My wife purchased a 2014 1.0lt Ecoboost, and filled it with petrol on the way home from the dealer. Due to some issues the dealer is taking it back for a refund.

She didn't want to give the dealer her fuel, so coerced me into siphoning it out into another car (not done that since the MacMillan fuel crisis!).

I thought there may be anti-siphon devices, so decided I would remove it if the pipe was stopped. The pipe went all the way, but the fuel wouldn't flow so I gave up.

However, the plastic pipe will not pull out no matter what I do.

I now have to siphon out of the sender unit on the top of the tank, to empty it and try and find the end of the plastic tube and pull it downwards. My question is: if I can't find it that way, how easy is it to get the tank out, and does the filler pipe detach from the tank rather than the whole thing being in one piece?

You should be able to dine out on this story!!

Whoops! 

The filler tube is connected to the tank by two short rubber pipes.  They use Clic-R clips so you may need to replace with jubilee clips if you don't have a suitable tool to reuse them.

The tank is held up by a V shaped strap with 3 bolts up into the chassis.

In theory it shouldn't be too difficult to remove but I suspect part of the exhaust would need to be dropped and there are small pipes for the evap system that need to be considered as well.

1 hour ago, harryveyre said:

You should be able to dine out on this story!!

Think I would have either just let them have the 40 to £50 of petrol or ask if they would reimburse the cost.

I'm very sure that I'd not be going to all that work just to get the wife's petrol back 🤣

4 hours ago, harryveyre said:

She didn't want to give the dealer her fuel...

In addition, the petrol has been swirling around in a 10 year old tank, likely it's not as pristine as it was when pumped. I'm with the thought that it's not worth the hassle. Though your wife sounds quite formidable 😂

Thank you for the input guys. I agree totally regarding the wife's decision. The fuel would have been best left, but given that it looked a straightforward operation I took the decision to keep her happy.

Of course, now the focus of the task has changed from recovering the fuel to extricating the siphon pipe from the filler tube.

It would seem the only way is to get into the tank and pull the pipe downwards, since it doesn't want to be pulled out upwards.

Looking at images of tanks on-line, can someone tell me what the large opening is for on the top of the tank?

By the way, SWIMBO (she who must be obeyed) now feels remorse over her decision, a great bargaining chip when needed in the future!

Thank you for the input guys. I agree totally regarding the wife's decision. The fuel would have been best left, but given that it looked a straightforward operation I took the decision to keep her happy.

Of course, now the focus of the task has changed from recovering the fuel to extricating the siphon pipe from the filler tube.

It would seem the only way is to get into the tank and pull the pipe downwards, since it doesn't want to be pulled out upwards.

Looking at images of tanks on-line, can someone tell me what the large opening is for on the top of the tank? (Just found out it's the pump!)

By the way, SWIMBO (she who must be obeyed) now feels remorse over her decision, a great bargaining chip when needed in the future!

10 hours ago, harryveyre said:

By the way, SWIMBO (she who must be obeyed) now feels remorse over her decision, a great bargaining chip when needed in the future!

A wonderful phrase highlighted by the delightful Rumpole of the Bailey (TV series circa 1975)

Not many of us now left that would enjoy the reference 🤣

16 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Not many of us now left that would enjoy the reference 🤣

Or " 'er indoors" (Minder).

In similar vein one I rather like at the moment is from Steve Cropley, Editor in Chief of Autocar magazine:

 "The Steering Committee"😀