How to drill hole in fuel tank...

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Hilux.e.cape
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How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Hilux.e.cape »

Good day all...
Ive recently learned that my electric fuel pump has a low pressure suction action which in turn has made my pump make a hell of a noise when i switch it on...
These pumps battle to suck up out of the tank and and hence the problem...

Ive done some research and heres what ive done..
Removed fuel
Removed tank
Flushed tank with water a few times
Added bicarb and vinegar to help eliminate fumes
Sealed all holes except one with duct tape and filled with water to the brim. Sealed that hole too. Flipped tank around and drilled small hole in the centre of the tank, following by a 13mm hole.
Had a copper elbow fitting which screwed in tight and applied pratley steel to seal it.
All to do now is cut hole in the tank bash plate and run fuel line perhaps in a steel tubing to original fuel feeder pipe.

Tank shouldnt explode as there is no air and minimal fumes inside. I also used oil to lude the bit to avoid a spark.

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Let me know if any one has other opinions or trick...Image

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lukestoyzx
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by lukestoyzx »

I reckon ya went a bit overboard with it all just to drill a hole! If you are cutting or welding then yes do all that but drilling nah! Just plenty of cutting fluid or even just grease where ya drilling to keep the bit cool and catch the shavings would be fine.

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Hilux.e.cape
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Hilux.e.cape »

Ive heard and seen too many stories to take a chance.

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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Mud Dog »

Just fill water to cover the drilling area and drill away. :winkx:
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by The Legend »

All the places fitting long rang tanks above the spare wheel just drill a hole in the tank.My tank was half with fuel when they drill the hole.
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by The Legend »

Hilux.e.cape wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2017 5:38 pm Good day all...
Ive recently learned that my electric fuel pump has a low pressure suction action which in turn has made my pump make a hell of a noise when i switch it on...
These pumps battle to suck up out of the tank and and hence the problem...

Ive done some research and heres what ive done..
Removed fuel
Removed tank
Flushed tank with water a few times
Added bicarb and vinegar to help eliminate fumes
Sealed all holes except one with duct tape and filled with water to the brim. Sealed that hole too. Flipped tank around and drilled small hole in the centre of the tank, following by a 13mm hole.
Had a copper elbow fitting which screwed in tight and applied pratley steel to seal it.
All to do now is cut hole in the tank bash plate and run fuel line perhaps in a steel tubing to original fuel feeder pipe.

Tank shouldnt explode as there is no air and minimal fumes inside. I also used oil to lude the bit to avoid a spark.

Image Link Broken

Let me know if any one has other opinions or trick...Image

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk
I had the same problem and replace my outside high pressure pump with a Bosch pump inside the tank.
End of my problems. Pump in tank work much better and runs very soft.Still use only one pump instead of two pumps(facet and high pressure pump).Also work out much cheaper
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“A BAD DAYS FISHING IS BETTER THAN A GOOD DAYS WORK”

“Do what you do so well, that the people that see you do it, will want to see you do it again,and will bring others to see you do it”
Hilux.e.cape
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Hilux.e.cape »

Test drive went nice.... half way home bakkie had no power... crawled home.....
Opened tank cap.... massive pressure not released by cap valve... sorted that out and went for another test.... same thing again.... now wonder if filter blocked or pump finally seen its day.... as ithas been makin a massive noise before. But after the mod it was nice and silent. Any suggestions what it could be?

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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by The Legend »

What is the size of your fuel line 6 or 8mm?
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Hilux.e.cape
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Hilux.e.cape »

6mm. But it was running fine when before i swoped the fuel line from top to bottom

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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by The Legend »

Jp, just a stupid question. Is the fuel running fast out of that copper elbow fitting? There is a breather pipe on your fuel tank with a small filter on it. Did you check if the filter is not blocked?
“A BAD DAYS FISHING IS BETTER THAN A GOOD DAYS WORK”

“Do what you do so well, that the people that see you do it, will want to see you do it again,and will bring others to see you do it”
Hilux.e.cape
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Hilux.e.cape »

Mmm.... i did not check if its blocked. Wasnt sure what its for. So must be blocked if it keeps so much pressure.
And also did not check the flow from the elbow... assumed it would be fine as i forced the fuel pipe on it

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Hilux.e.cape
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Hilux.e.cape »

Update... went and bought another pump... when i stripped the old one i noticed there was muck stuck there. Cleaned it out. Put it back and now she runs better than ever before. Will keep other pump as a spare as i only paid 600 for it from a connection.
Also noticed my temperature has dropped quite abit aswell for some reason. She was running between 90 nd 100. Now she barely touches 90. Thumbs up

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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by LouisZ »

The problem with the bottom feed is you still get muck to your pump. These tanks are old so it loose the lining inside. Best is to get an inline filter between the tank and pump. This will stop the muck from getting to the pump.

Another is to change the feed pipe diameter to at least 10mm inside to let the pressure be high enough for that Lexus. 6mm is not enough.
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Knuppel
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Re: How to drill hole in fuel tank...

Post by Knuppel »

I used a corolla fuel tank holder and will never use anything else for a lexus, the 4zz motor even uses the same fuel pump as oem lexus pump.

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