RUNAMUCK Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 What's the best stuff to use to clean out a fuel tank? It's not rusty, but there's rather a lot of crusty varnish inside it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valiant Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Put a hand full of gravel or two in it, a bit of water, and shake it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajg193 Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 A bit of petrol mixed with injector cleaner? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 55 minutes ago, Valiant said: Put a hand full of gravel or two in it, a bit of water, and shake it. ...or perhaps a length of chain? Might be easier to get back out again. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 I've rigged bike tanks to a tumbler with a box of 3/16" square brass nuts inside. Worked well Have heard of people strapping car tanks to concrete mixers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUNAMUCK Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 I have a concrete mixer here too. I like @igor chain idea too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adoom Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Speed up the process eleventeen billion percent by strapping it to a car wheel instead! I'll just let myself out.---> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostchips Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 3 hours ago, Adoom said: Speed up the process eleventeen billion percent by strapping it to a car wheel instead! I'll just let myself out.---> I've tumbled things strapped to a car wheel before, let it idle for an hour on stands. Don't recommend it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mof Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 If it's not rust, then why not swill around some fresh petrol? Or thinners? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kseries.rookie Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 I recently did this on a tank that was pretty rusty and the difference was literally day and night. Simple process, pop down to bunnings and get yourself some hydrochloric acid (or if you've got a mate whos a concrete guy they will have barrels which I am sure you can poach some off) Bang in some water. I did about a 30/70 mix (Acid 70) and put in the acid.. It's dangerous shit so make sure you're wearing minimum gloves, face mask and goggles.. Nasty shit if you get it in your eyes. Let it sit for approx an hour, turn on the side, again on the side etc etc.. Once thats done, drain the solution. Fill the tank back up nearly full to the top with water and add some baking soda, table spoon by table spoon until the water stops fizzing when you put it in. Shake said water around, repeat the last step Empty and you're away laughing. I did have little bits of rust floating around the tank afterwards which was a pig to get out but I just lopped off a piece of garden hose and jimmied up an attachment to the vacuum cleaner and sucked out the rusty particles. Not sure if this is the proper way or not but it worked for me haha E: Water before acid, always! As I said, twice.. it's nasty stuff 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUNAMUCK Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 I've got acid in.my "DG" cupboard. But it's not rusty. The inside of the tank looks to be zinc protected. So if I fizz it with acid I'll. Be removing that factory rust proofing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mof Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 The rocks or chain would probably knock it up a bit too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Have you considered another fuel tank that is not fucked? This is what I did with the last car I had with a crusty tank.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris r Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 The only tank option I found was ex the states (assuming this is barts middies crx) when I went through my tank bullshit. I say try slosh fresh fuel through it and see how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUNAMUCK Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 It's not fucked by any stretch. It just has varnish scale build up in a few places. the chain trick should work. I might get Mr Karcher to stick his nose in there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostchips Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Steel BBs from the sport shop and pull them out with a magnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajg193 Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Anything like a chain will probably bugger the zinc coating. Like dissolves like, so you'd think a solvent like petrol would dissolve the varnish from evaporated petrol? (+ injector cleaner..) edit, internet reckons ethanol will do it better also e85 circulating through the tank for a few hours appears to clean it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bling Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 If it's not broke... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NickJ Posted April 4, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 4, 2019 20 minutes ago, Bling said: If it's not broke... fix it til it is? 14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUNAMUCK Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 What I don't want is new gas to dislodge the scale and have it block up the filter sock on the new pump. I've used stones before on a motor bike tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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