MACH7

Draining Gas Tank
Manual recommends draining annually. How many do that? For those that do, do you just drain until the fuel looks clean? Or .....?

stilettoman

iTrader: (1)

Been tinkering with cars for 45 years, rotaries for 25. I never heard of anyone draining their tank unless there was an apparent problem with contamination. However, I think pouring in a bottle of alcohol once a year is a good idea if you live in a wet climate. The alcohol mixes with any water that is present and helps prevent rust.

tempusfugitive

i just make sure it's completely full before i store it for the winter, + i'll add some gas stabil to it

Pele

iTrader: (28)

I have a habit of blowing backwards through fuel filters that I remove from any car. The amount of brown that comes out will give you an indication of your tank's condition.

MarkPerez

Yeah, if you go through fuel filters alot then check the tank. The gas stations these days use the plastic tanks, a few years back it was metal and didn't have to be replaced as often the result was crap in the cars tanks. the book also says that if you run out of gas your abusing the car.

Tranquil

iTrader: (1)

lol noes! I ran out of gas! My FB days are forever gone!

That's an interesting idea though, Pele. Strange how a simple thing like a filter will indicate how much crap is in the tank. They can be ment for that, but people like me just forget that.

MACH7

So nobody routinely drains their tanks like the manual calls for, e.g. annually?
I am not asking this question because of a problem. Just trying to understand whether anyone out there is following the Mazda recommended maintenance on this item.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

I drain my tank on a daily basis. After 200 miles, I got to fill up again. Just change the filter every 20,000 miles (as I do on F/I cars) and you should do fine.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Whaddya gonna do, fill up the tank with gas, then drain it onto the ground? Seems kinda a waste to me.

Drain it through the engine. Any debris will end up in the filters... Done deal.

MACH7

I think the idea is that water and sediment will settle to the bottom of the tank and if you remove the gas tank drain plug as recommended by Mazda, you can get the bad stuff out of the tank vs. having it clog your fuel filter - but it does not sound like anyone is following this maintenance item - I am only asking because it is a recommended maintenance item by Mazda on my two 85s & I have never done it

and no you don't drain it on the ground, you would catch it in a container and then properly dispose of it.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

If you really wanna do it, then pull out the tank and bring them to a radiator shop for cleaning and re-sealing. That will cost at least $150.

MarkPerez

I would have to say that most of us here don't drain our gas tanks, via the drain plug
on an regular basis. Sure the oil and filter every so-many thousand miles, plugs, wires and cap and rotor. Fuel filter. i've always known the rx7's were high maintance
( got to stay ontop of the fluids) the fuel tank draining sounds like thats part of the warrenty, ???? thousand mile service

12Astreetport

ive never seen a drain plug on my gas tank and ive dropped it twice to inspect the line connected into it for corrosion..of course they were almost gone on both cars. oh!! that was the mysterious black sediment clogging my fuel filters so often..

BLKTOPTRVL

DITTO. (But change that to 28 and 25 years)