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nybugguy
Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2008
Posts: 117
Location: Upstate New York
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 Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject: Best way to clean a gas tank? |
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I have a tank that I thought was pretty clean but much to my surprise after sitting all winter(dumbass didn't use stabilizer or drain it) I put a fresh gallon in and started it up. Ran ok but then plugged up with a black tar looking sludge.Now I have the carb to clean and the tank to flush and not sure if I messed up the fuel pump or not.
Never do that again! Now the tank is out so how is the best way to flush a tank of that tar stuff to make sure I can get it "all" out! Thanks for any help you can throw my way! |
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new-n-old-vdubs
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2009
Posts: 587
Location: feeding hills mass
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| Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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Is it rust to? I used my power washer with the end that makes circles and stuck it in the sender unit hole. You could see what breaks the tar down like decreased.then plug it up put degreaser and balls from bearings or nuts and bolts in tank do the honey pokey and shake the shit out of it. Rinse and repeat. I sealed my tank with a three part kit from KBS coatings.
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dan macmillan
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2003
Posts: 3110
Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:44 am Post subject: |
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I bought a Ghia that had sit with 3/4 tank of fuel for 12 years, the fuel was like jello. I removed the tank and filled it with water and washing soda. I then put it on the BBQ and boiled it for an hour. It came out spotless.
What are you guys using for fuel. I have stored cars outside for 2 years with fuel in them and NO stabilizer. Never had any problems with fuel breaking down.
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Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone |
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vincent9993
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2006
Posts: 2025
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| dan macmillan wrote: |
| ... I then put it on the BBQ and boiled it for an hour. It came out spotless.... |
You have more balls than I my friend! Would have loved to see a video of the making of. I'm not saying you were in any danger, it's just the idea of putting a gas tank on a BBQ scares the crap out of me! |
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Wetstuff
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2010
Posts: 700
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 5:01 am Post subject: |
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.... 'took one of the belly tanks on my '68 Travelall to the radiator repair shop a few weeks ago. ..couple of years ago, did the same for a Furgeson tractor.
Like, Dan .. I used kerosene, hot water and soap to clean a small tank that had a layer of 'pancake syrup' in the bottom. (no BBQ - this one was plastic) It was easy because it was small.
Jim
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Yessong
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2006
Posts: 242
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| I stuck my garden hose in it and banged it with a hammer till the bits and pieces stopped coming out - did this a few times over the course of two days the stuck a hair dryer in it for a few housrs - that was a couple of years ago and all remains well. |
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wells service
Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2011
Posts: 18
Location: anaheim california
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| i have had luck with gravel and small rocks in the tank and roll it around with water then without. FYI if you have a leak in the tank you can stop the leak with the soggy part of a bar of soap. you can then use the tank repair epoxy later. |
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dan macmillan
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2003
Posts: 3110
Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:58 am Post subject: |
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| vincent9993 wrote: |
| dan macmillan wrote: |
| ... I then put it on the BBQ and boiled it for an hour. It came out spotless.... |
You have more balls than I my friend! Would have loved to see a video of the making of. I'm not saying you were in any danger, it's just the idea of putting a gas tank on a BBQ scares the crap out of me! |
No balls needed. You dump out the crap, rinse it, fill it with water then set it on high. That old gelled gas/varnish is very difficult to light. Combined with the water and washing soda makes it perfectly safe.
After it was done I rinsed it again with clean water.
Followed by electric rust removal.
This is done by refilling it to the top with water and 2 cups of washing soda. A piece of steel rebar was inserted into the sender hole {insulated at the end and around the hole so as not to touch the tank}. The pos term of my battery charger was connected to the rebar, neg to the tank. Do not do this backwards. Turn on the charger, bubbles will appear in the solution if done right. Let it sit undisturbed overnight, turn off the charger and check the tank. If it is rust free rinse it out and slosh a bit of oil in it to cover all the surface, or you can use the liquid tank liners. Dump the excess. The tank is now clean, and rust free. The oil will prevent rusting until it is filled with gas. After that, gas will prevent rusting.
Also the mixture that results from the electrolytic cleaning is not harmful to the environment. You can water your wife's flowers with it.
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone
Last edited by dan macmillan on Wed May 04, 2011 10:31 am; edited 2 times in total |
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63Fiberbuggy
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2007
Posts: 217
Location: SC
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Below was result of <1/8th fuel left in tank over 15 years....I recovered tank, but with a little work.
Car wash wand in fill tube first to ensure no explosion hazard, then cut top out, and used putty knife to clear serious gunk (gel & rust). Then acid etched & had tank welded up/pressure tested. Last step, Kreem sealed inside, followed by a coat of bed liner on outside. Been in use for over 5 years since recovery, no problems.
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desertwrx
Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2007
Posts: 351
Location: Borrego Springs, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I removed my gummed up gas wuth a chain and laquer thinner. A friend uses large gravel and muratic acid to remove rust. |
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missionaviator
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2008
Posts: 171
Location: Currently Central Florida
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| desertwrx wrote: |
| I removed my gummed up gas wuth a chain and laquer thinner. A friend uses large gravel and muratic acid to remove rust. |
I've used the chain method on a few occasions and works well. It's smooth enough that it won't damage the tank, but still removes rust.
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new-n-old-vdubs
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2009
Posts: 587
Location: feeding hills mass
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:22 am Post subject: |
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I live in western mass and knowing what winter is like and what my buggy looked like after I took it out of it tarp cage, I would get the kbs kit. Its comes with a cleaner an acid etch and a coating it worked great. I've used kreem on a motorcycle tank and liked it too but the kbs seemed better. And you don't want to clean the tank only to have it rust later on do you? That would suck big time.
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