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Cleaning out a gas tank

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by johnny and sandy, Jan 23, 2009.

  1. Jan 23, 2009
    johnny and sandy

    johnny and sandy Member

    San...
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    Nov 9, 2008
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    Hi Kids
    Any good ideas on how to clean out a gas tank?
    I don’t have any rust, but have varnish scum from sitting for twelve years or so.
    Thanks again.
    dead horse
     
  2. Jan 23, 2009
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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  3. Jan 23, 2009
    89diesel

    89diesel Broken!!!...Again

    Regina, SK, Canada
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    I use a pressure washer and a handful of gravel. I have also used a garden hose and gravel before I had the washer, it works, but takes a little longer. You could dump some auto tranny fluid in after, if you're not going to fill it right away to stop rust.
     
  4. Jan 23, 2009
    Bucket of Bolts

    Bucket of Bolts Broke Member

    Dinuba, Ca.
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    I have used easy off heavy duty oven cleaner and high preasure washer.
     
  5. Jan 24, 2009
    djbutler

    djbutler Sponsor

    Rio Linda CA
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    I had a gas tank in my old '66 that was badly rusted inside, kept clogging the fuel filter. I went to Home Depot and bought a package of Muriatic acid sold in 2 gallon jugs for Pool PH treatment. Caution when dealing with this stuff, it will eat your clothes and you don't want to breathe the fumes. Muriatic acid is the active ingredient found in a product called Naval Jelly, another rust dissolver product.

    I poured the whole thing in my tank and let it sit for a few hours, sloshed it around with the guage sender removed. It etched out the rust real quick. Afterwards I decanted the stuff back into the plastic jugs and flushed the tank with water several times, and then dumped a box of baking soda in, filled with water again and let it sit for a little while to neutralize any last traces of acid.

    Eastwood sells a gas tank sealer kit that you can get to keep the tank from rusting again, it will also seal any pinholes that you may find after the etching treatment. Do a google search on gas tank sealer, it will come up.

    This may sound extreme but given the price of a new OEM tank it was worth the trouble to me. The pool acid is cheap but a pain to deal with. The most expensive thing is the Eastwood sealer kit for about $30.

    Don
     
  6. Jan 24, 2009
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I'd be really careful with pool acid, both in handling and use. Steel plus acid with enough time or concentration = no more steel. A real metal prep product would be safer.

    I recall an article that suggested metal prep plus a handful of roofing nails. That was followed with a coating (Pliobond) on the inside of the tank.

    If all you want to do is remove the varnish, not prep a rusty tank for coating, I'd suggest a hot solvent (laquer thinner? MEK?) followed by a detergent wash, then forced air drying. You could put the vacuum cleaner exhaust into the tank for a couple of hours to dry it. I'd try and use the tank as soon as possible after cleaning - and not leave it standing empty.
     
  7. Jan 24, 2009
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    They said there was no rust.:)
    If it's just varnish, I'd try putting a gallon of gas in it, and slosh it around and let it sit. Drain it out, do it again, and see what it looks like.
     
  8. Jan 24, 2009
    jglad

    jglad Village Idiot

    Glenville, WV
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    If you just have the varnish left behind after gasoline evaporates, laquer thinner works well at disolving it. Pour a gallon of thinner into the tank and let it soak for about a week.
     
  9. Jan 24, 2009
    johnny and sandy

    johnny and sandy Member

    San...
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    Thanks for the info Sparky. Jon tried searching, but he is not the greatest at doing searches, or spelling.
    Sandy
     
  10. Jan 24, 2009
    johnny and sandy

    johnny and sandy Member

    San...
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    Thanks for the info everyone. Jon will probably be heading to a Radiator shop.
    Sandy
     
  11. Jan 25, 2009
    johnny and sandy

    johnny and sandy Member

    San...
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    Hey thanks for the info.
    Going to the radiator shop may be the way to go.
    My idea was to get about three or four baby guinea pigs, just glue some sand paper to their feet say about 80 grit not to fine or courts of paper. Then shove them down the filler pipe let them run around in side the tank for about 24 hours. Then fill the tank up with water that will dissolve their droppings and mat down their hair so you can use a wet dry vac. to suck them out.
    OK just teasing off to the radiator shop
    Jon
     
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