fuel tank cleaning

[chadly]

I dropped the fuel tank last night to replace the fuel pump with one that I’ve had sitting around for years. Inside the tank I can see small particle/sediments settled on the bottom. What is the best way to clean the tank out? If I turn the tank upside down and keep rinsing it I surely will not get it all out will I?

Chad

 

[Morbid]

POR-15 (Marine Clean) and a few other companies make products for that type of thing. But it's usually used in conjuction with prepping the tank to be seal (Google Gas Tank Sealer).

Others have had great success with using Muriatic Acid (can be brought at Home Depot, Lowes, and even some auto parts stores) mixed with water.

In any case the process is fairly straight forward, once the tank is out and fuel removed you mix in your cleaner or choice and water then pick up the tank and swish the solution around. Some folks have even dropped a length of link chain (not a very thick type) in there while doing the swishing to dislodge any gunk.

Rinse and repeat until you satisfied the tank is clean then neutralize/rinse clean (following what is recommended for the cleaning product you used) the tank and your done.

You'll need a way of forcing some air in there to get it good and dry, a hair dryer works well I've heard.

If all that sounds like too much then pretty much any place that boils out Radiators will do the same for Gas Tanks too.

MorBiD

 

[turbofish38]

As dumb as it sounds why not a wet/dry vacuum cleaner? Put about 1/2 gallon of laquer thinner or something that is less volatile than gas. Keep the vacuum motor a safe distance away so the sparks dont set off the fumes. I've done it a few times with out any problems. I use water only because I know I can get all of it out plus I dont want to turn my shop vac into a bomb. You can even use an air compressor as a vacuum if you want to rig up a tee to use as a suction device. Much like an oxygen bottle set up that a doctor would use in surgery. I use the gun and a section of hose from my media blaster to do the same thing. The air going out one way pulls a vacuum the other way causing suction.

 

[Brer Rabbit]

Find a radiator shop in the area.

They will clean the tank perfectly, and safely. Im not exactly sure what the process is but its cheap and its clean as a whistle when U get it back. I believe they "boil out" all the contaminates. Anyone know for sure?

 

[chadly]

It appears that inside the tank there are plastic components. Not sure what they do, but would they survive the boil?

 

[boost jnky]

brer rabbit is correct, i had the same problem with my gas tank and a local radiator shop boiled mine out, but i have had them to do it again because moisture has gotten into it because i didnt seal it up,but that isnt a problem if you take and put alittle bit of kerosean in the tank to keep it from rusting.

 

[chopped39]

when i worked for the radiator shop . we used hot water .just sloshed it around and dumped it out. the hotter the water the faster it dries. if it has to be sealed i would buy a new tank. we had guys that came back because the racing fuel was washing away the sealer. i dont know what kind of fuel they were using .probably rocket fuel. i dont know about vacuuming out tank sounds explosive. and if you ever seen a tank explode its not pretty. i was heating up a filler tube to remove from tank and customer already had sender in it when he found out it was wrong tank. well needless to say as soon as i touched it with the torch i soiled my shorts.because the tank expanded to twice the original size. be very careful. take it to a power washer and then use boiling water and dump it out. be carful around baffle. good luck

 

[8AV8]

I cleaned mine out with plain water, shook it with a friend and then dumped it out until it was clean water coming out (several times). Then took a gallon of denatured alcohol and shook it around to clean the stuff out that water wouldn't cut. After a couple of gallons it looked almost new on the inside. Sit it in the sun and the alcohol will evaporate . This car sat for 7 years BTW. It was gunked up bad. This was 3 years ago and no problems yet

 

[GMV6TURBOPOWER]

i used a squeeze had pump for kerosene and siphoned it out .you can get these at a department store like walmart in the heater/hardware department.

 

[chadly]

I ended up using a hand pump and sucked out all the visual particles. Then shook it real good with gas and dumped it out several times. I think a new tank is in the future as there was rust on the driver side under the strap. In one place it was pitted rather deep, but not leaking. I bought some sealer and plastered up the area just in case. Thanks for the help.

Chad