How do you clean out a gas tank

[casper75]

I have an older plastic gas tank. It looks like there is varnsih in the bottom. How do you get it out.

 

[ddrieck]

Re: How do you clean out a gas tank

I used Sea Foam and a bunch of BB's to clean out my plastic portable tanks. Just pour them in the tank with the sea foam and shake it all around... do the hokie pokie... an dump um on the ground...er ina bucket. Sorry that hokie pockie thing just jumped into my head..

 

[erikgreen]

Re: How do you clean out a gas tank

If you can do as listed above, that'll work nicely.

The standard method to clean a tank out is to remove it from a boat and take it to be steam cleaned, which is expensive but may be worth it depending on the tank size.

Watch out for gasoline vapors... an empty tank is more dangerous than a full one.

Erik

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: How do you clean out a gas tank

I heard somewhere to use a solvent like mineral spirits or acetone to get the varnish out.

I used mineral spirits when cleaning out my jetski tank - it worked well enough.

 

[Lakester]

Re: How do you clean out a gas tank

I used Sea Foam and a bunch of BB's to clean out my plastic portable tanks. Just pour them in the tank with the sea foam and shake it all around... do the hokie pokie... an dump um on the ground...er ina bucket. Sorry that hokie pockie thing just jumped into my head..

hello,
this sounds like good advice. this is how i clean out an old coleman lantern faunt (tank). the only advice i would add is to do it over and over until the solution comes out perfectly clear. ie: clean. may take a while, but then...

the hokie pokie can... be fun!!

so they say!

now...

"You put your right BB's in,
You put your bad gum out,
You put your left BB's in,
And you shake it all about,

You do the hokey pokey
and you turn yourself around
That what it's all about."

have fun!

regards
lakester

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: How do you clean out a gas tank

I have had good luck on the plastic tanks using a piece of chain 2-3' long. drop it in there with about 1/2 gal of diesel fuel or even reg gas and shake the crap out of it or if you have a truck do the above and put it in the truck for a week as you go back and forth to work. If there are corners that are real difficult make a big swab with a rag and piece of rod and scrub that way as well. You can even use soap and warm water to flush and clean with. When finished tip upside down let drain/dry well and dump a few ozs of seafoam or heet in it to make sure water is all gone. I have done many outboard tanks, snowmobile tanks, etc this way and had real good luck with it. If you need a deeper clean you can run 2-3" bolts with nuts through a couple of the chain links. Im sure bb's would work but they are very light and smooth esp with liquid in with them.

 

[Lakester]

Re: How do you clean out a gas tank

I have had good luck on the plastic tanks using a piece of chain 2-3' long. drop it in there with about 1/2 gal of diesel fuel or even reg gas and shake the crap out of it or if you have a truck do the above and put it in the truck for a week as you go back and forth to work. If there are corners that are real difficult make a big swab with a rag and piece of rod and scrub that way as well. You can even use soap and warm water to flush and clean with. When finished tip upside down let drain/dry well and dump a few ozs of seafoam or heet in it to make sure water is all gone. I have done many outboard tanks, snowmobile tanks, etc this way and had real good luck with it. If you need a deeper clean you can run 2-3" bolts with nuts through a couple of the chain links. Im sure bb's would work but they are very light and smooth esp with liquid in with them.

hello,

i DO like the idea of a larger chain as u state and the 2/3" bolts for a larger volume. experience counts!!

regards
lakester