Drain Fuel Tanks (Both tanks) on 1996 F150 XLT Supercab Short Bed
 

My 1996 F150 has been sitting for about a year. I've just had the engine rebuilt and the injectors replaced.

The "mechanic" suspects that bad fuel is causing the truck not to run right.

I'm surprised and disappointed that did not drain the fuel tanks prior to reinstalling the rebuilt engine and new fuel injectors. Had I been doing the work, I think I would want to make sure that "bad gas" wouldn't cause a problem after the engine was rebuilt and reinstalled. So, I would have drained the tanks.

So, I'm asking for help on how to drain both of the tanks myself, since the mechanic didn't do it.

I know there's a fuel filter in the fuel lines that run along the frame but since there is at least one electric fuel pump in the system, I'm guessing it's more complicated than just pulling that filter and hooking a drain line into the fuel line and running to a gas can.

So, what's involved?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I would siphon out what you can. Year old fuel isn't that bad (especially if a stabilizer was added). Change the filter. Add fresh fuel. The fresh fuel diluting the small volume of older fuel should be sufficient. To the best of my knowledge, to get all the old fuel out, you'd have to drop the tanks.

Thanks for responding. Of course I hadn't added any stabilizer! That would have been too smart! ;)

The mechanic is going to add some 93 octane fuel and see if the issue clears up. I'm not optimistic!

What is the truck doing? What engine/trans?

He says that it's missing under high acceleration.

It's a 5.0, automatic with overdrive (E4OD ?).

Not throwing any codes.

He was supposed to test the fuel pressure at the fuel rail today.

I'm gonna call him in a little while to see what's going on today.

I'll provide an update after I speak with him.

Thanks again for your help!