how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

[tonydiver1]

I have 2 12 gal plastic gas tanks on my boat portable tanks. how do you clean them out . is there any solutions that you can use

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

what are you cleaning out of them????/ dish soap and water, gasoline, engine degreaser all come to mind...... also for REALLY nasty stuff add 6 or 8 rocks as big as you can fit in the fill neck and shake the H E double hockey sticks out of it.

 

[tonydiver1]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

just old oil residue in one tank and the other has some yellow gel stuff in there not a lot but it there. getting new outboard and want clean tanks so there is no problems

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

Gasoline or acetone should do it. The oil residue is real easy. The gel stuff, may or may not be easy. Start with gasoline and then graduate to acetone. Then acetone and a handfull of washers or gravel to shake it loose.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

Citrus based degreaser works well. Mix it strong and let it sit, periodically agitating it. Rocks, nuts, washers, etc help with the agitation, yelling at it does not.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

Yelling may not help physically, but it helps mentally. Cursing and making hand gestures helps as well.

 

[Lakemeadan]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

I probably would stick a garden hose in them and turn it on good pressure and flush it out well. And of course dry it out.

 

[ANGEL-1]

Re: how do you clean out plastic fuel container for a boat

I have used mineral spirits on the recommendation of a mechanic and it worked ok, but there was not very much grime to start with so I'm not sure how it would work on yours.