DIY Tank clean out?

[LyleW]

Hello, I have a 20 gallon aluminum fuel tank that has a lot of crud inside. this crud looks and feels like plastic although I suspect it is just dryed up 2 stroke gas.
Any suggestions on how to dissolve this crap enough to remove it. I already put pieces of the crud into jars of both gas and choke cleaner, neither did much good. I did have some success with pliers and a heat gun!

 

[zool]

Gunk Carb part cleaner by the gallon...its made to desolve gas crud

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/g...ontent=7040709

let it soak a while....then empty, then follow with zylene

 

[hadaveha]

I wonder could you use a gallon of mineral spirits

 

[GA_Boater]

Is it possible the crud is failed tank coating? Clean up is a little different for that stuff.

 

[Watermann]

Pop for some of this .. pic is linked

 

[LyleW]

thanks

 

[gm280]

Interesting when you say that gas and choke cleaner did nothing. That makes me wonder what you are dealing with. Is your tank permanently installed or can you actually remove it for cleaning? If it is permanently installed then it has to be cleaned onboard. That makes it a lot harder. If that is the case then anything that will dissolve the crud will have to sit in there for a long time to be effective. And that could become expensive of it takes multiple gallons... So pour in the chemicals and wait. Then suck that out and repeat. There could be some detergents that can accomplish that dissolving problem as well. And once the tank is cleaned, blow in some clean dry air to remove and dry any watery based products before refueling again... JMHO!

 

[Boat Doctor1]

Get a gallion of =MEK!! Home improvements have that & many Fred Meyer stores near paint products! If that wont dissolve it - I dont know what will!! Careful too & cover the inlet so as to not allow evaporation!! Methyl ethyl Keytone=MEK

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... That's 1 of the many problems that comes with runnin' Ethanol,...

Loosened crud that blocks filters, carbs, 'n efi systems,.....

 

[LyleW]

No Title

Not sure if MEK is available here in California. Will try boiling water first and follow with Acetone and rags.
Pics of the crud that I removed with pickup tool, pliers and heat gun. Most the crud had flowed around the pickup tube.

 

[gm280]

Not sure if MEK is available here in California. Will try boiling water first and follow with Acetone and rags.
Pics of the crud that I removed with pickup tool, pliers and heat gun. Most the crud had flowed around the pickup tube.

OMG you really have a problem there. I wish I knew something that would work wonders, But I honest don't. Post your final results and your method on how you managed to get all the crud out. That IS some serious crud...

 

[bruceb58]

Not sure if MEK is available here in California.

It is. Not cheap. Problem is they may limit it to quarts.

 

[gm280]

It is. Not cheap. Problem is they may limit it to quarts.

Bruce, MEK would probably work, but it evaporates really fast. So if he could buy enough (and that cost would be prohibited) he could pour it in and seal the opening so it would stay for it to work.

Wonder if Lacquer thinner is available in Cali? That would certainty work and not evaporate nearly as fast. But it too can get expensive for such a large job. Maybe he could take some of the crud he already got out and put it in some dish detergent and see if that would dissolve it. You never know Dawn Dishwasher Detergent could do the job...

 

[Woodonglass]

Uhmm, you'll prolly think I'm an Old Dumb Okie and you'd be right. But.... This works. get a 10ft length of Chain. Remove all the mechanicals from the tank. Fish the chain into the tank and tape a bit to the outside so it doesn't all fall in.. Put the tank in the back of your truck. Pour five gallons of Boiling water in the tank and add a cup of DAWN dishwashing Liquid. Tape shut all the openings. Drive the truck around on the bumpiest roads you can find for 1/2 and hour Come home siphon it out and do it again. After 3-4 times.. you'[ll be amazed at how clean it is. No NASTY chemicals required. LOTS or bumps required. LOTS!!!! If the tank has baffles then it may not work so good!!! You could substitute a LOT of old nuts and bolts for the chain but then it's kind of a hassle to get em all shook out afterwards. Like I said...I AM and Old Dumb Okie!!! This works great on the above deck tanks 6-20 gallon units.

 

[hadaveha]

I wonder if your tank had been coated with the red devel tank coat stuff if so it could be letting go, if so woods idea may be your only option to break it all loose

 

[bruceb58]

My bet is he can't take the tank out to try the chain trick. If he could take it out there are lots of services that could clean it out for him.

 

[Woodonglass]

Well, if That's the case just haul it around on the trailer. They're bouncy as heck anyway!!!!

 

[kcassells]

Rattlin Chains technique... The Ole Okie Ebenezer Scrooge Technique. Rattlin Chains will do it. Thats some serious peelin on the interior of the tank.

 

[LyleW]

tank is out. thanks for the reminder about a chain as an agitator. Was quoted $150 minimum to clean the tank at one of the few remaining radiator shops in the next town over.

 

[83mulligan]

how much is a new tank?