Can the fuel be siphoned from the new Santana's fuel tank?
2 Answers
The fuel can be siphoned from the new Santana's fuel tank. You can directly disconnect the fuel pump's outlet pipe (it's more convenient to operate from the fuel filter), place it into a fuel container, and then power the fuel pump directly to siphon the fuel out. It is crucial to continuously monitor the fuel gauge during this process, as the fuel pump is more prone to burning out when the fuel level is low. Immediately cut off the power supply to the fuel pump once the fuel gauge crosses the red line. There are several main challenges in siphoning fuel: Twisted fuel filler pipe: After the fuel nozzle is inserted into the filler neck, the gasoline needs to pass through the filler pipe to reach the fuel tank. Due to the distance between the car's fuel tank and the filler neck, and the complex structure of the car's chassis, the fuel pipe cannot run straight into the fuel tank and inevitably has some bends. If the siphoning tube is too rigid to turn, or too soft, it tends to curl. Fuel tank structure: Since the fuel pipes of many cars are connected to the side of the fuel tank, even if a rigid siphoning tube is inserted into the tank with great effort, it may only lie parallel to the fuel surface and fail to reach the fuel level, making siphoning impossible. Anti-spill check valve in the fuel tank: To prevent gasoline from leaking out of the filler neck when the vehicle rolls over or tilts, a check valve is designed at the connection between the fuel pipe and the fuel tank. Its function is to ensure that gasoline can flow from the fuel pipe into the tank, but gasoline in the tank cannot flow back into the fuel pipe. This check valve is quite simple, and most check valve structures do not cause significant interference when inserting a tube for siphoning.
Last time I went on a road trip with my new Santana, the fuel light came on and I wanted to siphon some gas as an emergency measure, but found it impossible to do so. The fuel tank opening has an anti-siphoning mesh designed like an iron net pouch, making it impossible to insert a regular siphon hose. After struggling for a while and almost getting the hose stuck, I asked a mechanic friend and learned that this is a common safety measure by Volkswagen to prevent fuel theft or accidental leakage. It's a reliable design but makes siphoning fuel an impossible task. My advice is not to waste time and just drive to the nearest gas station to refuel—it's much more convenient and safer. If it's a real emergency, you can use a car app to find nearby gas station services, which is efficient and reliable.
