drain tube if any

You have two options to remove the remaining fuel from a lawn mower. Method one is to drain it from the carburetor, or method two is to dry the mower until it has used all the fuel (so step 5 or 6)..

To drain the carburetor’s gas from a lawn mower, detach the fuel line connecting the carburetor and the fuel tank. Some fuel permanently resides in it. Let it dry out in a drain pan placed beneath the tank.

Some lawnmowers have a drain tube present at the tank’s base, while some mowers have the tube connecting it with the carburetor as a drain plug.

You can remove the fuel by opening it and letting it drip into a pan placed beneath. This is one of the projects you can do to maintain your mower. If you found this information helpful, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.

For the next season, before you add fuel stabilizer to the tank, tilt the mower and drain all the oil and gas. Use the funnel to add the stabilizer to avoid spills. This will keep your mower dry and ready for use. Always tilt the mower on its side with the air filter facing up to prevent oil from soaking the air filter.

● Step 6: Run a lawnmower to eliminate any left gasoline.

Now, take out the tubes from the opening and close the tank. Close the can as well because gasoline is very volatile. Preserve it for later use. You will notice that a small amount of fuel is always left in the tank.

If you are storing the mower for a more extended period, like in the winter, it is still a good idea to empty the gas tank. Reattach the spark plug and turn the ignition on. Take the lawnmower outside and run the engine until it dies out of gas. You will now have fully drained all the gas.

Additional concerns:

Always keep in mind some preventive measures.

1. Work in a Ventilated area: Never use a lawn mower in a closed environment, especially during the spring when maintenance is often required. The carbon monoxide gas, which resides in exhaust fumes, is odorless, colorless, poisonous, and toxic and can cause detrimental health issues.

Ideally, it is suggested that you run a lawnmower outdoors when you are doing its testing. Suppose you start the lawnmower in a garage or workshop. In that case, it must only be operated briefly, and you should ensure proper ventilation while performing any function.

2. Keep away any ignition source: You should permanently remove all sources that can give a spark and ignition away when dealing with gas. Something as minor as cigarette ash can ignite the fuel. It can get hazardous depending on the fuel you are dealing with.

To complete the safety measures, use a non-siphon method to transfer fuel.

Remember, safety is paramount when completing DIY projects like lawn mower maintenance. Stay safe!

Frequently asked questions:

1. How frequently do I drain the gas from my lawnmower?

As a rule, drain the riding lawnmower gas before storing it for over two months. An extended time with gas in the tank can lead to harmful gas and cause problems. Another solution to keep the gas okay for such a time is using a fuel stabilizer.

You add it to the gas, and there is no need to drain it when you store it for an extended period.

2. What if I inhale the gasoline fumes?

Gasoline is a volatile fuel, so it will always have fumes. When blowing into the tubes, avoid inhaling the petrol smell. If you inhale it, there is no big worry as it is not life-threatening. If you have difficulty in breathing, go out and breathe some fresh air.

3. Can I use the drained fuel?

Yes, you can reuse the fuel. But remember that storing it for an extended time will make the gas bad. Your lawnmower should use some fresh gas or add fuel stabilizers to the gas you have drained.

This will help the engine to keep running smoothly and optimally. Of course, you can use the drained fuel for other purposes.

Remarks:

All lawnmower owners have to store their mowers when the cutting season ends. Also, if their machines require tuning, they will always encounter the problem of siphoning the gas out of the mower tank. If you do not have a siphon pump, you need a pair of tubes, a can, a piece of cloth, and some technical knowledge.

This article has given you the step-by-step procedure to quickly drain the gas tank without any siphon pump for the most common lawnmowers, including John Deere lawnmowers, Honda lawnmowers, and Briggs and Stratton lawnmowers.