Author Topic: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank  (Read 3199 times)

HOT3O2

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Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« on: March 11, 2022, 11:19:01 PM »
I pulled the gas tank out of my car. It didn’t have much gas in it but the gas that was in it was pretty old. What the best way to clean the tank out? I’d like to make sure that there’s no crud build up on the bottom of the tank before I reinstall it. Thanks.
Rick
69 RS/Z28

169INDY

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2022, 11:43:36 PM »
LoL, Clean Pea Gravel and Mineral spirits and tumble,,,,
Jim
68 SS/RS L35 Th-400 LOS
69 Pace Car L48 Th-350 LOS
68 Z28 M21 LOS

Gars68Tux

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2022, 09:06:50 PM »
Acetone dissolves varnish. Let it soak for a few hours. Shine a light in there to see if there's much build up. Pull the sending unit if needed. Depending on the severity, a final flush with water may be needed. Then use isopropyl alcohol as a dryer.
Garth

68 RS L30 AA 749 Fred Gibb Chevrolet

HOT3O2

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2022, 11:48:55 PM »
Thanks for the input guys, I’ll get back to work on it.
Rick
69 RS/Z28

Sauron327

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2022, 06:02:10 PM »
I just bring it to a shop have them cook it. Been doing it for decades. We did it all the time when we had a radiator shop attached to our bodyshop.

Stingr69

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2022, 03:29:30 PM »
Careful on the radiator shop.  I tried that ONCE.  They were not capable of doing the job and I had to buy a new tank after they gave it back to me.  Not worth the headache.

David K

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2022, 10:37:59 PM »
Empty it, shine a flashlight inside. Got to be mindful with ethanol based fuel.

firstgenaddict

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2022, 09:35:35 PM »
WE use a Landa Kerosene fired pressure washer... leave the wand in the tank for 20 min or so with it boiling out.
Then if any rust, some metal prep, then coat with 2 part tank sealer from POR15. We have done countless Harley tanks and 20-30 car tanks, never had a problem with any of them even with ethanol fuels.
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

Sauron327

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2022, 03:01:37 PM »
Careful on the radiator shop.  I tried that ONCE.  They were not capable of doing the job and I had to buy a new tank after they gave it back to me.  Not worth the headache.
Never had an issue when we did it weekly or when I had another qualified shop do it.

Sauron327

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2022, 03:04:04 PM »
WE use a Landa Kerosene fired pressure washer... leave the wand in the tank for 20 min or so with it boiling out.
Then if any rust, some metal prep, then coat with 2 part tank sealer from POR15. We have done countless Harley tanks and 20-30 car tanks, never had a problem with any of them even with ethanol fuels.
Had bike customers who used tank liner and once it started to peel it left them stranded on the road. I do a lot of custom artwork on bikes. Strange how some of my cars have been sitting for decades have zero tank issues.

Sauron327

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2022, 03:05:39 PM »
I've also tossed in pea stone in tanks and tossed it around with perfect results. Or used electrolysis.

If not freaked out about a non original tank just buy a Spectra Ni-Terne treated one. I have one and drive my frame off restored car like I hate it. Rain, dirt roads. Tank still looks mint after decades.
Had customers who wanted to save their original tanks. They dumped 150K into a car worth less than half of that.

firstgenaddict

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #11 on: April 27, 2022, 08:53:07 PM »
WE use a Landa Kerosene fired pressure washer... leave the wand in the tank for 20 min or so with it boiling out.
Then if any rust, some metal prep, then coat with 2 part tank sealer from POR15. We have done countless Harley tanks and 20-30 car tanks, never had a problem with any of them even with ethanol fuels.
Had bike customers who used tank liner and once it started to peel it left them stranded on the road. I do a lot of custom artwork on bikes. Strange how some of my cars have been sitting for decades have zero tank issues.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume it was not you who prepped the tanks
VERY FEW laypeople are meticulous enough to correctly prep a fuel tank for coating.

My dad's original 1940 Ford Woodie wagon tank (which had surface rust inside prior to being boiled and blasted has been coated near 30 years now & Have done I cannot tell you how many bike tanks over the past 10 years NEVER once had an issue with coating failure.
As you know it's ALL in the PREP. 
If I boiled them out and removed the rust without coating them, the bike would be back at the guys shop inside of 2 years with the same tank corrosion issues.
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

Sauron327

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Re: Best Way to Clean Out A Gas Tank
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2022, 07:26:48 PM »
I would not consider doing a job unless I did all the prep work or trusted the person doing so. I'm not and idiot and have decades of experience. Have a good day James. Most people in this hobby today are checkbook owners with little or no experience.

It is a pleasure to deal with guys who do this everyday. Take care.

 

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