Just wondering if this is normal SOP in order to get fuel to drain when I pull the handle?
This is an E-Series van (2003) Not an F-Series. I would have thought that just turning on the key which runs the fuel pump would be enough to get the drain to work? But I always have to have the vehicle running in order to get fuel to drain out. Any thoughts? Is this normal? DDT

 

 

Oh yeah, It just blows out all over the bottom when it's running! LOL
Don't know it there is a hose attached but if so they sure could have extended it
further down so the fuel doesn't drain all over whatever that section of frame that
crosses over between the right & left side. If there was a hose I could put a can down and catch it.
As it is I just have to drain it on the ground! I'm not a tree hugger but I don't like doing this either.

 

I have a piece of heater hose I slide over the drain line, just shove it up as far as it goes, and it stays on without clamps or leaking. Lets me drain it into an old quart oil bottle. When I open my valve it does start draining, but then I crack open the fuel bowl to vent it, and it really pours out.
Edit: On my e99, the drain line opens along the front passenger side of the engine block, just below the exhaust manifold. I can usually get about 2-3" of heater hose on it.

 

 

I use a long piece of 1/2" poly tube. It fits nicely over the drain tube, and I snake it to a waste container in the front of the truck. It's a little added work, but it's part of the oil change maintenance regime. Every other oil change involve a fuel filter change, so gravity does the work on that round.

A little note here: The Hutch mod was very informative for me. After all those years and tanks of fuel, dropping the tank yielded only a couple of drops of water.

 

I have a piece of clear hose that fits tight and I leave on there but tuck up out of the way when not in use, it comes down low enough that I can use an oil bottle to catch the fuel. The fuel should drain without the truck running but...the pump would have to run to keep a steady flow. Does a fuel pump run with the key off beyond its 20 second initial start up? I never checked that.

 

Thanks for the feed back.
Walleye Hunter....That's a good question. I have always assumed the electric fuel pump runs the initial 20 seconds just to pump up & pressurize the fuel system. If you don't start the engine it shuts off. I assume it turns back on as soon as you start the engine and runs 100% of the time as the engine is running.
Here is where I am at.... I don't know just where that (pull handle) goes to. The one that sticks up right next to the oil dip stick. It seems logical that it would go right to the fuel bowl but it sure seems to be directed in a very downward angle away from the fuel bowl. I have tried to look (quick) to trace it and it has eluded me in there somewhere.
I have never liked having a (pull handle) as the operating mechanism for the fuel drain. It is somewhat stiff to pull out and that means it is also stiff to be pushed back in! (That might be good for some things but not in this case). LOL
The very first time I operated it I broke it off from whatever was holding the outside porting of the tube to some sort of bracket. Now it is just zipped to the oil dip tube. So again it's kinda just loosely floating there and when I have to close it I need to use 2 hands. 1 to hold the outer tube & 1 to push the handle back in. I am always afraid something is going to go wrong and I will not be able to close it. I would much prefer the little yellow hand operated valve I have seen that is mounted right to the fuel bowl. I wonder if this (Handle) and it's accompanying tube and attachment to ??? Can be eliminated or disconnected from whatever valve it's attached to. As far as I know I have never even needed to operate it for water in the filter reasons. I just do it once in a while. As Tug mentions, He has never seen any significant amount of water in the tank.
Guess I will either have to put more effort into tracing it ORRRR I could get more information from you guys about where it goes, How it' s attached & if it can be eliminated.
Oh, Thanks for the (attach extender hose) tips. Again, I guess I have to put more effort into finding this drain hose that is there. DDT

 

Have you gotten enough stuff out of your engine compartment to see the fuel bowl? IIRC the E-450 short bus that I dismantled did not have that pull apparatus that you speak of. Maybe it goes to that yellow lever that we all know and it was decommissioned on my bus and maybe you can remove it too. But then you'll have to remove half of your engine to get at it to drain it again.

 

Your not wrong about that. But I have done a bit to remove stuff & make it quicker & easier
to get at the fuel bowl for fuel filter changes. I think the things that make the biggest difference in ease of fuel bowl are/were...
CCV Mod and Resonator box removal. Also the bracket that some of it was attached to. With all those hoses & clamps no longer necessary to remove it's pretty much just removing 2 big clamps. The one on the air filter box (easy under the hood), and the one back on the turbo, (requires dog house removal no matter what). Then the whole air box and the (snorkel tube) are easily removed. That gives the room & access to the fuel bowl. So it's not easy but not anywhere as difficult as it was. I also removed a bunch of the plastic clips & a few screws that hold the air box brackets and air scoops in place. (big time saver in the R& R process). And none of it can go anywhere when the hood is closed & I have not heard or seen any evidence of vibration or falling apart. Also, I don't mind if it becomes more difficult to reach as the removal of the handle & tube will be one more thing out of the way in the engine bay. IE: I would just rather have positive control over this action. DDT