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tootype2crazy
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007
Posts: 1276
Location: St. Louis Missouri
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 Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:43 pm Post subject: Best way to clean tank in situ |
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Hey all! Today the bus decided to quit running on me. The way it happened made me instantly suspect the fuel tank and I was right. This bus was previously sitting for many years and now I have it and drive it daily. My frequent fill-ups have no doubt liberated many rust flakes which now equate to a small beach's worth of rust flakes sitting right over the outlet. I confirmed this via a quick peer down the tank through the access hole for the sender someone conveniently cut.
My question is what's the best way to clear it? The tank is currently draining VERY slowly. I have some theories on how to clean it but would like to hear some suggestion from the wise samba community before I go willy-nilly on it.
_________________
air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Remove engine. Remove tank. POR-15 or KBS the tank. Send injectors off for cleaning. Clean everything back there and get the fuel gauge to work. Replace all fuel lines including the gas filler hoses.
Install tank. Install engine. |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51125
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed, there is no permanent fix for a crappy tank without removing it, on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere a wire shoved up into the outlet and left in place can delay the blockage along with multiple filter changes but either way it's days are numbered.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Слава Україні! |
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tootype2crazy
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007
Posts: 1276
Location: St. Louis Missouri
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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Since I drive my buses daily I would never, ever coat them in POR-15 or any other coating. A sulfuric acid wash and frequent fill-ups have let my buses with spotless tanks for years. The situation with this tank right now is I can't take it out right away. I will eventually but I just need to get in it and drive it for now. I just wanted to know thoughts on cleaning that gravel pit out of the bottom so I can drive to work tomorrow. Also the fuel gauge works.
_________________
air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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Dansux
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2013
Posts: 128
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| If you have access to the top of the tank maybe you could use siphon to suck up the rust. |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51125
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Dansux wrote: |
| If you have access to the top of the tank maybe you could use siphon to suck up the rust. |
But not with a shop vac 
A magnet on a stick may be helpful though 
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76902
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| tootype2crazy wrote: |
| A sulfuric acid wash and frequent fill-ups have let my buses with spotless tanks for years. |
Then why the problem?
I'll have to assume its lack of the above from the previous owners.
If it's clogged then there's rust and sealing it is a smart thing to do.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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VDubTech
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2002
Posts: 9142
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Did you pull the line off the tank and take the screen out?
_________________
First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=
| borninabus wrote: |
| a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful. |
| notchboy wrote: |
| my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars. |
| EverettB wrote: |
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51125
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: Best way to clean tank in situ |
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| VDubTech wrote: |
| Did you pull the line off the tank and take the screen out? |
| tootype2crazy's signature line wrote: |
_________________
1979 Sunroof Deluxe Bus, 2 Liter FI
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus, 2 Liter FI. |
I suspect his bus is newer than models with screens.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Dansux
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2013
Posts: 128
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Someone mentioned putting magnets in a sock. |
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tootype2crazy
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007
Posts: 1276
Location: St. Louis Missouri
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the suggestions guys. I promise to tank out the tank and do the proper thing asap. I just need to drive tomorrow. I have some really strong neodymium magnets and old socks, I shall give it a go!
_________________
air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Drain the tank and sop out any remaining gas. Pour in a weak solution of muriatic acid and let is sit for a few hours. Drain and flush the tank with water, repeating until any loose rust is gone. Pour in a whole gallon of Osphos and let sit overnight. Drain and flush with water and sop out. (you can catch the Osphos for reuse). You may have to run a wire through the outlet and fuel return to open them up. |
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Ian
Samba Moderator
Joined: August 28, 2002
Posts: 4930
Location: 713
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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Quick n dirty??....blow compressed air up the fuel line...it will usually pop off the rust filled sock, so you can at least get going again.
Keep some spare fuel filters around....
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All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012 |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20271
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| Drain the tank and sop out any remaining gas. Pour in a weak solution of muriatic acid and let is sit for a few hours. Drain and flush the tank with water, repeating until any loose rust is gone. Pour in a whole gallon of Osphos and let sit overnight. Drain and flush with water and sop out. (you can catch the Osphos for reuse). You may have to run a wire through the outlet and fuel return to open them up. |
This. Except for the Ospho part. I have never tried that so I cannot recommend it. The rest of it works quite well.
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1967250s
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2007
Posts: 2137
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I have read many posts about our old gas tank problems and fixes;, including using por15. Why not use some kind of auto paint maybe lacquer or polyurethane? Something that would be fuel proof., you could slosh around in the tank and get good coverage and not flake off like I read about por15 doing. Anyone use any? |
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seventyfo
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007
Posts: 916
Location: Ocoee FL
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:47 am Post subject: |
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You can pull the tank without dropping the engine.
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85 Vanagon GL Westy GW 2.2 (Rebuilt by YT)
"I don't know you well enough to care about your comments". Watkins Cravey |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| 1967250s wrote: |
| I have read many posts about our old gas tank problems and fixes;, including using por15. Why not use some kind of auto paint maybe lacquer or polyurethane? Something that would be fuel proof., you could slosh around in the tank and get good coverage and not flake off like I read about por15 doing. Anyone use any? |
Assuming you are working on the tank because there is rust then you either need to remove the rust totally or have a product that can be used over it. Osphos works by chemically converting the rust and creating a hard coating in its place. It will not work over loose or heavy rusts but does fine over a wire brushed or acid cleaned surface. |
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tootype2crazy
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2007
Posts: 1276
Location: St. Louis Missouri
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| Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Well nothing really worked to get the tank clean with it in so I rode my bike to work and pulled out the tank the next day. I did not drop the engine or even lower it. Just taking off the air cleaner, s boot, distributor cap, spark plug wires, coil, heater booster fan, and all the L-jet hoses the tank came out pretty easy. I am now going to power wash the inside and acid treat it. The rust is minimal so I am going to user vinegar and let it sit for a few days.
_________________
air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's) |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Muractic acid (used for concrete etching) and some chain in there and shaking it all up for a good while will also help do the job of rust removal.
Neutralize with plenty of baking soda. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Randy in Maine wrote: |
Muractic acid (used for concrete etching) and some chain in there and shaking it all up for a good while will also help do the job of rust removal.
Neutralize with plenty of baking soda. |
Your local hardware store will likely have a pail full of cut chain links right next to their chain cutter. These work fine and the price is right. |
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