Fuel Tank Flush...

Looking to flush a '71 fuel tank so it could be shipped if sold, or safely stored if not. Any recommendations on a "home remedy" or should I just have a radiator shop flush it? Low buck is great, but safety is a bigger concern for shipment. TIA...

 

I am guessing the tank is out of your jeep. And it has no gas in it.

I have flushed out several tanks on the older under the seat tanks.

I fill them about 1/3 full of warm soapy water. Then kind of do a slow shake to get the water sloshing around inside. Then turn over the tank to dump the water. Do this about 3 times and it gets fairly clean. I have also done this at the quarter car wash. It was really better and much easier using their place than doing it my driveway.

If you are going to store the tank for a while, might empty a can of something like WD 40 in it or something to coat the inside with some kind of rust preventive.


Tip: IF you go to the car wash try not to do it on a busy day. A rainy day would be better when no one is there.

 

It's actually off a spare frame I just bought. It has the distinctive odor of stale gas, but doesn't have much sludge in the bottom. I'll probably have to use a bit stronger solution to loosen up what is in there though... Thanks!

 

While you're at it, take a handful of old nails, screws, washers, etc, and throw them in while shaking it. It'll help clean the crud of the bottom.

 

I like to use a chain for cleaning out rust and gunk from a gas tank.

 

I know a guy who cleaned out an old tractor tank by putting some nuts and bolts in it. And then he tied the tank to the rear side of a rear tractor wheel and he slowly drove around for about 10 minutes. Saved him some work. Do you have a tractor?

 

CT wrote: "If you are going to store the tank for a while, might empty a can of something like WD 40 in it or something to coat the inside with some kind of rust preventive. "

I can tell you that in the army they put in some heavy oil and close the cap. This way it will last longer (after you left it open to dry).
Ziv

 

I recently cleaned out a motorcycle tank that had been sitting for a long time. No rust but it had a layer of Laquer in it from the old gas. First, I tried cleaning it with new gas and did very little. Then I tried what else... Laquer thinner. worked great!. It would have worked better witht the marble,nut & bolt, or chain trick. also I think Eastwood sells a gas tank cleaning & sealing kit that might be worth looking at.

 

MEK....Methyl Ethyl keytone.....available at Lwes for about 10 bucks a gallon. It does wonders explodes great if you smoke near it. Seriously, I used it and its very flammable, but no more so than gasoline. Cleaned my tank great. Acetone works well too. same price...same hazards.

 

I put paint thinner in one with some small bolts and nuts and sealed it up and drove around with it in my truck bed for about a week. Worked great.

 

I had really good luck some years ago cleaning a motorcycle tank with industrial grade isopropyl alcholol. It cut through all the gunk pretty well. I did do several rinse and repeats though!
The tractor wheel trick sound great! Sure beats shaking the tank by hand!
Megan

 

Chris you are thinking about selling the rear mount tank? Sell to me cheap and let me worry about cleaning it out .

 

How far are you from zip 23323? I PM'd you my home phone number...call after 5pm.

 

What about a couple 2 litre bottles of coke and a box of baking soda?