clean a gas tank?

[bandt]

Just got a built in gas tank for my project boat. the tank is used but it is the right size. I removed the pick up tube and it was clogged with gum and corrosion. same with the gauge sending unit. looked like corrosion from water not gum from old gas. Now its time to clean the tank and it does look like gummed up from old gas. Its a plastic tank and the only openings are the fill. suction, vent and the hole where the sending unit was. How do I clean the gum out of the tank? I thought of filling with a cleaner and soaking it but I am not sure what to use.The tank is not in the boat.
any suggestions before I start. Thanks

 

[zopperman]

Re: clean a gas tank?

A radiator shop can boil it out for you..

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: clean a gas tank?

Little kerosene and a whole bunch of nuts and bolts......shake the hell out of it and let it sit then do it again and again

pour out the kero and the nuts and bolts any you can not get you can fetch out with a magnet

 

[stylesabu]

Re: clean a gas tank?

can you boil a plastic tank? a bottle brush or any brush with long flexable handle, and carb cleaner pretty good at cleaning gummed up gas.make sure you install a fuel filter in an easy to get to spot for any thing you may miss.

 

[zopperman]

Re: clean a gas tank?

can you boil a plastic tank? a bottle brush or any brush with long flexable handle, and carb cleaner pretty good at cleaning gummed up gas.make sure you install a fuel filter in an easy to get to spot for any thing you may miss.

oh oops, my fault, i didn't see it was plastic (Bob's idea is cool!)

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: clean a gas tank?

Be VERY careful with chemicals since many carb cleaner's can attack plastics

 

[depty933]

Re: clean a gas tank?

Use the hole where the sending unit installs as it is usally bigger. Get about a 4 to 5 foot piece of chain (logging chain). Feed it down in there and keep one foot outside the tank. Now Shake shake shake. The chain will bust up all that old gummy gas. Then, rinse and repeat.
I had to do this to an old project boat I had that had a bad gas tank like what you describe. I used my garden hose to rinse the tank until no more black peices of trash came out. Then repeat the shaking with the logging chain inside the tank and repeat the rinse. Be sure to leave the empty tank out in the sun to get all the water out of it before using it in your boat.
Good luck.

 

[gus-gus]

Re: clean a gas tank?

I built a vacuum once out of 3/8" copper tubing. It was about a 10 foot length and using an air nozzle aimed across the exit end created a great suction although it will atomize what ever comes out. It takes two people, one with the nozzle and a basic understanding of the principle and the other person guiding the end of the tube to the right spot. Yes softening the gum is important and then removal. Good luck.

 

[bandt]

Re: clean a gas tank?

Thanks all for the suggestions . I think will try and use the chain and diesel fuel or kerosene. great forum