A siphon is a helpful tool to have in an emergency situation or if you just don't have time to go to the gas station. Imagine that you're traveling with friends in separate cars and you run out of gas with the nearest gas station 10 miles away. Having a homemade siphon in your trunk will allow you to borrow a gallon of gas to make it to the next gas station. All you need to make a working siphon is a short garden hose.
Use a garden hose that is at least six feet in length. Anything shorter will not be long enough to allow gravity to push the gasoline through the hose.
The garden hose should be thin enough to fit into your gas tank. If not, consider purchasing another type of rubber tubing. Any type of tubing is fine as long as it can bend.
Place the siphon directly into the gas tank. Feed the hose into the tank at least two feet to ensure the hose has reached the bottom of the tank.
Allow the slack of the hose to droop down to the floor while you hold the other end above the gas tank. The hose must droop to the floor to allow gravity to force the gas downward.
Suck on the other end of the hose to create suction and to get the gas flowing. Gravity will naturally make the gas flow through the hose to reach the same level as the gas tank. You must hold the hose above the gas tank because that position will keep you from getting a nasty mouthful of gasoline. To allow the gas to flow from the hose, lower the hose below the gas tank's level. Place the end of the hose in whatever vehicle or machine needs gas.
