TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:50 am

I purchased a 1971 914 1.7L a few months ago that had been stored since 1984. I found the fuel lines blocked and removed the fuel tank, emptied out the soured gasoline and found a "tar" substance in the bottom of the tank.

I tried a couple gallons of lacquer thinner for a couple days and it didn't touch the stuff. Then I tried muratic acid for a few days with the same result.

Does anyone have any suggestions how to remove this "tar" substance from the tank. The tank has baffles rattling a chain inside the tank is not going to do it.

Any suggestions are welcomed.

Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:56 am

How about a radiator shop to clean it out?

Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:39 pm

Have you tried maybe sloshing around some ball bearings in there with some sort of solvent? It might break it up.

Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:54 pm

You don’t say what part of the country you’re at, but this is the one thing that E10 and E15 gasolines are actually good for.

Thu Nov 03, 2011 1:17 pm

I am located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Thanks for the info, guys. I'll work on it

Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:19 am

damesandhotrods wrote: You don’t say what part of the country you’re at, but this is the one thing that E10 and E15 gasolines are actually good for.

Hell if your not it running through the engine why not go E-85? Maybe that will work but most likely you will need to take it to a radiator shop to be flushed. I checked with my local shop a few weeks ago and they wanted $150 to flush and seal a bug tank. :roll:

Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:28 pm

Shadd wrote: damesandhotrods wrote: You don’t say what part of the country you’re at, but this is the one thing that E10 and E15 gasolines are actually good for.

Hell if your not it running through the engine why not go E-85? Maybe that will work but most likely you will need to take it to a radiator shop to be flushed. I checked with my local shop a few weeks ago and they wanted $150 to flush and seal a bug tank. :roll:

I’ve seen more fuel system related problems since they put alcohol into gasoline then a few decades of driving. Everything I’ve read on the internet says don’t seal the gas tank, the alcohol will strip it and send it down the fuel line in pieces. I haven’t seen it yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:16 pm

It's most likely just old gas laquer. Old gas turns blackish and gooey, plugging up all the lines and injectors, too. Carb cleaner, Berrymans Chemtool, and other killer solvents, or take it to a radiator shop to be boiled out. At the same time, replace the old lines with Tangerine's SS lines. Good luck.

Sun Nov 13, 2011 4:32 pm

The guy at the radiator shop here in Havasu said that he could steam clean it. With the baffles inside the tank I don't think that would work out too well.

I put some carburetor cleaner in the tank and it looks like the stuff began to soften quickly. I'll let it sit overnight and check again. It looks like it might work.

I'll post back again once I have more results.

Thanks for the input everyone. I appreciate it greatly!

Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:08 am

How did it work out Dave?

Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:20 am

The carb cleaner seems to be working. It has softened and dissolved some of the tar. I'm going to leave it in there for a few days in hopes that it will be fully dissolved.

I'll post again in a couple days.

Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:31 pm

I checked the tank tonight and the carburetor cleaner has done the trick. I will keep rotating the tank to different positions for the next few days to make sure all of the tar is gone. The carburetor cleaner has turned the walls of the tank clean!

In a few days I'll drain the three gallons of carburetor cleaner out and rinse the tank out with lacquer thinner and then gasoline to make sure that the tank is fully cleaned out.

Then the fuel lines will be changed out and replaced as well. Don't want any of that crap in the injectors.

Thanks for all the help, everyone!